Animals

Animales (película de 2026)

2026 · United States

Director: Ben Affleck
Screenplay: Billy Ray
Producer: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brad Weston
Music: Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography: Robert Elswit

Cast

Luis Gerardo Méndez

Mark Kassen

Adriana Paz

What it is about

Mark Kimball, an independent candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, watches his campaign sink in the polls and commits much of his savings to win over Latino voters. When his son disappears on Halloween night, he and his wife Abigail have only a few hours to raise a huge sum and confront secrets they would rather keep buried.

How it was made

The project was announced in January 2024 with Ben Affleck directing and co-writing alongside Billy Ray, and with Matt Damon initially set to star. Jennifer Garner was in talks to join the cast, and the shoot, planned for March 2024, was delayed just before it was due to start. In February 2025 Damon left the film because of his commitment to The Odyssey, Affleck took the lead role, and Kerry Washington replaced Garner. Principal photography began on March 7, 2025 in Los Angeles. The score is by Harry Gregson-Williams and the cinematography by Robert Elswit.

Reception and legacy

The film was released on Netflix and in select US theaters on October 9, 2026. Critics gave it generally negative reviews, with Metacritic assigning it a score of 33 out of 100 based on 21 critics, a rating that signals generally unfavorable reception. It stands as a low-key political thriller within Affleck's work as a director.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

Change of lead

Damon left the project in February 2025 due to his commitment to The Odyssey, and Affleck took the lead role. Kerry Washington took over the part originally planned for Garner.

Affleck on casting Garner

Affleck said that casting Garner had the added benefit that both would see their children more, since they shared custody by alternating weeks. He added that she could bring something she had not yet shown on screen.

More films by Ben Affleck

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.