Ben Affleck stars in new Netflix thriller Animals

Netflix has released the first teaser trailer for ‘Animals’, a political crime thriller directed by, co-written by, and starring Ben Affleck. The film is scheduled for release in select theaters and on Netflix on October 9, 2026.

Set in Los Angeles, the story follows Mark Kimball (Affleck), a mayoral candidate whose life is upended when his son is kidnapped. Alongside his wife, Abigail (Kerry Washington), Kimball must scramble to raise a ransom under intense time pressure, as much of their wealth has already been committed to his political campaign. The narrative explores themes of power, corruption, and the desperate moral compromises made to protect family.

The ensemble cast includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Ray Fisher. The film is a production from Artists Equity, the studio founded by Affleck and Matt Damon, who also serves as a producer on the project. The teaser, which relies heavily on visual tension rather than dialogue, has already garnered significant online engagement.