Ben Affleck's New Thriller

Ben Affleck's latest Netflix thriller Animals debuts at No. 1 on the streamer's global English-language movie chart.

23.8 Million Views

The movie has officially reached 23.8 million views according to Netflix's Tudum rankings for the week of October 5.

Plot Overview

The film follows Mark Kimball, a successful politician, loving father, and doting husband to Abigail, whose son Denny is kidnapped.

Cast Details

The cast includes Ben Affleck as Mark Kimball, Kerry Washington as Abigail Kimball, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Ray Fisher.

Director Background

Affleck has directed acclaimed thrillers but this latest project takes a political campaign kidnapping setup.

Thematic Focus

The movie explores family dynamics and moral choices when long-buried secrets come to light.

Key Quote

Affleck stated: 'In a crisis, we discover who we are, and what’s important to us [...] Who are we really? Who are we when our masks come off?'

“In a crisis, we discover who we are, and what’s important to us [...] Who are we really? Who are we when our masks come off?”

Stakes Clarified

Kerry Washington's character warns: 'Your son’s life is at stake ... So whatever secrets you’ve kept from one another need to come out now.'

“Your son’s life is at stake ... So whatever secrets you’ve kept from one another need to come out now.”

Streaming Details

Animals is streaming exclusively on Netflix with a release date of October 9, 2.026 and a runtime of 106 minutes.

Production Team

The film was written by Billy Ray, Ben Affleck, and Connor O. McIntyre with producers including Ben Affleck, Brad Weston, Collin Creighton, Dani Bernfeld, Luciana Damon, and Matt Damon.

Genre and Themes

The thriller explores marriage, moral compasses, and family secrets amid a political campaign kidnapping crisis.

Viewership Impact

The movie's success highlights Netflix's growing influence in the global thriller genre with high viewership numbers.

Release Date

Animals premiered on Netflix on October 9, 2026, with a runtime of 106 minutes.

Director's Statement

Affleck emphasized the film's focus on family dynamics and moral choices when secrets surface during a crisis.

Streaming Platform

The movie is available exclusively on Netflix with no other streaming platforms.