Ben Affleck's Netflix Kidnapping Thriller 'Animals' Draws Mixed Reviews

· Entertainment · United States

Ben Affleck returns to the director's chair for 'Animals,' a Netflix original kidnapping thriller in which he stars opposite Kerry Washington. The film, also featuring Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson, follows a kidnapping plot set against a wealthy independent candidate's Los Angeles mayoral campaign. It is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 classic 'High and Low,' following Spike Lee's 2025 homage 'Highest 2 Lowest.' Reviews from trade publications were mixed: Variety called it a 'nasty, compulsive' thriller, while Deadline said it was 'stretched too thin,' and The Hollywood Reporter found it full of 'juicy elements' that should have been 'a lot tastier.' Affleck also revealed he campaigned for LA mayor in character and told voters not to vote for him.

Why it matters：Affleck's return to directing for a major streamer, adapting a Kurosawa classic after Spike Lee did the same, highlights how Netflix and A-list talent keep mining prestigious international source material for star-driven genre films, a strategy that shapes which theatrical-caliber projects reach streaming first.

Key points

  • Affleck directs and stars opposite Kerry Washington; cast includes Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson
  • Remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 'High and Low'
  • Trade reviews were mixed, with reactions from Variety, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter

Sources (original reporting)

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