The Perfect Neighbor

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The Perfect Neighbor

R

2025

1h 36m

Documentary

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

100 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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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 10

The film refuses to let the audience look away and leaves viewers heartbroken, perturbed, and painfully aware of how much work still needs to be done, both in law enforcement and in society at large.

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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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rob D

@ArdeeCook 4d

Hands down the best documentary I’ve seen in years. The way the bodycam footage is edited together to tell the story is masterful. I went in blind and was deeply moved. The Perfect Neighbor is essential.

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dede W

@RT37612585 Jul 23

When I catch you Susan…Susan when I catch you

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Eye C

@ECinc Jul 19

We live in a fucked up world… with fucked up people… and we don’t understand that we supposed to be there in community with each other no matter what. "All you need is love. John Lennon. Smart Man… Shot in the back… very sad" Julius Levinson (ID4 1996)

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Nate S

@smithn1124 Jul 12

The Perfect Neighbor was neither a fun watch nor a fun reminder of the bleak realities of our aggressively divided country, but it was powerful in its depiction of such. A story like this one stings more than anything, but it’s an important story to be aware of and share.

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Triston W

@Triston1 Jul 8

One of the best and tragic docs I have ever seen

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Daniel L

@Hotchopeppa Jul 6

Slow burning and tragic.

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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