Animals (2026): cast, story, release date and box office

Animals (2026) is a crime thriller film directed by Ben Affleck, written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray. It stars Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun. The film follows wealthy mayoral candidate Mark Kimball and his wife Abigail as they uncover dark secrets when their son is kidnapped and a $7 million ransom is demanded.

Before the Los Angeles mayoral race, Mark commits his life savings to a campaign outreach targeting the Latino American vote. Abigail, his spouse, starts to withdraw, enters a relationship with Ron, and intends to initiate a divorce. On Halloween, their son Denny goes trick-or-treating with housekeeper Cecilia and her boyfriend Ramon's son, Hector. As night falls, Cecilia loses sight of the boys, and an unidentified figure watches. A voice left unidentified warns Denny that he will be murdered if the $7 million ransom isn't delivered by midnight, with no police participation. Mark reveals to Abigail that he cannot afford the ransom because he had already spent their savings on the campaign.

Mark's campaign manager Sam proposes hiring an operative named Dayle to handle the ransom and kidnappers. Dayle demands a 20% fee regardless of outcome. Ramon arrives to wait for Cecilia. Denny appears unharmed, oblivious to the kidnapping. Cecilia arrives soon after, and the caller sends video proof showing Hector was accidentally kidnapped. Mark and Sam attend a rally. Ramon finds a kidnapper watching the mansion and they fight; the lookout escapes. At the rally, the caller pushes for an increased sum, yet Dayle holds firm to the initial $7 million demand. At home, Mark discovers Abigail's affair with Ron and they reconcile.

Mark offers Dayle more money to kill the kidnappers and recover Hector, using her recording of his order as leverage. Mark meets the kidnappers in Frogtown with Dayle following. A sniper sent by Dayle dispatches two captors in the standoff, yet a third, unanticipated, ends his life. Ramon arrives, shoots the third kidnapper. When Dayle passes, Mark seizes her phone, wiping proof of her being hired. He never finds a connection to the three kidnappers. Ramon assists Mark in hiding all the bodies except the sniper's.

Netflix and a limited number of cinemas launched the film on October 9, 2026. A review panel of 72 critics gave 32% positive assessments, averaging 5.4 out of 10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 34 out of 100, indicating 'generally unfavorable' reviews. The film was announced in January 2024, with filming scheduled to begin in March 2024 in Los Angeles. Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun were quietly cast around this time, though Affleck ultimately delayed production. Music was composed by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Where to watch: The film is available on Netflix. Availability varies by country.

Behind the scenes: The film was announced in January 2024. Filming was scheduled to begin in March 2024 in Los Angeles. Ben Affleck said he thought Jennifer Garner would be amazing for the role, noting that coordinating schedules with her would allow both of them to spend time with their children. Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun were quietly cast around this time, but Affleck delayed production.

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Headline: Animals (2026): cast, story, release date and box office

Deck: A crime thriller about a mayoral candidate and his family as they face a kidnapping and a ransom.

Key points:

• A wealthy mayoral candidate and his wife uncover a kidnapping after a Halloween trick-or-treating incident.
• A $7 million ransom is demanded, and the family hires an operative to handle the situation.
• The film received generally negative reviews from critics.

FAQ:

• Who is in Animals (2026)? Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.
• When was Animals (2026) released? The film became available on Netflix and in select venues on October 9, 2026.
• What is the film's reception? It received generally negative reviews, with 32% positive critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 34 out of 100.

Focus keyword: Animals (2026)

Search terms: Animals 2026 movie, Animals film cast, Animals release date

Tags: crime thriller, Ben Affleck, Netflix, 2026 film

Image alt text: A scene from the film Animals (2026), showing a family during a Halloween event

Value statement: Provides a clear, factual overview of the film's cast, story, release, and reception based on verified sources.

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Where to watch

Animals is in US theaters now. It is listed for streaming on Netflix. Availability changes and differs by country, so check the service before you subscribe. The film box at the top of this guide links to every streaming, rental and purchase option.