Psychological Thriller ‘The Bad Guardian’ Is a Streaming Hit on Netflix

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Netflix has a lot of suspenseful psychological thrillers, and a new one has quickly become a surprise hit, sneaking into the Top 10 most popular movies.

The 2024 Lifetime movie stars Melissa Joan Hart (known from Sabrina the Teenage Witch) as Leigh Delgado, a woman who must fight for control of her father’s life after he’s assigned a court-appointed guardian (La La Anthony) following a serious fall. When the guardian starts taking over her father’s finances, healthcare, and possessions, Leigh realizes she needs to expose the guardian and the flawed system that allows this to happen.

Directed by Claudia Myers, the movie The Bad Guardian is a fictional story inspired by true accounts of conservatorship abuse. This basis in reality makes it a disturbing and realistic look at what happens in private, and many viewers have described it as a moving and impactful film.

Since debuting on Netflix in the US on March 15th, The Bad Guardian has quickly become popular. According to Flix Patrol, it’s consistently ranked among the top 10 most-watched films, even reaching number 4. As of today, it’s the eighth most popular movie, positioned between The Creator at number 7 and The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers at number 9.

‘The Bad Guardian’ Is An Anxiety-Inducing “Must-Watch”


Lifetime

Since The Bad Guardian premiered on Lifetime two years ago, it didn’t receive much attention. It largely went unnoticed, even by movie critics. It doesn’t have enough reviews on Rotten Tomatoes to earn a score, but Barbara Shulgasser from Common Sense Media did offer this assessment:

If you enjoy a thriller that feels like a cautionary tale about anxiety, featuring a dismissive antagonist and a flawed system that preys on vulnerability, then ‘The Bad Guardian’ is a good fit for you.

I’ve been following the buzz around this new film, and even though it hasn’t gotten a ton of reviews yet – under 50, actually – the ones it has received are really encouraging! People are saying it’s “well done” and a definite “must-watch.” One review from The Movie Search even called it “thought-provoking,” which is exactly the kind of movie I love.

I was really surprised by ‘Bad Guardian’! I went in expecting something fairly standard, but it was actually a really powerful and emotional film. Melissa Joan Hart is fantastic, and the movie deals with some tough topics in a way that feels sensitive and real – it never feels like it’s trying too hard to be dramatic. The story definitely stuck with me; it’s unsettling at times, but in a way that keeps you hooked and makes you think. What I appreciated most is that it wasn’t about shocking the audience, but about delivering a meaningful message in a really impactful and believable way.

‘The Bad Guardian’ Is Comparable to a 2020 Black Comedy

If you’ve finished reading The Bad Guardian, you might be in the mood for something a bit less intense. A good comparison would be the 2020 black comedy I Care a Lot, starring Rosamund Pike. It’s about a con artist who legally becomes the guardian of vulnerable seniors, then steals their money – and she ends up crossing paths with the mother of a powerful mafia boss.

Unlike some other films, I Care a Lot has a score on Rotten Tomatoes – currently 79% and designated “Certified Fresh.” Luckily, it’s easy to watch, as it’s streaming on Netflix.




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2026-03-24 22:20