Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Doing Life

Play trailer Poster for Doing Life 2026 1h 48m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 8 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A single mother fighting to survive and a reformed ex-con with untapped talent find in each other an unlikely second chance.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

Doing Life

Critics Reviews

View More
Brandon Yu New York Times Oct 2, 2026
Perry’s reflex toward tired tropes is rendered in poor taste. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 1 day ago
Good chemistry for the leads. Sweet film Go to Full Review
Jennifer Green Common Sense Media 3 days ago
3/5
Aspects are also predictable. But overall, this is a heartfelt and largely understated film (especially for Perry) that will draw you in if you let it. Go to Full Review
Marlon Wallace The M Report (WBOC.com) 5 days ago
It's not that the character can't be good or noble, but it pushes this story more toward fairy tale. Even though Perry's Prince Charming is a former prison inmate, he still comes across as Mr. Perfect, an angel archetype. Go to Full Review
Lucas Moore JVS Media & Productions/Team JVS 5 days ago
B
Tyler Perry delivers a Nicholas Sparks–style romance that feels so earnest and sincere that it is easy to overlook its flaws and simply settle into a heartfelt story about redemption. Go to Full Review
John Stark Mac the Movie Guy 5 days ago
65/100
Tyler Perry’s Doing Life is Perry doing well and doing what he’s best at. The best part of all? There’s no madea. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
First N @theFirstNotee 3 hrs ago Doing Life caught my attention through its trailer, which seemed to offer a glimpse into the lives of its characters in a way that felt intimate and genuine. Having watched it, I felt that the movie delivered on that promise. Even with other things to do that day, I found myself wanting to stay and see how the story unfolded. What I liked was how it explored family, second chances and believing in someone when others might have given up on them. It felt like being let into someone else's life for a while, with moments that were both moving and relatable. If you're looking for an emotional drama that draws you into its characters' lives and leaves you with a little food for thought, it is worth a watch. See more Eddie H @EddieH 16 hrs ago I am not a Tyler Perry fan. I am not a romantic girlie. However, I absolutely loved, loved this film! It is Beautiful and Heartwarming!! Sparkling with Hope! Both leads are Outstanding. It has surpassed both Love and Basketball and The Notebook as my favorite romantic film of all-time. See more tina C @RT85532316 1 day ago This is the first time I've ever been moved to tears by a movie starring Black actors. Their previous films were mostly violent and intense; it's rare to see such a heartwarming movie. It's number one on Netflix's charts; you really should check it out.🥲 See more David V @RT57013587 1 day ago For sure, this movie is in my top 3 of Tyler Perry movies. It made me, a grown man, cry. 🙌 See more Phillip H @FloridaPhil 2 days ago It was outstanding. And I’m not a TP fan. See more Tatiana H @ROYALTEE95 2 days ago Doing Life was a solid watch. The film tackles several thought-provoking issues that have long been discussed within the Black community, particularly the stigma surrounding incarceration, inmates, and the challenges of reintegrating into society. What stood out to me was the film’s willingness to explore these subjects beyond the surface level. It highlights how incarceration can shape not only an individual’s life, but also how they are perceived by family, friends, and society. While the film has its flaws, the underlying themes give it substance and make it more than just a straightforward story. Overall, I would recommend Doing Life for a watch. See more Read all reviews
Doing Life

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Movie Info

Synopsis A single mother fighting to survive and a reformed ex-con with untapped talent find in each other an unlikely second chance.
Director
Tyler Perry
Producer
Angi Bones
Distributor
Netflix
Production Co
Tyler Perry Studios, Netflix Studios
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 2, 2026
Runtime
1h 48m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings