Tyler Perry is absolutely dominating the Netflix top 10 with the latest season of Beauty in Black. This Beauty in Black phenomenon is real, and the numbers don’t lie.
On August 27, the third season of the soapy drama about an exotic dancer who gets tangled up with the powerful family behind a cosmetics dynasty dropped on the streamer. It quickly climbed to the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s most-watched list in 30 countries and was the No. 2 most-watched show worldwide in the days following its release, according to FlixPatrol. For fans who love a good Beauty in Black storyline with all the drama and stakes, this is the kind of cultural moment worth celebrating.
‘Beauty in Black’ Season 3 No. 1 on Netflix in Jamaica, Hungary, and Kenya
Which countries were binging Beauty in Black? The show reached No. 1 in the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Peru, and South Africa, among other countries. The international reach shows how much audiences across the diaspora connect with Perry’s storytelling and the complexity of these characters.
In the United States, Beauty in Black has been the most-watched scripted series in recent days, with only the true crime docuseries Death of the Pastor’s Wife beating it on the charts. That’s major for a show that many thought was ending.
The impressive season 3 debut comes just a few weeks after Netflix unexpectedly ordered a fourth season of the popular drama. Originally, the show was expected to conclude with its third season. But Perry said there was more story to tell, and Netflix agreed. Sometimes the most compelling narratives require patience and the kind of radical women of color storytelling Perry brings to his work.
“Beauty in Black is back for season 4, and the Bellarie family’s story is far from finished,” the Why Did I Get Married? director – who is the show’s creator, writer, director, and executive producer – told Tudum. “There was so much more I wanted to explore, and I’m grateful I get to keep telling this story. To the audience that has been on this ride with us from day one, thank you for watching and sharing it with the world. More episodes are on the way!”
Why Netflix is bringing ‘Beauty in Black’ back for season 4
Netflix didn’t offer a specific reason why it reversed course on Beauty in Black‘s future. But one look at the recent streaming numbers offers a big clue. The show clearly resonates with audiences not just in the U.S. but around the world. Perry’s famously efficient production schedule also likely helps – season 2 filmed in just six days. That kind of Black excellence in production is a masterclass.
Back in March, series star Taylor Polidore Williams, who plays Kimmie, told TVLine that she and the rest of the cast couldn’t understand Netflix’s decision to end the show after three seasons. At the time, she speculated that “the algorithm” might be to blame.
“I can honestly say that when I initially found out [about the cancellation], I was like, ‘Wait, what?'” she said. “We’ve got the numbers that you want, and people like it. They’re loving the show! This is the kind of statement piece of television that deserves to continue.”
Beauty in Black is streaming on Netflix now.
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