The Perfect Pair was the perfect film to binge-watch, from the WTF dance sequence during the credits to the even more lighthearted, campy ending. Nicole Kidman stars in the series and also produced for her company Blossom Films, making The Perfect Pair the latest in a series of book adaptations with complex lead roles. The series adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling crime novel is set at an otherwise idyllic Nantucket wedding where a tragic drowning mars the festivities. The film also stars Liev Schrieber, Eve Hewson, Meghann Fahy and Dakota Fanning.
If you’re in the mood for another compelling mystery series, here’s a curated list of seven shows like The Perfect Pair to watch next, from Kidman’s other TV hits to some lesser-known streaming thrillers.
“The Fate”
Kidman and director Susanne Bier previously collaborated on HBO’s mystery series “The Undoing,” based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s 2014 novel “You Should Have Known.” Kidman plays Grace Fraser, a Manhattan therapist whose idyllic marriage is called into question when her husband (Hugh Grant) becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the mother of a student attending their son’s elite private school. The film isn’t as entertaining or wacky as “The Perfect Couple,” nor does it get you in the beachy summer mood, but if you’re looking for another compelling adaptation that reflects Kidman and Bier’s sensibilities, this is your next film.
“Nine Perfect Strangers”
In this Hulu crime drama based on Lianne Moriarty’s novel of the same name, Kidman plays Masha Dmitrichenko, the ethereal Russian founder of a wellness retreat where an oddball group of privileged guests clash and threaten to spiral out of control — occasionally with the help of hallucinogens. Directed by Jonathan Levine, the filmmaker behind “Warm Bodies” and “50/50,” the miniseries stars Kidman alongside a packed ensemble cast including Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Samara Weaving, Manny Jacinto, Bobby Cannavale and Grace Van Patten.
“Big Little Lies”
“Big Little Lies” is the most famous of Kidman’s increasingly filmed series and combines the production power of Kidman and co-star Reese Witherspoon, who has become a driving force behind the book adaptation herself with her production company Hello Sunshine.
This HBO series, based on the novel of the same name by Lianne Moriarty, was a hit; a gripping paperback with an all-star cast. Set in the affluent, idyllic coastal town of Monterey, California, the series deals with the murder of a local husband and father from the perspective of several women. Created by David E. Kelley and directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée (“Wild”), the award-winning series also stars Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård and Adam Scott – and was so successful that it was expanded from a miniseries to a surprise second season that even featured Meryl Streep.
“Small fires everywhere”
Replace murder with arson, and you have a whole new kind of family crime thriller that will keep you hooked. This film was also produced by Reese Witherspoon, who plays Elena Richardson, a wealthy journalist and mother whose seemingly perfect life falls apart after the arrival of a mother-daughter duo (played by Kerry Washington and Lexi Underwood). Based on the novel by Celeste Ng, the series is both about the mystery of who started the fire and all the ways people set their lives and family relationships on fire before the match is even lit.
“The White Lotus”
HBO’s “The White Lotus” is currently the critics’ darling in the “rich people go through it” genre, and it takes a lighter tack with “The Perfect Couple.” The satirical series draws laughs even as it stirs up angst, drama and murder. Created by Mike White (“Enlightened”), the series has an anthology format and introduces a new group of wealthy guests to a far-flung branch of the White Lotus hotel chain, where they revel in their drama, act generally indifferent to local culture and eventually become embroiled in a murder mystery. Both seasons swept through awards season, and Season 2 features actress Meghann Fahy, who plays Merritt on “The Perfect Couple.”
“Pieces of her”
If you were particularly intrigued by the “hidden past” elements of “The Perfect Pair,” Netflix’s “Pieces of Her” could be your next ideal binge-watch. The great Toni Collette (“Hereditary”) plays Laura Oliver, an otherwise average-looking mother whose dark past resurfaces after a shocking act of violence rocks her small town and sends her daughter (Bella Heathcote) searching for answers. The 2022 series is based on the novel of the same name by bestselling author Karin Slaughter and also stars Omari Hardwick, David Wenham, Jessica Barden and Joe Dempsie.
“Defend Jacob”
Looking for another star-studded crime thriller about a powerful family protecting their own family? Look no further than Apple’s Defending Jacob. Chris Evans plays an assistant district attorney in Massachusetts who is torn between his family and his duty after his 14-year-old son Jacob (Jaeden Martell) is accused of murdering his classmate. The 2022 series is based on the novel of the same name by William Landay and also stars Michelle Dockery, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber (brother of The Perfect Couple star Liev Schreiber) and Betty Gabriel.