Queen & Slim

Right now you can watch Queen & Slim in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels and BBC iPlayer — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Daniel Kaluuya's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Queen & Slim earns its spot. The plotting gives Queen & Slim its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. While on a forgettable first date together in Ohio, a black man and a black woman are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results. Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2019. Queen & Slim is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Queen & Slim will keep you hooked. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch Daniel Kaluuya work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.