Affleck's 'Animals' Becomes Netflix Hit Despite Career-Worst Reviews
Netflix's new Ben Affleck thriller Animals is drawing huge viewership even as Rotten Tomatoes ranks it his lowest-rated film as a director.
Netflix debuted the thriller Animals, directed by Ben Affleck, this past week, and the film has become an instant hit on the platform despite mediocre reviews. According to collider.com, the movie is now a contender to pass 100 million views.
The contrast is stark: Animals is Affleck's lowest-rated film as a director on Rotten Tomatoes, yet its streaming performance puts it in the company of other mid-budget Netflix originals that have crossed the 100 million-view mark this year.
A franchise of hits and an older remake
Netflix's run of success in this space began with the thriller The Rip, which was produced by and starred Affleck. The Rip was later joined in the 100-million-views club by Thrash, Apex, Swapped, and War Machine.
More recently, the platform found success with three additional thrillers: The Last House, The Whisper Man, and Unabomber.
In October 2025, Spike Lee debuted his Apple TV movie Highest 2 Lowest, a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low — a reminder that the appetite for dark, mid-budget thrillers stretches across streaming services.
Quick answers
What is Ben Affleck's new Netflix movie?
It is the thriller Animals, which Affleck directed and which Netflix debuted this past week.
How is Animals performing on Netflix?
It has become an instant hit and is a contender to pass 100 million views.
How have reviews for Animals been received?
Reviews have been mediocre, and it ranks as Affleck's lowest-rated film as a director on Rotten Tomatoes.