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The Better Sister

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The Better Sister
GenreThriller
Created byOlivia Milch
Based onThe Better Sister
by Alafair Burke
Starring
Music byWill Bates
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJames Crowell
Cinematography
  • Isiah Donté Lee
  • Duane Manwiller
Editors
  • Tatiana S. Riegel
  • Erica Freed
  • Gershon Hinkson
  • Jonah Moran
  • Dave Labich
Running time53–61 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkPrime Video
ReleaseMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)

The Better Sister is an American thriller television limited series created by Olivia Milch and starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. It is based on the 2019 novel by Alafair Burke. The series premiered on May 29, 2025, on Prime Video.

Premise

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Two estranged sisters, one married to, and the other divorced from the same man, are forced together after he is murdered.[1]

Cast

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Main

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  • Jessica Biel as Chloe Taylor, the editor-in-chief of The Real Thing magazine
  • Elizabeth Banks as Nicky Macintosh, Chloe's estranged, alcoholic older sister
  • Corey Stoll as Adam Macintosh, Chloe's husband and Nicky's ex-husband
  • Kim Dickens as Detective Nancy "Nan" Guidry, an East Hampton detective who is investigating Adam's murder
  • Maxwell Acee Donovan as Ethan Macintosh, Nicky and Adam's biological son
  • Bobby Naderi as Detective Matt Bowen, Nancy's police partner who is also investigating Adam's murder
  • Gabriel Sloyer as Jake Rodriguez, an attorney at Adam's law firm and Chloe's lover
  • Matthew Modine as Bill Braddock, a founding partner of the law firm where Adam and Jake work
  • Lorraine Toussaint as Catherine Lancaster, The Real Thing's publisher who is also Chloe's mentor and friend
  • Gloria Reuben as Michelle Sanders, the lawyer recommended by Jake to represent Ethan

Recurring

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  • Michael J. Harney as Doorman Arty, the doorman at the building where Chloe, Adam, and Ethan live in Manhattan
  • Janel Moloney as Sheila, Chloe and Nicky's mother
  • Frederick Weller as Hank, Chloe and Nicky's father
  • John Finn as Clark, the East Hampton chief of police and Nan and Matt's boss
  • Paul Sparks as Ken, Nicky's love interest whom she meets at an AA meeting in East Hampton
  • Frank Pando as Edward Olivero, a FBI agent who has been blackmailing Adam and Jake

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"She's My Sister"Craig GillespieOlivia MilchMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
2"Lotta Sky"Leslie HopeRegina CorradoMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
3"Incoming Widow"Leslie HopeAriel DoctoroffMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
4"Gazpacho"Azazel JacobsBrittany Dushame & Lauren StremmelMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
5"Just Ask"Dawn WilkinsonRegina CorradoMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
6"Steadying Hand"Dawn WilkinsonOlivia MilchMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
7"Back from Red"Stephanie LaingRegina CorradoMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)
8"They're In Their World"Stephanie LaingOlivia MilchMay 29, 2025 (2025-05-29)

Production

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The series is an adaptation by Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado of the 2019 novel The Better Sister by Alafair Burke. Burke acts as a consultant on the series which has Elizabeth Banks as co-star and executive producer via Brownstone Productions, and Jessica Biel as co-star and executive producer via Iron Ocean Films, along with Michelle Purple. Craig Gillespie will direct in addition to being an executive producer, along with Annie Marter through Fortunate Jack Productions. The series is a co-production between Tomorrow Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, with Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, and Alissa Bachner of Tomorrow Studios executive producing.[2]

In June 2024, Corey Stoll, Bobby Naderi, Kim Dickens and Maxwell Acee Donovan joined the cast.[3][4]

Filming began in New York in June 2024,[5][6][7] and wrapped in October 2024.[8]

Release

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The series was released on Amazon Prime Video with all eight episodes on May 29, 2025.[9][10]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 70% approval rating based on 33 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A dense mystery with nods towards moral ambiguity, Better Sister is too derivative for its surprises to properly land but gets a dramatic lift from the appealing pairing of Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel."[11] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave a score of 56 out of 100 based on 13 critics, indicating "mixed or average".[12]

References

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  1. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 1, 2024). "Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel to Lead Amazon Thriller 'The Better Sister'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Otterson, Joe (May 1, 2024). "Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel to Star in 'Better Sister' Series Adaptation at Amazon". Variety. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 3, 2024). "Corey Stoll & Bobby Naderi Join Prime Video's 'The Better Sister' As Series Regulars". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Petski, Denise (June 4, 2024). "'The Better Sister' Adds Maxwell Acee Donovan & Kim Dickens As Series Regulars". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Singh, Sartaj (May 13, 2024). "Jessica Biel's 'The Better Sister' Starts Filming in New York in June". Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Shivale, Shelby (June 18, 2024). "Jessica Biel Was Filming Upcoming Show in NYC Hours Before Husband Justin Timberlake's Arrest". Us Weekly. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. ^ Braun, Don (June 13, 2024). "Jessica Biel on Set of The Better Sister in Long Island New York 06-12-2024". celebmafia. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  8. ^ Moore, Julia (October 10, 2024). "Jessica Biel Celebrates 'The Better Sister' Wrapping Filming". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Seitz, Loree (May 1, 2024). "Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks Thriller Series 'The Better Sister' Lands at Prime Video". TheWrap. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Radloff, Jessica (March 27, 2025). "Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks Have a Deliciously Twisted Relationship in The Better Sister". Glamour. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  11. ^ "The Better Sister: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  12. ^ "The Better Sister: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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