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The Perfect Neighbor Tops Netflix, Putting AJ Owens Case Back in the Spotlight

Built from police and 911 footage, the film’s surge has renewed questions about Florida’s self‑defense law.

Overview

  • Released October 17, the Sundance‑lauded documentary reportedly topped Netflix’s global movie chart over the weekend and currently holds a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
  • The film is constructed almost entirely from police bodycam, doorbell/CCTV recordings and recorded calls, with much of the material obtained via public‑records requests by the family’s legal team.
  • Critics and viewers describe the documentary as devastating to watch, with widespread social posts urging caution due to the raw institutional footage.
  • At its core is the 2023 killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens by neighbor Susan Lorincz in Ocala; Lorincz was convicted of manslaughter in 2024 and is serving a 25‑year sentence in Florida.
  • Owens’ family has a pending wrongful‑death lawsuit filed in July 2025 and continues advocacy through the Standing in the Gap Fund.