Ben Affleck's 'Animals' Thriller Hits Netflix Amid Mixed Reviews
Critics find the kidnapping thriller starring and directed by Ben Affleck lacking in impact despite its all-star cast.
Headline and summary written by an AI model from the linked articles; not reviewed by a person. How this was made
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The story so far
9 publishers have covered this in 13 articles since 7 Oct 2026. The Hill published first, on 7 October at 15:43 UTC; The A.V. Club followed 8h 31m later. The most recent article, from Variety, appeared on 8 October at 23:05 UTC.
Outlets reporting it: The Hill (major outlet), The Hollywood Reporter (major outlet), The New York Times (major outlet), News Feed (major outlet), The Guardian Culture (major outlet), Variety (major outlet), The A.V. Club, Deadline, IndieWire.
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How it unfolded
Every source in the order it published.
- The HillBen Affleck slams 'snarky,' 'depressing' political climate: 'I think it would be an awful job'
- The A.V. ClubBen Affleck admits he has become an avatar for "the beleaguered man"
- The Hollywood ReporterJoe Manganiello’s Intestines Were Ripped Out — Then Ben Affleck Offered Him Batman
- DeadlineBen Affleck Campaigned For Mayor In LA As ‘Animals’ Character: “Do Not Vote For Me!”
- The Hollywood Reporter‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Directs and Stars Opposite Kerry Washington in a Thriller Full of Juicy Elements That Should Be a Lot Tastier
- IndieWire‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Tedious New Netflix Thriller Is Quite Literally Just Bad TV
- Deadline‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck And Kerry Washington Fight A Lot In Netflix Kidnap Thriller That Is Stretched Too Thin
- The New York Times‘Animals’ Review: The Politician’s Dilemma
- The New York Times‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Political Dilemma
- News FeedAnimals — Ben Affleck anchors tightly wound kidnap thriller
Sources
Every article we clustered into this story. Headlines link to the publisher.
- ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Returns to the Director’s Chair for a Nasty, Compulsive Kidnapping Thriller Variety ·
- Animals review – Ben Affleck’s dull Netflix thriller is lacking in bark and bite The Guardian Culture ·
- Animals — Ben Affleck anchors tightly wound kidnap thriller News Feed ·
- ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Political Dilemma The New York Times ·
- ‘Animals’ Review: The Politician’s Dilemma The New York Times ·
- ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Directs and Stars Opposite Kerry Washington in a Thriller Full of Juicy Elements That Should Be a Lot Tastier The Hollywood Reporter ·
Show 7 more sources
- Joe Manganiello’s Intestines Were Ripped Out — Then Ben Affleck Offered Him Batman The Hollywood Reporter ·
- Ben Affleck slams 'snarky,' 'depressing' political climate: 'I think it would be an awful job' The Hill ·
- Knock-off kidnapping drama Animals is High And Lowbrow The A.V. Club
- ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck’s Tedious New Netflix Thriller Is Quite Literally Just Bad TV IndieWire
- ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck And Kerry Washington Fight A Lot In Netflix Kidnap Thriller That Is Stretched Too Thin Deadline
- Ben Affleck Campaigned For Mayor In LA As ‘Animals’ Character: “Do Not Vote For Me!” Deadline
- Ben Affleck admits he has become an avatar for "the beleaguered man" The A.V. Club
In this story
- Ben Affleck
- Netflix
- Kerry Washington
- Steven Yeun
- Gillian Anderson