STRAW

STRAW has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 979 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Watch Taraji P. Henson work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, STRAW is worth clearing space for. At its heart, STRAW understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. What will be her last straw? A devastatingly bad day pushes a hardworking single mother to the breaking point — and into a shocking act of desperation. Taraji P. Henson and Sherri Shepherd lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 2025. What makes STRAW hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find STRAW proves them wrong. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Taraji P. Henson's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.