Tyler Perry’s latest project, Straw, drops on Netflix on June 6, 2025, and this one is already generating buzz for all the right reasons.
At the heart of Straw is Janiyah, played by Taraji P. Henson, a single mother pushed beyond her limits. It’s a day that spirals from bad to catastrophic as she desperately tries to care for her ill daughter and survive a system that seems rigged against her at every turn.
“She’s just trying to be a great mother, and the circumstances in her life cause her to be in this situation… people around the world will relate to that feeling of, ‘I’m at my last straw,’” Perry describes his latest film.
A Day from Hell
The film opens with what feels like an ordinary bad day. But Straw doesn’t stay ordinary for long. As Janiyah’s life begins to unravel, her quiet frustration builds until it explodes in a bank standoff that takes over the entire community. She’s not trying to hurt anyone, she just wants to cash a check. And that’s what makes it so real.
Straw plays like a pressure cooker, with Perry guiding us through a very human, very emotional unraveling. It’s a showcase for Henson, who Perry says was “the only person I saw when I wrote Janiyah.” From the first word on the page, he knew it had to be her.
Meet the Cast
Perry rounded out the film with a cast that complements Henson.
Sherri Shepherd plays Nicole Parker, a bank manager who becomes a pivotal witness to Janiyah’s desperation. Perry called her “phenomenal” and said he trusted her dramatic chops from the moment she starred in Precious.
Teyana Taylor takes on the role of Officer Kay Raymond, the hostage negotiator whose empathy and shared experience as a single mom add nuance to every moment. Teyana shines as a woman who sees Janiyah not as a threat but as a reflection of herself.
Glynn Turman portrays Richard, Janiyah’s unsympathetic boss, embodying a system that refuses to see her worth.
Sinbad (yes, that Sinbad) makes a warm return as Benny, a neighbor who quietly observes Janiyah’s humanity and struggle from across the hall.
Rounding out the ensemble is Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson, a by-the-book cop unwilling to look deeper at the woman behind the headlines.
Why Straw Feels So Timely
At its core, Straw asks a simple but powerful question: What happens when society fails the people who need it most?
Perry isn’t preaching, but the story makes you think about poverty, motherhood, race, mental wellness, and what it means to truly be seen. And he doesn’t sugarcoat it. As Taraji says, “There are so many people like Janiyah in the world, just trying to survive.”
Check out the trailer below. Straw hits Netflix on June 6.
