Netflix Debuts Ruth and Boaz, a Tyler Perry–Produced Faith-Based Romance

Netflix has released Ruth and Boaz, a faith-based romance produced by Tyler Perry, as part of its ongoing slate of Perry-backed projects. The film, which dropped on Sept. 26, 2025, reimagines the biblical romance of Ruth and Boaz in a contemporary setting, centering on a wealthy landowner who falls for a widow working on his farm.

Directed by Alanna Brown and produced by Perry alongside DeVon Franklin, Ruth and Boaz features Serayah as Ruth and Phylicia Rashad as Naomi. Tyler Lepley plays Bo Azra, the winery founder who formerly worked on Wall Street, while Chaundre Hall-Boomfield portrays Ruth's partner Marlon and Nijah Brenea appears as Breana as part of Ruth's musical duo, 404. The film also hints at industry figures, with a nod to Jermaine Dupri As Himself in a scene tied to Ruth's music-world arc.

On the narrative front, the movie follows Ruth's attempt to carve out a life in faith and art while Naomi—Ruth's ally and obstacle—navigates a crisis of faith after a carjacking claims the life of her son and Ruth's partner's father. Naomi's finances unravel, forcing them to leave Atlanta for Pegram, Tennessee, where the damaged family house needs repair and a new start awaits. Ruth eventually lands a job at a vineyard owned by Bo Azra, who embodies a modern version of the Boaz figure: successful, generous, and sincerely religious. Bo's company is discreet about the stakes of the relationship, and Ruth's singing talents give him a sense of possibility beyond business. The film leans into the romance as Bo offers Ruth a permanent position, prompting questions about whether love and faith can coexist with the practicalities of work and past heartbreak.

Critical reception, as summarized by the review from Decider, frames the film as a conventional Tyler Perry entry. The critic describes it as predictable and earnest to a fault, with Phylicia Rashad delivering a soothing but repetitive narration that can feel more like a children's-picture-book lesson than a nuanced screenplay. The film leans on a heavy-handed voiceover, a minimal plot, and a pastor-tinged resolution in which faith guides the characters toward a conventional happy ending. A karaoke moment in which Ruth performs Aloe Blacc’s Wake Me Up and the grape-stomping scenes underscore an approach to romance that many viewers may find lightweight and saccharine. The reviewer concludes that the movie proves engaging for Perry’s faithful audience but may leave general viewers yearning for more depth.

Beyond the review, Ruth and Boaz sits squarely in Netflix’s strategy to broaden its faith-based and inspirational offerings, a space Perry has helped populate through collaborations with Franklin and Brown. The production is described as having a modest budget and straightforward storytelling, designed to deliver comfort and moral messaging with a familiar rhythm. The critique notes that the film echoes classic biblical-adaptation tropes—moral lessons, divine providence, and a tidy resolution—without venturing into more ambitious characterization or visual scope.

Overall, Ruth and Boaz exemplifies a niche corner of streaming cinema: a glossy, gospel-flavored romance intended to reassure rather than challenge. For subscribers who enjoy Tyler Perry’s signature tone, it offers a familiar cadence and performances from a veteran cast, especially Rashad. For others, the critics say, it may feel as if the film is praying for what it delivers rather than presenting something novel. In any case, Ruth and Boaz arrives as part of Netflix’s ongoing experiment with faith-centered storytelling on a global platform.