A thriller rated 4.9 on IMDb has knocked Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Again? off No. 1 on Netflix US
Rylee Reagan plays an 18-year-old who cons her way into an au pair job in Lisa France’s Seemingly Perfect Family, No. 1 in the US on 17 September.
Well, here's one you didn't see coming. Netflix in the States just saw its usual pecking order upended, as a little thriller named The Seemingly Perfect Family has managed to shove aside Tyler Perry's own latest Why Did I Get Married Again? from the top slot. That's right: what looked like yet another Netflix Original you'd scroll past actually leapt to number one overnight.
The Seemingly Perfect Family hit number one on Netflix in the US on 17 September, leapfrogging major sequel Why Did I Get Married Again?
The film and its premise
So what exactly is this dark horse about? In short, it revolves around 18-year-old Lexi (played by Rylee Reagan), who ages out of foster care and pretty much cons her way into working as an au pair. The family looks lovely from the outside, but naturally there's trouble lurking behind all the peppy smiles. It isn't long before Lexi uncovers some genuinely dodgy secrets hiding in her new employer's house—because of course she does. Sarah Nicklin, Violet SinClair, Sharonne Lanier, Patric Palkens, Bourke Floyd, and Anna Morgan Neugent round out the cast, with Lisa France in the director's chair.
Streaming surprises
What's bemusing critics and punters alike is just how well The Seemingly Perfect Family has performed. It's genuinely outpaced Taraji P. Henson's high-profile return as part of the Tyler Perry franchise in the States, while Perry's sequel carries on bringing in big numbers globally. Difference is, Perry and his familiar crew—Henson, Jill Scott and co—are back for a wedding plot centred on Marcus and Angela's daughter. But the audience at home seem up for this lower-budget thriller all the same.
- The Seemingly Perfect Family: Rylee Reagan, Sarah Nicklin, directed by Lisa France, reached #1 on Netflix US, 17 September 2026.
- Why Did I Get Married Again?: Perry, Henson, Scott, globally popular, currently second in the States.
Reception: It's...divisive
Now, here's where things get a bit awkward for Netflix's new chart-topper. Reviews are, frankly, all over the place. The IMDb score sits at 4.9/10, so no awards there, and over on Rotten Tomatoes barely anyone's bothered: under 50 audience ratings at last count, so the Popcornmeter is still blank. Early feedback swerves between viewers calling the mystery fun and keeping the plot zipping along, and others outright slagging it off for wooden acting and a plot that needs a reality check. Some still managed to call it "watchable", so take that for what you will.
Contrast this with Why Did I Get Married Again? remaining much better rated everywhere except their home market. The IMDb average has it at 5.4/10, and Rotten Tomatoes scores land at 43% for critics and 51% for regular punters. It's hardly a masterpiece, but by Netflix thriller standards, Perry's movie is positively acclaimed.