Netflix has "Animals," the 2026 crime thriller directed by and starring Ben Affleck, and it's the only subscription streaming service with the movie. Netflix is confirmed as the film's exclusive streaming distributor, so there's no need to check any other platform. The film premiered on the service on October 9, 2026, meaning it has already been streaming for about a week. If you have a Netflix subscription, it's ready to watch now; if you don't, no other streamer currently carries it.
Table of Contents
- Why Netflix Is the Only Streaming Option
- Did It Play in Theaters Too?
- What Is "Animals" About?
- A Casting Change Before Release
- Runtime and Other Details to Know
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Netflix Is the Only Streaming Option
"Animals" was produced as a Netflix original rather than licensed in afterward. Netflix's own Tudum editorial site had previewed the project as "coming soon" well before release, which confirms Netflix originated the film rather than acquiring streaming rights from another studio after the fact.
That distinction matters for anyone trying to find the movie elsewhere. Films acquired by a streamer after theatrical release sometimes end up on multiple platforms or move between services. A Netflix original like "Animals" doesn't follow that pattern — it stays on Netflix.
Did It Play in Theaters Too?
"Animals" wasn't a Netflix-only release on its first day. The film opened the same day, October 9, 2026, in a limited theatrical run in select theaters, alongside its Netflix premiere.
That limited run gave audiences in certain markets a brief window to see it on a big screen, but it was never a wide release. Given that it opened on October 9 and this information is current as of mid-October, that theatrical window has likely already closed. Netflix remains the dependable way to watch it regardless of where you live.
What Is "Animals" About?
The thriller centers on Mark and Abigail Kimball, whose young son Denny is kidnapped, setting off a frantic scramble to raise a ransom. That kidnapping plot drives the film's central conflict, with the family's financial and emotional unraveling at the center of the story.
Ben Affleck both directs and stars as Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, with Kerry Washington playing his wife Abigail. Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, and Luis Gerardo Méndez round out the supporting cast. Mark's political campaign adds pressure to the ransom crisis, since a kidnapping becomes much harder to handle quietly when one parent is a public figure running for office.
A Casting Change Before Release
The lead role didn't start with Affleck in front of the camera. Matt Damon was originally cast to play the part but exited over a scheduling conflict with Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," staying on only as a producer.
Affleck stepped into the role himself while continuing as director, which is why he carries both credits on the finished film. Damon's producer credit remains, but he doesn't appear on screen.
Runtime and Other Details to Know
Exact runtime figures vary slightly by source. Wikipedia lists the film at 108 minutes, while other outlets, including What's on Netflix, cite roughly 105 to 106 minutes — a small discrepancy rather than a meaningful contradiction, since both point to a film running under two hours.
That runtime puts "Animals" solidly in standard thriller length, not an extended or epic-length production. For streaming, that's a detail worth knowing if you're planning when to start watching, since it fits comfortably into a single evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still see "Animals" in theaters?
Its theatrical run was limited to select theaters starting October 9, 2026, and has likely ended by now, so Netflix is the reliable way to watch.
Is "Animals" a Netflix Original or a licensed acquisition?
It's a Netflix Original — the project was announced on Netflix's own Tudum site before release, confirming Netflix produced and distributes it directly rather than licensing it after the fact.
Why isn't Matt Damon in "Animals" despite early reports?
He was originally cast in the lead role but left due to a scheduling conflict with "The Odyssey," and he now appears in the credits only as a producer.