Netflix Acquires Sundance Award-Winning Doc ‘The Perfect Neighbor’

“The Perfect Neighbor” has found a home.

The film, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it won the directing prize in the U.S. Documentary competition, has been acquired by Netflix. A sum for the acquisition has not been disclosed but earlier reports from February had the number around $5 million. The streaming giant is planning a release for later this year.

The Geeta Gandbhir-directed film uses police bodycam, investigative interviews and dashcam footage to tell the chilling story of Susan Lorincz, who in 2023 fired a gun through her locked door, killing her Black neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens. Lorincz used self-defense and Florida’s “stand your ground” laws as an excuse. The official Sundance synopsis described “The Perfect Neighbor” as “a remarkable exploration of one horrific event that has profound implications for the challenge of living in community with the monsters who might live next door.”

The movie is also an official selection for the SXSW Film Festival (happening now in Austin, Texas), CPH:DOX and the Miami Film Festival.

“‘The Perfect Neighbor’ is a deeply personal project, created to transform grief into purpose and honor the lasting legacy of Ajike Owens and her family. My team at Message Pictures, along with our incredible partners at S’OB Productions and Park Pictures, are thrilled the film will be available on Netflix, offering audiences worldwide the chance to experience this urgent and powerful story,” Gandbhir said in a statement.

“The Perfect Neighbir” was produced by Alisa Payne, Gandbhir and Nikon Kwantu for Message Pictures, and Sam Bisbee for Park Pictures. Executive producers are Sam Pollard for Message Pictures, Soledad O’Brien and Rose Arce for SO’B Productions, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Wendy Neu for Park Pictures, and Takema Robinson.

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