Ben Affleck is back in the director’s chair for Animals, a high-stakes political crime thriller backed by Netflix and Artists Equity, the company he runs with Matt Damon. Arriving globally on October 9, 2026, with a simultaneous run in select theaters, the film is shaping up as one of the fall’s most intense streaming events.
Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Steven Yeun join Affleck in a story that drops a Los Angeles mayoral candidate into a kidnapping nightmare. Here is everything we know before it lands.
When Does Animals Come Out, and How Long Is It?
Animals premieres worldwide on Netflix on October 9, 2026, with a limited theatrical run in select theaters on the same day. That means you can stream it at home or catch it on a big screen without waiting for a window to close.
Netflix launches its original films globally at the same moment, anchored to 12:00 AM Pacific Time. Animals will drop at 3:00 AM ET, 8:00 AM BST, 9:00 AM CEST, and 12:30 PM IST.
The film carries an R rating and a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. That makes it four minutes shorter than The Rip, which dropped on Netflix in Janaury 2026.
Animals Cast and Creative Team
Affleck plays Mark Kimball, the mayoral candidate at the center of the story. Washington plays his wife, Abigail, while Anderson appears as Dayle, according to Netflix’s official stills.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director and star (Mark Kimball) | Ben Affleck |
| Abigail Kimball | Kerry Washington |
| Dayle | Gillian Anderson |
| Supporting cast | Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Ray Fisher, Mark Kassen, Christopher Woodley |
| Screenplay | Connor O. McIntyre, rewritten by Billy Ray and Affleck |
| Cinematography | Robert Elswit |
| Producers | Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Dani Bernfeld, Brad Weston, Collin Creighton |
The casting has a backstory. Affleck was originally attached only to direct, with Damon set to play the candidate, but Damon left to reunite with Christopher Nolan on The Odyssey. Affleck stepped in, and Jennifer Garner was also once reported to play the role now filled by Washington.
Read More: 4 Major Differences Between Prime Video’s Carrie And Stephen King’s Book
What Is Animals About?
Netflix describes the story as follows: after their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife are pulled into a web of deception. As they scramble to raise the ransom, they face choices that could tear their world apart. Early trailer coverage adds that the couple is surrounded by political adversaries and other threats.
The first teaser has no dialogue. It builds dread with eerie music and a buzzing telephone, and some of its imagery recalls Affleck’s heist thriller The Town. At the Los Angeles premiere, Affleck said he wanted to peel back the social masks that powerful people wear.
Where Animals Fits in Ben Affleck’s Thriller Run
Affleck has built his directing career on crime stories, from Gone Baby Gone and The Town to Argo, Live By Night, and Air. Animals also reunites him with Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit, who shot The Town.
Anyone looking for a reference point will probably land on Gone Girl, where Affleck starred as a husband under public scrutiny. We would expect Animals to lean on that same unease, this time with a campaign trail attached.
Animals FAQ
Is Animals based on a true story?
No. Animals is an original fictional crime thriller. It grew out of a Black List script by Connor O. McIntyre that Billy Ray and Affleck later rewrote.
Where was Animals filmed?
The production shot in and around Los Angeles. Netflix says the city is an integral part of the story and that the producers committed to keeping jobs in the local film community.
Can I watch Animals in theaters?
Yes, in select theaters. Netflix is releasing it on October 9, 2026, the same day it begins streaming.
You May Also Like:
Add us as a preferred source on Google.