Animals (2026)

Ben Affleck returns to the director’s chair with *Animals*, a tense Los Angeles‑set thriller that drops on Netflix this Friday. He plays Mark Kimball, a mayoral hopeful whose campaign is already straining his marriage to Abigail (Kerry Washington) when a mysterious kidnapper demands a multimillion‑dollar ransom for their son. The high‑stakes plot is bolstered by a star‑studded supporting cast—Steven Yeun as the campaign manager Sam and Gillian Anderson as the shadowy negotiator Dayle—adding layers of intrigue to the family’s crisis. The film’s genesis is as twist‑filled as its story. Originally slated to star Matt Damon as Mark and Jennifer Garner as Abigail, Affleck shelved the project when another kidnapping thriller emerged, then revived it with himself in the lead after Damon became unavailable. Affleck, who also co‑wrote the script with Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray, says the kidnapping is merely a catalyst for the deeper question he wanted to explore: “Are we fundamentally moral beings, or do we justify self‑interest with narratives?” Beyond the personal drama, *Animals* tackles the social fabric of a predominantly Latino city. Affleck highlights the parallel lives of Cecilia (Adriana Paz), the family’s housekeeper, and her undocumented husband Ramon (Luis Gerardo Méndez), whose involvement in the ransom plot exposes the hypocrisies between affluent Angelenos and the workers they rely on. The film asks whether truth and honesty can survive in a marriage when both partners are forced to confront their most selfish impulses. At its core, Affleck describes the movie as “a story about marriage,” probing how couples navigate ambition, betrayal, and the temptation to hide their less flattering selves. The climax leaves viewers to decide whether total honesty is a salvation or a further fracture, echoing the moral ambiguity that defines the film’s Los Angeles backdrop.

Netflix’s newest political thriller, *Animals*, is set to hit the streaming platform this weekend, pairing two heavyweight talents, Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington, as a married couple navigating a high‑stakes political arena. The film promises to blend pulse‑pounding intrigue with an intimate look at the personal sacrifices that come with public service, positioning the duo’s on‑screen chemistry as a core draw for audiences. During the promotional tour, Affleck leaned into the meta‑humor of his role, quipping about the challenges of pretending to be Washington’s spouse. The banter took a personal turn when Washington’s real‑life husband, former NFL cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, was mentioned—he even visited the set and screened an early cut. Affleck, a self‑confessed New England Patriots fan, riffed on his admiration for Asomugha’s athletic pedigree, comparing the former football star to legends like Ray Lewis and playfully acknowledging the “difficulty” of the marital role. The lighthearted exchange underscored the genuine rapport between the leads, hinting at the film’s blend of tension and humanity. As the release date approaches, fans can look forward not only to a gripping political narrative but also to a nuanced portrayal of a marriage under pressure, brought to life by two actors who clearly enjoy teasing each other both on and off the screen.

Ben Affleck is back behind the camera, this time steering the political suspense‑thriller Animals for Netflix. After a string of Oscar‑winning scripts and a mixed bag of directorial outings, the actor‑turned‑filmmaker co‑wrote and directs the film, marking his latest effort to prove he’s as strong a storyteller as he is a star. Animals follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose campaign is derailed when his son is kidnapped, his wife’s infidelity surfaces, and a ruthless political spin machine circles like vultures. Gillian Anderson adds ice‑cold intensity as the fixer hired to manage the fallout, while Affleck himself appears on‑screen as the embattled candidate, wrestling with personal and public crises. The Netflix platform guarantees the widest audience for Affleck’s most visible directorial project yet, but critics note the film leans into the service’s signature polish, resulting in a tone that feels muddled and visuals that border on generic. Still, its ambitious blend of personal drama and high‑stakes political intrigue shows the director’s willingness to tackle weighty material, even if the execution doesn’t always match the scope of his aspirations.

Travis Knight’s new stop‑motion epic, Wildwood, dazzles with a tactile richness that makes every frame feel alive. From quivering leaves to wind‑blown plants, the film’s handcrafted detail turns the Oregonian woods into a living, breathing wonderland—so vivid that you don’t need a pause button to catch hidden gems. Beyond its visual feast, Wildwood shuns the tired YA formulas that have crowded the fantasy genre. Instead of a self‑grandiose “chosen one” saga, the story follows 12‑year‑old Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) as she chases a kidnapped brother into a parallel realm populated by talking coyotes, regal eagles voiced by Angela Bassett, and a corrupt mayor’s capital where animals file paperwork alongside humans. The narrative stays grounded in awe and fear, never slipping into flippant wonder. For parents, the film’s PG‑13 rating signals a bold departure from typical animated fare—blood, death, and a gritty battlefield climax give the fairy‑tale a visceral edge. Yet the deliberate pacing of stop‑motion lets the audience savor each moment, delivering a fantasy experience that feels both fresh and reverently old‑school, reminiscent of The Dark Crystal and the folk‑horror roots that inspired its moss‑covered aesthetic.