The arrival of a Ben Affleck movie, especially one he directed, is a cause for celebration. He may not have been able to hit the mark every time (remember the not-so-bad "Live by Night”?), but anything he makes will have an element of significance and the promise of something... special.
A political crime thriller, "Animals" sees Affleck returning to the director's chair after "Air" three years back.
Starring Ben Affleck alongside Kerry Washington, the film centres on a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, forcing the parents to navigate a web of deception and raise a ransom. Backed by Netflix and produced alongside Matt Damon, "Animals" is scheduled for limited theatrical release and streaming on October 9, 2026.
"Animals" is a completely fictional, original screenplay co-written by Connor O. McIntyre, Billy Ray, and Ben Affleck himself.
Interestingly, the film shares a thematic link with David Fincher's "Gone Girl", in that it is built on the concept of the "masks" people wear in relationships and public life. However, the two films differ in terms of storytelling approach. "Animals" is a straightforward thriller whereas "Gone Girl", based on a novel by Gillian Flynn, is a satire with dark undertones.
At the Los Angeles premiere of "Animals", Affleck said he aimed to peel back the social "masks" powerful people wear, and the film revolves around characters pushed into extreme moral dilemmas.
The film also has an unusually complicated behind-the-scenes story. Production was originally just weeks away when Affleck decided to shut it down. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Affleck recalled recognising thematic similarities with "Highest 2 Lowest", Spike Lee’s crime thriller starring Denzel Washington. So rather than make a film that felt too similar to another project, Affleck paused production and began reworking the story.
The delay created another major change. Matt Damon had originally been set to play Affleck's lead character, Mark Kimball, but his schedule later conflicted with Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey". Affleck ultimately stepped into the lead role himself, while Damon remained involved as a producer through Artists Equity.
The casting of Abigail, Mark’s wife, also changed. Jennifer Garner had originally been cast in the part, also revealed in his chat with Entertainment Weekly. The plan would have allowed Affleck and Garner, who were once married and share children, to coordinate their professional and family schedules. But after Affleck became the film’s star, he felt that their real-life history could distract audiences from the fictional marriage. Kerry Washington was eventually cast instead, bringing a different dynamic to the relationship.
Once the final cast was in place, production moved quickly. Principal photography began in Los Angeles on March 7, 2025, and ended only 40 days later, on April 16. Affleck reportedly chose a practical and immersive approach, shooting across the city and filming intense action sequences, including gunfire, inside Los Angeles’ concrete storm-drain systems.
Additional filming took place during the summer of 2025. Post-production continued from late 2025 into 2026. "Animals" also marks Affleck's reunion with Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit, who had shot "The Town" and worked on many Paul Thomas Anderson films, most notably "There Will Be Blood".
