Netflix’s new whodunnit limited seriesThe Perfect Couplehas divided both critics and audiences. Released on Netflix on June 12, 2025,The Perfect Couplehas a great castled by starsNicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Jack Reynor, and Dakota Fanning. Created by Jenna Lamia (Good Girls, Resident Alien, My Best Friend’s Exorcism), the 6-part series was directed entirely by Susanne Bier, best known for directingBird Box,The Undoing, andThe First Lady. The series hasbeen compared to HBO’sBig Little Liesdue to Kidman’s leading role in a murder mystery series based on a popular novel.
The Perfect Coupletakes place in an idyllic coastal town on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket. The trailer suggests that Kidman’s character Greer Garrison Winbury and her husband Tag Winbury, played by Schreiber, are the type of people who are “kill-someone-and-get-away-with-it rich.” This intriguing premise and ensemble cast was enough to launchThe Perfect Coupleto the number one spot on Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. listdespite its mixed critical reception.The Perfect Coupledebuted witha Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 54% which has slightly increased to 59%along with an audience score of 56%.
The Perfect Coupleis based on the 2018 book of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand.
What Critics & Audiences Like About The Perfect Couple
The setting, cast, and self-awareness of the series are its greatest strengths
The division between critics forThe Perfect Coupleis quite sharp and uncommon, with several top critics calling it one of the best miniseries of the year while others were far less impressed. One of the clearest strengths ofThe Perfect Coupleis its engaging and charming setting, which greatly enhances the storytelling as seen in similar series likeBig Little Liesand Netflix’sBloodline.Another glaring strength is the quality of the performancesby the thoughtfully selected cast. Sophie Butcher ofEmpire Magazinewrites in her 3/5 star review, “Yes, it’s schmaltzy, silly and very soapy — but the compelling plotting, well-established characters and sheer star power of The Perfect Couple will have you hooked.”
The Story Behind The Perfect Couple’s Dance Sequence Makes It So Much Better
All six episodes of The Perfect Couple, Netflix’s Susanne Bier-directed TV series, open with a choreographed dance sequence with a great BTS story.
WhileThe Perfect Coupleis often categorized as “soapy” and “trashy”, critics who enjoyed the series found it to be the best version of this type of content. Benji Wilson ofThe Daily Telegraphwrites in his 3-star review, “The Perfect Couple is trash but it is top-notch trash, a show aiming only for sugar-hit moreishness and hitting the mark in almost every scene.” John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal writes, “Best described as a beach-read come to life.“The series is commonly seen as cliché, which is where critics typically draw their biggest line.
What Critics & Audiences Dislike About The Perfect Couple
Some critics found The Perfect Couple hollow and unoriginal
Critics who were disappointed or not entertained byThe Perfect Coupletypically noted thatthe series felt hollow, misleading, and derivative of other whodunnit mysteries. Ben Travers ofIndieWirewrites, “The Perfect Couple is made to look like a good time – and maybe it can be, if you bring your own party – but there’s even less here than meets the eye.” In the same vein, Cristina Escobar ofRogerEbert.comwrites, “The Perfect Couple doesn’t add much of anything to the social-class debate, even in terms of showcasing all the things money can buy.” Wenlei Ma ofThe Nightlywrites, “This should have been a movie.”
Where Was The Perfect Couple Filmed? All Locations Explained
The Perfect Couple chronicles a murder mystery that unfolds during a Nantucket wedding, prompting viewers to wonder where the series was filmed.
Some critics were turned off byThe Perfect Couple’sending. Angie Han ofThe Hollywood Reporterwrites, “At just under six hours, the road leading up to that ending feels so interminable that I cannot, in clear conscience, recommend anyone take this journey just for the destination.” Another big criticism was the apparentlack of originality inThe Perfect Couple, especially when compared to the likes of Kidman’s other notable projects. Nick Hilton ofThe Independentcalled the series “by-the-numbers Netflix pulp.” He adds, “In its lack of originality, it invites comparison with Big Little Lies, but absent the tension and intrigue of that drama, we’re left with something as superficial and unfulfilled as the family it depicts.”
Is The Perfect Couple Worth Watching?
The Perfect Couple isn’t groundbreaking but is an addictive & quick watch
Like a poolside cocktail,The Perfect Coupleis best enjoyed by knowing exactly what you’re getting into before indulging. Kayleigh Donaldson ofTheWrapwrites, “The season might be at an end, but “The Perfect Couple” still feels like the ideal Summer binge-watch, the platonic ideal of the subgenre that has become the Kidman prestige TV standard.”
The series is highly bingeable and “pulpy”, making it a breeze to fly through in a few or even one sitting. Lucy Mangan ofThe Guardianwrites, “If there is anyone who can resist bingeing all six episodes once they have started, I will eat a fruit basket.” Ultimately,The Perfect Coupleis immersive, addictive, and worth checking out before summer ends.
The Perfect Couple Killer Identity And Ending Explained
Netflix’s The Perfect Couple weaves together a murder mystery with a shocking ending, revealing the true identity of the killer and their motive.
The Perfect Couple
Cast
In the idyllic setting of Nantucket, a lavish wedding turns sinister when a body is discovered in the harbor just before the ceremony. As the investigation unfolds, every member of the wedding party becomes a suspect, unraveling secrets and lies. Starring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, and Dakota Fanning, the series promises intense drama and mystery.
