One of Tyler Perry’s most divisive shows is a sensation on streaming, once again.
Love his work or hate it, Tyler Perry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The writer, actor, and producer struck it big with his Madea series, churning out new installments in the chaotic comedy franchise every year or two. His partnership with Netflix has allowed Tyler Perry to expand beyond the Madea series, shifting towards the World War II drama, The Six Triple Eight, and the intense thriller, Straw. But it’s one of Perry’s most divisive and controversial Netflix shows that’s making a comeback on the streaming charts. In fact, it’s completely dominating on Netflix, knocking the likes of One Piece, Virgin River, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure out of the top spot.
In 2024, Tyler Perry debuted the first episodes of Beauty in Black, his new Netflix crime drama. Perry created, wrote, and directed every episode of the series. The series starred Taylor Polidore Williams as Kimmie, a stripper whose life takes a drastic turn when she becomes involved with a member of a criminal cosmetics dynasty. If that sounds absolutely bonkers, it’s because it is. Beauty in Black is often described as a so-bad-it ‘s-good binge-watch. Alongside Williams, the schlocky crime thriller also stars Crystle Stewart, Amber Reign Smith, Xavier Smalls, Julian Horton, and Steven G. Norfleet.
The second season of Beauty in Black followed the new Netflix formula and was split into two parts. The second part of Season Two was recently released. Tyler Perry’s die-hard fandom flocked to the streamer to binge-watch the new episodes. As a result, Beauty in Black is the #1 series on Netflix in the US right now, pushing the new series of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the live-action One Piece series, and Virgin River down the list.
Critics Didn’t Bother to Review ‘Beauty in Black’
Kimmie learning that Body took Sylvie Netflix
If you’ve never seen Beauty in Black before and want to check out the reviews before watching it, you might be disappointed. In recent years, critics’ reviews of Tyler Perry’s work have slowly diminished in quantity. For Beauty in Black, only four critics submitted reviews to Rotten Tomatoes, meaning an aggregate score hasn’t been calculated. The few reviews call the series “grim,” “forgettable,” and “about as subtle as a slap in the face.”
IMDb is a slightly better metric for audience reactions to the series. Beauty in Black holds a middling 5.8 rating from almost 5,000 ratings. Again, that’s far from a great score. But, compared to some of Tyler Perry’s other shows and movies, it’s fantastic.
Why Is ‘Beauty in Black’ Controversial?
Horace Bellaire in the clubNetflix
As well as being one of his most “forgettable,” Beauty in Black is also one of Tyler Perry’s more controversial projects. This is partly due to Perry’s handling of very sensitive subject matter. Abuse is a major theme in the show. But the writing doesn’t do the complex and nuanced subject justice, reducing it to simplistic melodrama. Then there’s the controversial opinions spouted by one of its stars. In March 2026, an old video featuring Xavier Smalls resurfaced, in which the actor called LGBT+ people an “abomination” that “God doesn’t tolerate.”
Release Date
October 24, 2024
Network
Netflix
