The Perfect Neighbor

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The Perfect Neighbor

R

2025

1h 36m

Documentary

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence. Police bodycam footage and investigative interviews expose the consequences of Florida's "stand your ground" laws.

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Critics Consensus

As gripping as it is deeply unsettling, The Perfect Neighbor lays bare the systemic failures and the quiet terror embedded in American legal systems with surgical precision.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Nov 11

Extremely powerful and extremely important documentary filmmaking.

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Sam Adams

Slate

Nov 4

A chilling and provocative look at the limits of policing, particularly when the laws the police are called to enforce present more of a problem than a solution.

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Peter Travers

The Travers Take

Oct 31

3.5/4

Captured entirely from police cam footage, this Oscar-buzzed documentary about a white Florida woman who murders her Black neighbor indicts an entire society. It's also the scariest movie you’ll see this Halloween season.

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Lee Zumpe

Tampa Bay Newspapers

Mar 22

It is an upsetting 97 minutes that needs to be seen.

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Mar 22

the film’s point is not to center the victim or individuate the neighbors, but to say, "See, this lady who claims to be scared is actually terrorizing a neighborhood. Recognize her true face so you don’t become complicit now or in the future."

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

Mar 12

3.5/5

A gut-wrenching documentary that feels like a real-life horror movie. The editing keeps the film engaging throughout, though the shaky-cam shots can be a bit dizzying for those prone to motion sickness.

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Sa D

@RT64242434 4d

devastating, well-told and absolutely urgent.

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Hayleigh P.

@haytay.shows22 5d

I hate that I have such empathy cause I know the Karen is a B. But why do I feel bad for her..? Maybe cause she’s old? Idk I hate myself for it but this documentary was very emotional, I don’t think I’ve ever cried over a documentary but this one got me real close..

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KingKongUn Y.

@KingKongUn Jun 21

I don't normally like documentaries. But this is definitely worth the watch!

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VITALII H

@freakynickison Jun 20

Wow, I’ve heard about this documentary but I didn’t know what it was about. Susan is a neighbor you won’t wish to your worst enemy. That woman was taking zero accountability after what she did. She had no regrets, you can tell by the way she was behaving. All she was trying to do is to prove her point. Susan got what she deserved. If we focus more on the documentary itself, not on the story, it’s hard to judge the way in which it was made/executed. The footage that was used for this documentary is 100% real and legit. This story shines a light on the broader issue that ppl need to talk about more. Because I’m sure if Susan was black, she would’ve been immediately sent to jail the night of the incident.

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K W

@RT67536271 Jun 15

I'm going to be nicer to my neighbors after watching this...

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Jessica M.

@RT93857828 Jun 15

Hard watch, but would definitely recommend. It’s frustrating seeing how this was all handled. But shows that this could have been completely preventable.

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Geeta Gandbhir

Director

Nikon Kwantu

Producer

Geeta Gandbhir

Producer

Alisa Payne

Producer

Sam Bisbee

Producer

Sam Pollard

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

A seemingly minor neighborhood dispute in Florida escalates into deadly violence. Police bodycam footage and investigative interviews expose the consequences of Florida's "stand your ground" laws.

Director: Geeta Gandbhir
Producer: Nikon Kwantu, Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Sam Bisbee
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Message Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Documentary, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 17, 2025
Runtime: 1h 36m