Ben Affleck’s Animals Has Officially Become the No. 1 Movie on Netflix Globally

Ben Affleck’s Animals has proven to be a humongous hit for Netflix. The kidnapping thriller debuted atop the platform’s global English-language movie chart in its opening weekend. Its reviews may be mixed, but viewers have certainly been curious.

Affleck directs and stars alongside Kerry Washington in a story about a political hopeful whose family faces a ransom demand. It is an immediately compelling predicament: a man accustomed to managing his public image suddenly has to make decisions with consequences far beyond an election.

Animals Defies Mixed Reviews to Become a Global Netflix Hit

According to Tudum, Animals took No. 1 on the global English-language movie chart for October 5 to 11, 2026. It has 23.8 million views. The film finished ahead of Doing Life, which recorded 18.2 million views, and Ice Age, which followed with 11.2 million. Affleck’s latest directorial effort acquired a substantial opening audience, even if it did not entirely please critics. Flixpatrol confirms that, as of October 17, Animals retains the top spot.

The movie’s Tomatometer score is a dismal 32% after 71 reviews as of October 17. The audience score, called Popcornmeter, is also, say, less than ideal at 39%. If I had to guess, That infamous AI slop scene in Animals may have soured opinions on the film a little. Those reservations have not prevented a strong debut. Affleck and Washington make an attractive pairing for a thriller. The premise is nothing earth-shattering, but it does supply an easy hook for anyone browsing Netflix. It has two parents receive a terrifying demand and must decide how far they are willing to go.

The numbers establish that the film attracted attention. But whether it can sustain that interest over the following weeks will offer a clearer picture of its staying power.

Ben Affleck Movie Turns a Kidnapping Into a Political Nightmare

Ben Affleck as Mark and Gillian Anderson as Dayle in Animals | Credits: Netflix

In Animals, Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, opposite Washington as his wife, Abigail. An ominous phone call plunges the couple into a kidnapping crisis, forcing them to scramble for ransom money while confronting secrets that could destroy their carefully constructed life. Affleck also co-wrote the screenplay

The political setting adds an uncomfortable complication to the family emergency. Mark’s career depends on persuading people to trust him. A ransom demand places that public identity under pressure, creating circumstances in which protecting his family and preserving his future may demand very different choices.

Abigail also has a stake beyond simply supporting her husband through the crisis. The threat puts their shared life under scrutiny. Decisions made under pressure can expose differences that a comfortable marriage, or a successful campaign, has allowed them to avoid.

The strong ensemble also includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher. The film has a runtime of 108 minutes. So, it is a relatively compact watch for those who seek a standalone crime thriller.

Does Animals deserve its Netflix crown, or did you expect more from Ben Affleck? Share your thoughts in the comments!