A Smaller Movie That’s Bigger Than a Blockbuster
STRAW — a social drama directed by Tyler Perry quietly dropped and exploded.
No supercars, no special effects, STRAW only needed genuine acting and a heartbreaking story to capture the hearts of viewers.
A Cruel but True Story
Taraji P. Henson stars as Janiyah Wilkinson, a single mother caring for her terminally ill daughter who is caught in a spiral of doubt, loss, and prejudice. From losing her job, being ostracized by her neighbors, to having to deal with the police and the health care system, everything in her life comes crashing down in just 24 hours.
This is not a Hollywood-style heroic journey. This is the reality of millions of American mothers — and Perry brings it to the screen with all the rage and compassion.
Social media exploded
After less than 48 hours of release, STRAW reached the top 1 on Netflix worldwide. In just the first week, the film earned more than 53 million views, surpassing films with a budget 20 times higher.
The online community reacted strongly and emotionally:
“Straw is not a film. It is a punch in the chest.” — @blackfilmjournal
“Taraji should have a golden statue. I have never seen anyone express the pain of a mother and child so realistically.” — @QueenTasha
“A film shot in 4 days that I will remember for the rest of my life. No CGI effect made me cry like that.” — Reddit @femfilmfan
“While Fast 11 was still busy taking behind-the-scenes photos, STRAW blew away the summer.” — TikTok review clip reached 2.3 million views
A 4-day film beats the entire Fast universe?
When many American audiences were tired of space racing, physics-busting, and CGI Paul Walker simulations, STRAW delivered a breathtakingly real sense of fear and emotion. No big-picture set pieces, just a desperate mother and a director brave enough not to sugarcoat reality.
