If you’ve just finished watching Straw on Netflix and you’re still catching your breath, you’re not alone. Tyler Perry’s latest thriller grips you from the very first scene and doesn’t let go.
Taraji P. Henson plays Janiyah, a struggling single mom whose trip to the bank turns into a nightmare and from that moment on, she fights like hell for her daughter.
At its core, Straw is about survival, motherhood, and the rage that comes when someone pushes too far. If you’re craving more movies that carry that same energy moms on a mission, high-stakes tension, and relentless determination, here are some other films you’ll likely enjoy next.
Panic Room
If you like your thrillers with a slow burn, Panic Room is for you. Jodie Foster plays Meg, a newly-divorced mother stuck inside a panic room with her daughter (played by a young Kristen Stewart) as burglars invade their home.
The catch? Her daughter is diabetic and running low on insulin. The tension builds minute by minute.
Like Janiyah in Straw, Meg is unprepared but completely determined to protect her child, no matter what it takes.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon/Apple
Set It Off
This 1996 classic isn’t just about bank robberies, it’s about survival in a world that’s constantly stacked against you. Kimberly Elise plays T.T., a single mom trying to make ends meet, who joins her friends in a series of heists.
The desperation in Set It Off mirrors that in Straw. Both stories show how far women are pushed by broken systems and how that pressure can explode into chaos. The film also stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Vivica A. Fox.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon/Apple
Peppermint
If Straw left you stunned, Peppermint will leave you fired up. Jennifer Garner stars as Riley, a mother who loses her child and husband in a brutal attack. After the system fails her, she disappears and comes back as a woman with nothing to lose.
Unlike Straw, where the danger comes out of nowhere, Peppermint is pure revenge from the jump. Riley turns grief into action, and let’s just say, the guilty parties won’t know what hit them. It’s gritty, fast-paced, and deeply emotional.
Where to watch: AMC Plus
Breaking In
In Breaking In, Gabrielle Union plays Shaun, a mother who’s locked outside while criminals trap her kids inside a tech-secured house. But if you think that’ll stop her, think again.
This film flips the usual hostage scenario. Instead of waiting for help, Shaun becomes the help. She fights, climbs, crashes, and breaks in to break her kids out. It’s tense, action-packed, and seriously satisfying.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Amazon/Apple
Lou
What happens when you mix a moody forest, a missing child, and two women with buried secrets? You get Lou. Jurnee Smollett plays Hannah, a desperate mom whose daughter is kidnapped.
Her only hope? A mysterious loner played by Allison Janney, who just happens to have a past full of surprises.
Like Straw, this film explores how far a mother is willing to go. But Lou adds another layer with the bond that grows between the two women as they face off against dangerous forces.
Where to watch: Netflix