Ben Affleck’s New Crime Thriller Officially Holds Netflix’s No. 1 Spot for 2 Weeks

This year has seen a lot of variety in Netflix’s original movie releases. From sci-fi thrillers like War Machine and The Last House to crime thrillers like Apex and The Whisper Man, these movies have entertained viewers for weeks. The streamer has also released comedies and dramas, but viewers gravitate towards thrillers. And Netflix remains committed to releasing original movies weekly, with the latest being a star-studded crime thriller that has taken over the world. Like many Netflix movies, this one hasn’t had the warmest reception from critics or fans. The consensus is almost unanimous that it is not the best movie, as shown by the 31% critics’ score and the 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, negative reception has never really stopped Netflix movies, given the streaming service’s wide reach. This thriller has been available for two weeks and has already gathered 30.8 million views in its first week on the streamer. It is expected to gain even more views in its second week, as is typical for Netflix movies, and its current No. 1 ranking puts it in a strong position to do so. Titled Animals, the crime thriller stars Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, and Gillian Anderson.

Affleck directs the film, in which he plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate. He also co-wrote the script with Billy Ray and Connor O. McIntyre. One of the worst nightmares a parent can experience becomes a reality: His son is kidnapped for ransom. The ordeal pushes him and his wife, Abigail, past their limits as they’re forced to make decisions with long-lasting consequences. The premise is interesting, and the potential is heightened by its seasoned cast.

Four Netflix characters, four completely different ways of showing up
for somebody. This is the one who fits how you actually do friendship, and what having them in your
life would be like.

You do not do friendship at half volume, and neither does he.
What you want is somebody who says yes to the plan before you have finished describing the
plan.

• Dustin is the friend the entire show runs on: loyal past the point of sense,
  enthusiastic about everything, and incapable of leaving anybody behind.
• You have the same instinct. Your friendships are loud, specific and slightly ridiculous,
  and they last for decades because of it.
• He is also the one person who would take your strangest interest completely seriously,
  which is far rarer than it sounds.
• You would have a group chat. It would never once be quiet.

You are the friend who makes things happen, and so is she.
Together you would be mildly exhausting to everyone around you and completely delighted with
yourselves.

• Emily treats an ordinary Tuesday as something that could be turned into an occasion,
  which is either the best or the worst quality in a friend depending on your energy
  levels.
• You share her refusal to sit still. Neither of you has ever accepted a night in when
  something was happening somewhere else.
• She is far more loyal than people give her credit for. She defends her friends loudly,
  publicly, and occasionally before checking the facts.
• She would post the photo without asking. You would forgive her, because it is a very
  good photo.

You have no patience for pleasant lies, and she has no ability to
tell them. What looks like coldness from the outside is the most reliable friendship on this
list.

• Wednesday never says a kind thing she does not mean, which makes the rare ones count for
  an enormous amount.
• You would rather be told the truth than be made comfortable. She is constitutionally
  incapable of offering you anything else.
• Underneath all of it she is ferociously protective. She simply refuses to make a
  performance out of caring.
• Do not expect a birthday message. Do expect her to ruin anyone who wrongs you.

You look after whoever is having the worst day. So does he. It is
the least strategic way to move through the world and the best possible quality in a friend.

• Gi-hun is not the strongest player in Squid Game, or the cleverest. He is the one who
  keeps choosing to protect somebody else, over and over, at genuine cost to himself.
• You have the same instinct. You notice who is struggling and you stay with them, long
  after anybody would blame you for leaving.
• He is a flawed friend, and that is part of why it lands. He lets people down, then comes
  back and tries again, which is more than most manage.
• He would give you his last chance and never once mention that he had done it.

Is ‘Animals’ a Good Movie?

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

Image via Netflix

“Despite all the makings of an enticing story, including a compelling Kerry Washington, Animals‘ weak writing prevents it from reaching its full potential,” the audience consensus reads on Rotten Tomatoes. The thriller drops the ball and sticks its cast inside a house for close to two hours. Many found it underbaked and predictable. Animals is one of those films that unites viewers and critics, because the latter largely agree with these sentiments. Collider’s Robert Taylor King found the characters too shallow and, as a result, the film not as “engrossing” as he would have wanted. ScreenRant’s Simon Gallagher called the film a “boring mess,” while Charles Papadopoulos of MovieWeb called it “derivative.” With managed expectations, Animals is a serviceable binge, perfect for the second-screen experience.

Stream Animals on Netflix globally and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.