Ben Affleck’s ‘Animals’ Tops Netflix’s Charts Despite a Chilly Reception From Critics and Audiences

Streaming numbers and critical consensus rarely tell the same story. A film can be dismissed by reviewers and still pile up views, because convenience, star power and a quick release schedule matter more than a Rotten Tomatoes score. Ben Affleck’s latest directing effort is the newest example of that gap.

Netflix has revealed the viewing figures for ‘Animals‘, the crime thriller Affleck directed, co-wrote and stars in. The film opened to 23.8 million views over its 3-day opening weekend through October 11, taking the top spot on Netflix overall and on the weekly English-language movie chart. It generated 42.8 million hours of viewing over the same period.

That makes ‘Animals’ the most-watched title on the service for the week, ahead of the limited series ‘Below’, which pulled in 17 million views on its way to a record for a Canadian title. The movie arrived on Netflix on October 9 alongside a limited theatrical release, and it has also reached the top movie spot in the United States.

The story follows Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate played by Affleck, whose family is caught in a kidnapping scheme. His son is taken, and as he and his wife, Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, scramble to raise the ransom, they are forced to make choices and reveal secrets that could tear their world apart. At one point, the ransom demand rises to $10 million.

Gillian Anderson plays a mysterious fixer, and Steven Yeun plays the candidate’s aide. Adriana Paz plays the family’s housekeeper, Cecilia Trujillo, and Luis Gerardo Méndez plays her boyfriend, with Ray Fisher also in the cast. The film is rated R.

Affleck co-wrote the script with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, and he produced alongside Matt Damon, Brad Weston, Dani Bernfeld and Collin Creighton. It was made through Affleck’s Artists Equity banner. Affleck told Netflix Tudum that he was mindful of the expectations audiences have of him, Washington, Yeun and the rest of the cast when putting the ensemble together.

That awareness of audience expectations proved interesting given how the film has been received. The cast is full of recognizable names, and the premise is built on familiar thriller beats. Whether those familiar elements help or hurt depends on who is watching.

The reception has been far less impressive than the viewing numbers. Critics gave the film 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is the second-lowest score of Affleck’s directing career. Audiences were harsher still, with a score of around 43% to 44%, a record low for a film he has directed.

Complaints focus on a contrived abduction plot and a confusing tone that shifts from a political thriller into an action movie. Reviews have suggested that the film is a shadow of his earlier work as a director. That is a notable criticism for a filmmaker whose directing credits had been widely praised.

The gap between the numbers and the reaction is not unusual for Netflix. Views are counted from the first moments of a film, and opening weekends reward star power and marketing. A thriller with a famous director and a strong cast is an easy click on a Friday night, regardless of what reviewers say.

It also helps that the movie is rated R and positioned as an event release. The streamer put it in a limited theatrical window, then released it globally in the same week. That kind of rollout is built to maximize early attention.

When their son is kidnapped, an LA mayoral candidate and his wife scramble to raise the ransom while making choices that could tear their world apart. Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, with Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz and Luis Gerardo Méndez ANIMALS is in select theaters and on Netflix October 9

— Netflix (@netflix) September 15, 2026

The same weekly chart also featured the literary adaptation ‘East of Eden’, which doubled its viewership in its second week. ‘Tyler Perry’s Doing Life’ and ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ also appeared among the most-watched titles. Together, the list shows a service where crime and thriller stories dominate.

For Affleck, the numbers are a reminder that his name still moves audiences on Netflix, even when the response is mixed. How the film holds up in its second week will be the next test. A steep drop would suggest that the audience score is a real warning, while a steady run would suggest viewers are more forgiving than critics.

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