Netflix’s Shocking True Crime Documentary Lands More Than 16 Million Views in Just Three Days

The Perfect Neighbor, the latest true crime documentary released by Netflix, has become a streaming hit. In just a few days, the film by Geeta Gandbhir has gotten more than 16 million views and has landed in the top 10 list of Netflix’s most popular movies. By the time of writing, it’s the streamer’s most watched movie in the United States, sitting above other popular titles like KPop Demon Hunters, and The Woman in Cabin 10.

Per the report by Variety, the documentary exclusively streaming on Netflix amassed a whopping 16.7 million views in three days. The Perfect Neighbor was released on October 17, and while it has some competition in the Netflix charts, it’s looking good for Gandbhir’s shocking chronicle about the murder of Ajike Owens at the hands of her neighbor Susan Lorincz.

The documentary earned Gandbhir the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival this year. At the time of writing, it sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience score is currently at 78%. Given the great reception it’s having, it’s a potential title for this year’s Netflix FYC campaign. Though the Oscars are still a few months away, it should not be a surprise if Netflix pushes for a nomination in the Best Documentary Feature category. Yes, it is that good, and it stands out among the other titles in Netflix’s library of documentaries.

Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Is One of the Best Documentaries of the Year

The gripping true crime documentary retells the story of what went on in a Florida neighborhood since January 2021. Lorincz constantly complained to the authorities that children were always bothering her and trespassing on her property. Among them were Owens’ children, but they were not the only ones. More than two years passed, with police frequently responding to complaints but being able to do nothing other than try to warn off the children from bothering their neighbor. However, they also made it clear to Lorincz that the children were not misbehaving, much less breaking the law. On the night of June 2, 2023, things took a drastic turn when Owens came to Lorincz’s door to try and talk ot her, and Lorincz shot her.

Paramedics could not save Owens, and Lorincz kept to herself, and avoided any sort of trial by sticking to the stand-your-ground loophole. She claimed she used deadly force out of fear. The problem is that her statement was not consistent, and she was eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison. While the documentary does not fully address this, Lorincz’s crime has strong racist undertones.

The documentary is a superb chronicle about the events. It only uses footage from police bodycams, ring cameras, and cameras documenting the legal proceedings. It doesn’t feature talking heads, interviews, or testimonies. This unconventional style makes it all the more jarring, and it has clearly captured the attention of Netflix subscribers.