%20rotate(90)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Crect%20class%3D%22cls-2%22%20x%3D%22901.37%22%20y%3D%225.34%22%20width%3D%2212.12%22%20height%3D%22352.95%22%20transform%3D%22translate(1089.25%20-725.61)%20rotate(90)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Ccircle%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20cx%3D%22730.95%22%20cy%3D%22181.82%22%20r%3D%2218.18%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Netflix's new thriller Animals is one of the biggest movies of the fall so far. Ben Affleck's new movie opened to nearly 24 million views over its opening weekend, and it's been the No. 1 Netflix movie since its premiere on Oct. 9. Now, most fans need a new thriller to watch.
There's no debate that Animals, which also stars Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson, wasn't the strongest of recent Netflix thrillers, but the good news is that Netflix is the home of some of the most exciting thrillers of the last five years. There's even another Netflix thriller starring Ben Affleck and Steven Yeun available to stream right now!
To help you find something to watch after Animals, I shared a list of the three Netflix thrillers that feel a lot like Animals.
The Rip
- Premiere date: Jan. 16, 2026
- Directed by Joe Carnahan
- Cast: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler
The Rip is my top pick to watch if you enjoyed Animals. In the film, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck play the top members of a tactical narcotics team responsible for busting drug dealers in South Florida. When their latest "rip" turns into a massive haul, Damon and Affleck's characters, Dane Dumars and J.D. Byrne, try to finish the job before someone finishes them and takes the stash.
Is The Rip the best Netflix movie of all time? Of course not, but you'll have a hard time finding a thrill ride like this one. It's action-packed, full of suspense, and the mystery of who the good guys and bad guys are will keep you guessing the entire movie.
We all know Damon and Affleck are incredible, but the rest of this cast is so good. I love Steven Yeun in basically everything. I also have to mention Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. They really bring this movie home.
If you've neglected to watch The Rip on Netflix, now is the time!
The Guilty
- Premiere date: Sept. 24, 2021
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Riley Keough, Eli Goree, Paul Dano, Peter Sarsgaard, Ethan Hawke, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph
When I watched Animals on Netflix, the first movie I thought of was not The Rip, even though it starred Affleck. The first movie I thought of was actually The Guilty, a 2021 Netflix movie from Antoine Fuqua starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
In The Guilty, Gyllenhaal stars as Joe Baylor, an LAPD officer who is working for 911 dispatch following his suspension from the force. Joe gets a call from a woman who has been kidnapped, but they are disconnected before Joe can help. Then, his detective instincts take over, and he does literally everything he can to save the woman.
For the most part, The Guilty takes place in one location, which feels a lot like Animals. There were only a handful of locations used in the film, and most of the big scenes take place at the home of Affleck and Washington's characters, Mark and Abigail Kimball.
I really liked The Guilty, and I think you will, too!
Carry-On
- Premiere date: Dec. 13, 2024
- Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
- Cast: Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, and Logan Marshall-Green
Carry-On isn't a hostage film, necessarily, but it might as well be because Taron Egerton's character, Ethan Kopek, is put through it!
In the film, which premiered around the holidays in 2024, Egerton stars as a TSA agent, just trying to get through the day. Things take a turn when a traveler instructs Ethan to put in an earpiece and start following orders, or his girlfriend will be killed. As the day goes on, Ethan realizes that only he stands in the way of something terrible happening.
Of the movies on this list, Carry-On is easily the most popular, so there's a good chance you've already seen it. It currently ranks No. 3 on the list of the most popular Netflix movies ever behind K-Pop: Demon Hunters and Red Notice. If you haven't or you're just up for a rewatch, Carry-On is absolutely the movie for you to watch this weekend.
Those are the three Netflix thrillers to watch if you liked Animals. Even if you didn't like Animals, you'll probably enjoy these three movies!
If I hadn't seen any of them, I would probably start with The Rip first because it's Damon and Affleck. From there, I'd probably go with The Guilty because it's the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Then, I'd probably go with Carry-On because it's just an absolutely wild ride that you can't miss.
They all have their strengths and weaknesses, though, so it's really just a matter of preference at the end of the day. We'll share more recommendations for shows and movies to watch on Netflix. Stay tuned!
Add us as a preferred source on Google