Tyler Perry's Greatest Work Arrives on Netflix, and Madea Isn't in It

It may be hard to believe, but Tyler Perry debuted his first movie in 2005. Since then, the Hollywood juggernaut has written, directed, and/or produced over 35 movies and nearly 20 TV shows, which have been viewed by millions. While he's had his fair share of projects that have been panned by critics, his fanbase is nothing short of loyal, more often than not propelling his works to do huge numbers at the box office or top the streaming charts.

With all that being said, the living legend had one body of work that arguably stands above the rest. It shockingly doesn't feature his well-known Madea character, and it's not even a comedy. However, it's a scathing family drama that stars an Oscar winner, a Golden Globe recipient, and Emmy-winning actresses. And now you can revisit this classic on Netflix, as it's streaming on the platform as of June 1.

Tyler Perry's ‘The Family that Preys' Is on Netflix

Written, directed, and co-produced by Perry, The Family that Preys hit theaters on September 12, 2008. It follows two families from different financial backgrounds that both have plenty of drama within them. We're talking infidelity, disrespect between mother and child, and a number of intriguing plot twists. The drama is admittedly a little soapy, but in the best possible way.

Propelling The Family that Preys to becoming arguably Perry's best work is the dialogue delivered by the incomparable Oscar-and-Emmy-Winning Kathy Bates and Emmy-winning Alfre Woodard. Bates is particularly captivating as the cunning Charlotte Catwright, dishing out witty lines and hilarious clapbacks. The banter back and forth between Charlotte and her son William (Cole Hauser) is like watching a tennis match at the US Open.

But ‘The Family that Preys' Only Has a 54% on Rotten Tomatoes

That's right. The movie only has a 54% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, I'd venture to say this is one of those times the critics may have been overly harsh. It's not necessarily worth an Oscar, but it really is a solid watch. If you have 106 minutes worth of free time, check out The Family that Preys for yourself or go rewatch it on Netflix today.

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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 3:10 AM.