‘Animals’ Faces Rotten Tomatoes Reckoning as Critics Review Ben Affleck’s Netflix Thriller

Ben Affleck has established himself as a director known for his keen insight into crime narratives, and his latest film, ‘Animals’, arrives with high expectations. This Netflix thriller marks a significant return to the genre that initially defined his directorial career. However, critics are not welcoming it with open arms.

The film debuts today in select theaters and on Netflix, and early reviews have been harsh, with scores fluctuating as more critics share their opinions.

Currently, ‘Animals’ holds a 44% Tomatometer score based on 25 reviews, placing it firmly in rotten territory. The Popcornmeter score is yet to be determined, as it has received fewer than 50 ratings. The R-rated film runs for 1 hour and 46 minutes and is categorized as a mystery, thriller, crime, and drama.

The score has slightly improved from its initial rating. Earlier this week, it was at 38% from just 16 reviews, which would have positioned it as one of Affleck’s lowest-rated directorial projects, only surpassing ‘Live by Night’ at 34%.

These figures starkly contrast with Affleck’s previous successes as a filmmaker. ‘Gone Baby Gone’ achieved a 94% rating, ‘The Town’ 92%, ‘Argo’ 96%, and ‘Air’ 93%. Even a score in the 40s marks a significant decline compared to his earlier works.

This comparison adds to the disappointment, as audiences anticipated a return to form, but critics have suggested otherwise.

The critiques are notably consistent. The New York Times labeled it a flat political thriller, while The Daily Beast described it as unoriginal and lacking suspense. The AV Club remarked that the film simply fails to resonate. The Associated Press acknowledged Affleck as a thoughtful filmmaker but criticized the story as weak and forced in its melodrama, awarding it two out of four stars.

Vulture was particularly scathing, calling it a catastrophe and pointing out the poor writing and underdeveloped characters. RogerEbert.com went even further, deeming it Affleck’s worst directorial effort and claiming its treatment of political hypocrisy and immigration is unconvincing.

Not all reviews are negative, however. The Hollywood Reporter found the cast engaging and suggested the film serves well as background viewing on Netflix. The Financial Times awarded it four stars, praising it as a tightly constructed thriller and highlighting Gillian Anderson’s performance as a mysterious crisis fixer.

This mixed reception indicates that the film might find a more receptive audience at home than the critical response suggests. A strong ensemble cast can often elevate a flawed script, and Netflix viewers tend to be more lenient than critics.

Affleck stars as Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, with Kerry Washington portraying his wife, Abigail. As they scramble to gather the ransom, they become ensnared in a web of deception that endangers their lives. The cast also features Steven Yeun, Anderson, Adriana Paz, and Luis Gerardo Méndez.

Affleck co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Ray and Connor O. McIntyre, reimagining Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime drama ‘High and Low’ and setting the story in Los Angeles during a mayoral election. The film is produced by Artists Equity, the company Affleck and Matt Damon co-founded, with Damon attending the Los Angeles premiere in support.

When their son is kidnapped, an LA mayoral candidate and his wife scramble to raise the ransom while making choices that could tear their world apart. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, with Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz and Luis Gerardo Méndez ANIMALS is in select theaters and on Netflix October 9

— Netflix (@netflix) September 15, 2026

The road to release was not without its challenges. Damon was initially set to star but had to step back due to his commitment to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, leading Affleck to take on the role himself. Reports indicate that Affleck even paused the project shortly before filming upon discovering that Spike Lee was developing a similar kidnapping film, ‘Highest 2 Lowest’.

He revisited the project a couple of months later, drawn to the idea of creating a film about Los Angeles, a city where he claims to have lived longer than in Boston. In hindsight, the tumultuous development process adds context to the film’s uneven reception.

Rotten Tomatoes scores can fluctuate rapidly in the initial days, and Netflix films often rely more on viewership than critical reviews. If the thriller climbs the streaming charts, the negative critical reception may become less significant than it initially appears.

Nevertheless, this marks a tough beginning for a director whose name once guaranteed prestige.

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