You've probably seen the clips circulating on TikTok or heard the buzz about Taraji P. Henson finally reuniting with the man who helped define some of her most iconic roles. The movie is called Straw, and honestly, if you haven't seen it yet, you're missing out on a performance that feels like it’s been simmering for years. Since the film dropped, the main question on everyone's mind is straw tyler perry where to watch and whether you need to hunt down a specific cable channel or if it’s just sitting there on a platform you already pay for.
The short answer? It's a Netflix exclusive.
Basically, Tyler Perry signed a massive multi-year first-look deal with Netflix back in 2023, and Straw is one of the biggest fruits of that labor. It officially hit the service on June 6, 2025. If you're looking for it on Hulu, Max, or Amazon Prime, you're gonna be disappointed. This isn't a theatrical release that moves to streaming later; it was built for the Netflix library from day one.
Finding Straw Tyler Perry: Where to Watch and What to Know
Right now, the only legal way to catch Straw is through a Netflix subscription. You can find it by just typing "Straw" into the search bar, or if you're a fan of Tyler Perry's other work like Mea Culpa or Divorce in the Black, the algorithm has probably already shoved it in your face.
The film runs about 108 minutes.
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It’s an R-rated psychological crime drama, which is a bit of a pivot for Perry. While people usually associate him with the Madea universe or high-octane soap opera energy, Straw feels grittier. It follows Janiyah Wiltkinson (played by Taraji P. Henson), a single mother who is essentially having the worst day in human history. Her car gets impounded, her boss is a nightmare, and her daughter is seriously ill.
Things go south fast.
Why Everyone Is Talking About This Specific Movie
Most of the chatter isn't just about where to stream it, but about the performance Taraji P. Henson delivers. This is her third time being the lead in a Tyler Perry production—following I Can Do Bad All By Myself and the legendary Acrimony—and the chemistry between her intensity and his directing style is definitely there.
The cast isn't just Taraji, though. You've got Sherri Shepherd playing Nicole, a bank manager who ends up in a very complicated situation with Janiyah. Then there’s Teyana Taylor, who plays Detective Kay Raymond. Teyana has been on a roll lately, and seeing her play a former Army negotiator turned cop adds a layer of "prestige drama" to the whole thing.
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Here is who else shows up:
- Sinbad as Benny (the neighbor everyone wants to protect).
- Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson.
- Glynn Turman as Richard (the boss you'll probably hate).
Is it worth the subscription?
Look, Tyler Perry movies are polarizing. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes haven't been particularly kind to it—it’s sitting somewhere around the 50% mark—but the "Popcornmeter" from actual viewers is way higher. It’s the kind of movie you watch because you want to be stressed out for two hours and then talk about the "did she really do that?" moments with your friends the next morning.
It actually spent two straight weeks at #1 on the Netflix charts when it debuted.
The plot centers on a bank heist that isn't really a heist. It’s an act of desperation. Janiyah isn't a career criminal; she's a woman who "broke," as she says in the trailer. If you’re looking for a neatly packaged mystery where everything makes perfect sense, this might frustrate you. But if you want a raw, emotional thriller about a woman pushed to her literal breaking point, it’s worth the watch.
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How to watch if you're outside the US
Since Netflix is the global distributor, Straw is available in almost every territory where Netflix operates. Whether you're in the UK, Canada, or Australia, the release date was the same. You don't need a VPN or any special workarounds. Just log in and search.
One thing to keep in mind is that Netflix has been cracking down on password sharing. If you're trying to use your cousin’s account from three states away, you might run into the "this TV isn't part of your household" screen. At that point, you'll have to decide if seeing Taraji go toe-to-toe with the law is worth the $7.99 for the ad-supported tier or the $15.49 for the standard one.
Actionable Next Steps for Viewers
If you're ready to dive in, here is the most efficient way to get through it:
- Check your Netflix plan: Ensure you have an active subscription. The "Standard with Ads" tier works perfectly fine for this, though the film supports Dolby Vision if you have the Premium tier and a 4K TV.
- Watch the trailer first: If you aren't sure if you're in the mood for a heavy drama, the trailer (released in May 2025) gives a very clear picture of the tone. It’s tense.
- Pair it with other Perry thrillers: If you finish Straw and want more of that specific energy, Netflix also houses A Fall from Grace and Mea Culpa.
- Look for the "Free Janiyah" movement: After watching, you'll see why the internet started a mock campaign for the character. It’s a huge part of the film's social commentary on how the system fails single mothers.
The movie is available right now. You don't have to wait for a DVD release or a digital rental on iTunes. Just open the app, find the thumbnail of Taraji looking stressed in the rain, and hit play.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, make sure your audio is set to "English [Original]" to capture the nuances of the dialogue, especially in the standoff scenes between Taraji and Sherri Shepherd. If you've already seen it, checking out the "Behind the Scenes" featurettes on the Netflix "Tudum" site provides some pretty cool context on how they filmed the bank sequences in Atlanta.