Ben Affleck's Netflix movie Animals could be the biggest thriller of fall 2026

It's been a big year for Ben Affleck already. The actor and director made his Netflix movie debut alongside his longtime best friend and collaborator Matt Damon in the thriller movie The Rip. A few short months after the action thriller became one of the streamer's most popular movies of 2026, Affleck's back with his second Netflix movie and latest directorial effort.

Like the majority of Affleck's films as a director, he also stars in the leading role. In Animals, he plays Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, who becomes the target of a tangled web alongside his wife Abigail (Kerry Washington) when their son gets kidnapped. Difficult choices threaten to tear the couple apart and impact their world as they fight to bring their son home.

Ben Affleck's Animals releases on Netflix and theaters in October 2026

Animals follows up Affleck's stunning Netflix debut with a crime thriller that's directly up the alley of the Academy Award winner's previous work behind the director's chair. The movie was written by Connor O. McIntrye, Bill Ray, and Affleck, who of course also directed the film, and begins streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Animals will also have a limited theatrical release the same day.

Ahead of the movie's premiere on Netflix and limited theatrical run this fall, the streaming service unveiled the first look at Animals with a breathless teaser trailer. Although the one-minute clip features zero dialogue, it's extremely effective in building suspense. No words are spoken, but the chilling music and disturbing breathing in the background speak volumes.

But because we haven't so much as seen the characters talk or had an extended look at the film beyond this teaser, we don't really know what to expect from Affleck's latest creation. From the tiny glimpses we caught in the teaser, like the point of a view of a sniper and a gunman wearing a giant rabbit mask, this is sure to be one of Affleck's biggest swings yet as a director.

While Matt Damon doesn't appear on-screen in the movie, though he was originally pegged for the leading role, Damon's on board as a producer for his and Affleck's production company Artists Equity. Damon ultimately departed the leading role due to scheduling conflicts with The Odyssey, and Washington wound up replacing Affleck's ex-wife Jennifer Garner as the female lead.

Jumping off from the huge year Affleck and Damon have already had on Netflix with The Rip, not to mention Damon's big-screen success with The Odyssey, the pair are looking to take over the streaming service's Top 10 once again with another thriller. Netflix has set the perfect fall release date for Animals to both gain possible awards momentum and draw that end of the year movie rush.

Animals also boasts the star power of other Netflix favorites Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Steven Yeun, each of whom have starred in hit titles for the streamer. Affleck and Yeun previously worked together in The Rip, marking a quick reunion for the talented actors. Given all of the talent involved, there's no doubt we're already looking at Netflix's biggest thriller movie of fall 2026.

Make sure not to miss the global streaming premiere on Netflix and limited theatrical release of Animals on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2026.

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