Is There an Oscar Bump? ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Saw Views Triple on Netflix After Its Nomination
#Oscar bump#Netflix documentary#The Perfect Neighbor#Geeta Gandbhir#Oscar nomination#50 million views#Stand Your Ground#True crime
📌 Key Takeaways
The Perfect Neighbor surpassed 50 million views on Netflix since October 2025
Views tripled in the two weeks following its Oscar nomination
The documentary spent three weeks on Netflix's Top 10, including two weeks at No. 1 in the U.S.
Netflix has struggled with documentary nominations since 'My Octopus Teacher' won in 2020
The film documents the murder of Ajike 'AJ' Shantrell Owens in Florida
📖 Full Retelling
Geeta Gandbhir's Oscar-nominated documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' has surpassed 50 million views on Netflix since its October 2025 debut, with viewership tripling in the two weeks following its Academy Award nomination, as the socially conscious true crime story gained significant traction on the streaming platform. The documentary, which explores the murder of Ajike 'AJ' Shantrell Owens in Ocala, Florida, when her white neighbor Susan Lorincz shot her and later invoked Florida's Stand Your Ground laws, has proven to be both a critical darling and a ratings success for Netflix. The film's unique approach, utilizing almost exclusively police body camera footage to document the events and systemic failures that led to Owens' death, has resonated with audiences seeking both compelling storytelling and social commentary. Netflix has struggled with recognition from the Academy's documentary branch since 'My Octopus Teacher' won in 2020, making this nomination particularly significant for the streaming giant, which has seen other acclaimed documentaries like 'Daughters' and 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' snubbed by the Oscars in recent years.
🏷️ Themes
Oscar Impact, True Crime, Social Justice, Streaming Success
Geeta Gandbhir is an Indian origin American filmmaker known for her work as a director, producer, and editor. Focusing her works on documentary and television series, she has won multiple awards including five Emmy Awards and a Peabody Awards. In 2025 she directed and produced The Perfect Neighbor, ...
The Perfect Neighbor is a 2025 American documentary film directed by Geeta Gandbhir about a shooting incident on June 2, 2023 where a white female, Susan Louise Lorincz, fatally shot Ajike Owens, her black female neighbor, in Ocala, Florida.
The film is told in chronological order with limited narra...
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements, as assessed by the Academy's voti...
