Average Joe, Robb Cullen’s acclaimed BET+ series, just hit Netflix—and if you’re wondering if it’s based on a true story, you’ve come to the right place.
Netflix’s biggest hits are often new movies and TV shows that the company acquired rather than produced itself. One example is “The Super Mario Bros Movie,” which stayed in the top 10 for over 35 weeks.
And then there’s Suits, which became a streaming sensation years after its cancellation (it even reappeared in the latest Nielsen ratings alongside House of the Dragon and The Boys).
This week, the first season of Average Joe dropped on Netflix after a successful run on BET and its streaming platform—and it has a crazy plot.
Average Joe is loosely based on a true story
Average Joe is based on Robb Cullen, the creator of the series – but it is a “loose” adaptation of his lifewith many dramatic flourishes along the way.
BET’s website states that while Cullen has openly stated that he was the inspiration for the series’ story, “he has been very tight-lipped about the exact details. This has led to speculation about what the inspiration for the series was.”
However, in an interview with Variety after the show’s release, Cullen revealed: “My father was a con man. He was a record producer, but he was a con man… like most record producers.”
“He was great at finding these kids who could really sing, and every parent wants to believe they have the most talented kid on the planet. They would spend the money without thinking about it, and they would never bloody well see him again.
“We moved around a lot. We ended up in New York, and my father became friends with a man – I call him the Russian – and he was a muscle for the family. When my father died not long ago, I got a call from the Russian who said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about your father.'”
Cullen then met him in a restaurant, where the Russian told him that his father “had taken a lot from a lot of people before he died.”
When Cullen said he didn’t know what he was talking about, the Russian replied, “Just tell me where the damn money is, Rob.”
What is the series about?
“Average Joe” is about Joe Washington (Deon Cole), a plumber who discovers that his deceased father stole money from the Russian mafia.
It’s not just a few thousand dollars or something: It’s $10 million plus a Lamborghini. Understandably, they want it all back, which forces Joe and his family and friends “in a life-or-death race against time to find the truth and the millions,” according to the synopsis.
The show also stars Tammy Townsend, Malcolm Barrett, Cynthia McWilliams and Michael Trucco.
After airing in June 2023, the series received an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. TIME Magazine called it “fast-paced and addictive, with strong performances and a wildly twisted sense of humor.”
Entertainment Weekly also praised the film, writing: “Featuring an appealing ensemble cast, Average Joe offers an inventive mix of hair-raising crime suspense, black humor and tricky family drama.”
Average Joe is currently streaming on Netflix. Be sure to check out our list of other TV shows streaming this month.
