The Perfect Guy

Leah Vaughn is a high achieving lobbyist whose carefully built life becomes unsettled after a painful breakup with her long time partner, Dave. She begins a new chapter with Carter Duncan, a man who seems to tick every box of charm and warmth. As their romance deepens, Carter reveals a darker side a need for control that clashes with Leah's future plans for marriage and family. She tries to keep her independence while dating again and looking for lasting connection, but Carter’s devotion mutates into overbearing attention. The danger intensifies as his fixation grows into stalking and manipulation turning a once hopeful romance into a tense struggle for safety. Leah must summon courage and seek help to protect herself and those around her.

Released in 2015, The Perfect Guy is directed by David M Rosenthal and based on an original screenplay by Tyger Williams and Alan B McElroy. The film showcases Sanaa Lathan, Michael Ealy, and Morris Chestnut in a tense modern thriller about trust and danger.

With a modest budget of 12 million dollars, it grossed 60,273,173 worldwide, a solid return that underscored the film's appeal as a brisk, crowd-pleasing thriller rather than a prestige project.

Despite a brisk thriller setup, The Perfect Guy left a modest cultural footprint. It didn't spawn iconic lines or enduring catchphrases, but some viewers discussed its portrayal of possessive behavior and the fine line between charm and threat, sparking conversations about toxic relationships in contemporary media, social media debates, and discussions around consent.

Reception was mixed, with audiences giving it a 5.7 out of 10 on the public vote from 337 ratings. Critics noted the film delivers taut suspense and timely themes around control and fear, while some called the narrative conventional and familiar, pointing to familiar tropes and a straightforward pace that may satisfy genre fans more than critics.