‘The Better Sister’ Cast & Spoilers: Everything You Need to Know

Jessica Biel returns to the crime drama spotlight with “The Better Sister,” a Prime Video series premiering on May 29, 2025.

Based on Alafair Burke’s 2019 novel, the show features Biel alongside Elizabeth Banks in a gripping family-centered thriller that promises mystery, dark comedy, and emotionally charged performances. All eight episodes will be available for streaming at 3 a.m. ET on the release date, adding to Prime Video’s growing library of acclaimed adaptations.

After Biel’s success with “The Sinner” in 2017, fans are eager to see her in another adaptation, especially one with as much tension and character depth as “The Better Sister.” Alongside Elizabeth Banks, Biel leads a cast that includes Corey Stoll, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Kim Dickens, Gabriel Sloyer, Matthew Modine, Gloria Reuben, and Lorraine Toussaint.

A Murder Mystery Wrapped in Family Drama

According to Variety, “The Better Sister” follows Chloe Taylor (Biel), a polished and successful publisher married to Adam (Corey Stoll), a prominent Manhattan lawyer. But Adam’s murder upends Chloe’s carefully curated life, forcing her to reconnect with her estranged sister, Nicky Macintosh (Banks), Adam’s ex-wife and the mother of his son, Ethan.

What first appears to be a burglary gone wrong soon spirals into a full-blown investigation, raising questions about whether the crime scene was staged. Chloe and Nicky, polar opposites in personality, must set aside years of tension and unresolved issues to protect Ethan and navigate the scrutiny of detectives, the media, and their own family secrets.

“The Better Sister” stands out from typical crime thrillers by focusing not just on solving the murder but on unraveling the sisters’ complicated relationship.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, showrunner Olivia Milch said, “Family is at the heart” of the series. Milch and co-showrunner Regina Corrado emphasized that “nobody is all good or all bad,” describing the sisters’ journey as an exploration of trying “to be better than your worst self.”

Star-Studded Cast

Jessica Biel’s Chloe and Elizabeth Banks’ Nicky form the emotional core of the show, and both actresses also serve as executive producers, drawing from their behind-the-scenes experience on past projects. “They’re both such incredible performers,” Milch said. “They brought such a level of professionalism, of competency, of awareness, of the totality of the project, and a self-sufficiency.” Milch added, “We were jokingly saying it’s like we first saw them side by side and we thought, ‘We’re brilliant.’ They look exactly like sisters.”

The ensemble cast adds further depth to the compelling thriller. Maxwell Donovan portrays Ethan, a teenager navigating grief, trauma, and shifting loyalties, particularly as his relationship with Nicky evolves. Gloria Reuben plays defense attorney Michelle Sanders, a tough, no-nonsense figure determined to uncover the truth. Gabriel Sloyer’s Jake Rodríguez also brings complexity as Adam’s colleague, blending family loyalty with legal entanglements.

Though conceived as a limited series, Milch and Corrado hinted in their interview with Screen Rant that they would love to continue the story. “Absolutely,” Milch said when asked about a potential second season. “We absolutely love these characters and we would feel incredibly lucky [to continue]. We think about them all the time.”

‘The Better Sister’ Ending Explained

Spoiler Warning: Do not continue reading if you do not want to know key plot details and the ending of “The Better Sister.”

In the final episodes of “The Better Sister,” secrets unravel fast. While Chloe initially believes her son Ethan might be guilty in the murder of his father, Adam, the truth proves far more layered. Ethan, though present, only staged the crime scene to protect Chloe, thinking she was responsible. As the investigation unfolds, Chloe testifies about Adam’s abusive behavior, pointing suspicion toward Adam’s friend Jake, while Ethan is ultimately acquitted.

So, who killed Adam?

As explained in a plot synopsis by Today, the biggest twist comes when Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) confesses to Chloe that she killed Adam during a violent confrontation after learning he had set her up years earlier.

To cover their tracks, Chloe and Nicky frame Adam’s law partner Bill (Matthew Modine), whose shady dealings were already under FBI scrutiny. But the finale delivers one last shock: Jake’s body is discovered on a beach, leaving viewers questioning whether he was a victim of Bill’s revenge or took his own life.