Nocturnal Animals

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1:29

Nocturnal Animals

R

Released Dec 9, 2016

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

302 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A successful Los Angeles art-gallery owner's idyllic life is marred by the constant traveling of her handsome second husband. While he is away, she is shaken by the arrival of a manuscript written by her first husband, who she has not seen in years. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher who finds a trip with his family turning into a nightmare. As Susan reads the book, it forces her to examine her past and confront some dark truths.

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted and lovely to look at, Nocturnal Animals further underscores writer-director Tom Ford's distinctive visual and narrative skill.

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Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

A gorgeous, harrowing and occasionally bizarre meta-thriller that mixes multiple narrative threads together with beautiful visuals and a breathtaking score.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

Kristen Lopez

Culturess

Nocturnal Animals is a frantic fever dream of the ways we betray and disappoint ourselves and those we love.

Nov 20, 2017

Full Review

K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

Nocturnal Animals ultimately reaches for something that isn't there, and falters. Ford is the consummate commercial artist, but he seems to hate it - while still, as an artist, trafficking in it.

Aug 10, 2017

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Unexpected and completely forthright, it is a calculated barrage that is heavily layered in symbolic external and internal darkness that defies and questions definitions of beauty, morality, and material success.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 23, 2025

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Gorgeously shot and deeply affecting, Tom Ford's packs a gut punch of a revenge tale into his sophomore effort.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A slightly messy, but gorgeous sophomore outing from Tom Ford finds Adams playing against type in an understated tale of revenge. Gyllenhaal and Shannon are solid, and the tension in the highway scenes is palpable.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 5, 2025

Full Review

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pankaj c

Worth watching as its a touching but not so touching movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Great Movie. It's got a real David Lynch style and vibe to it. The opening sequence is fantastic and the movie score was truly exceptional at heightening tension or driving emotion when employed. The cast, as it's pedigree would suggest, was impeccably acted. The story was very cool and original and the ending was a bit of a puzzle- was it fiction, was it fact, was it a metaphor for what happened to their relationship. An easy add to any collection, and it was really 4 and 3/4's stars bordering on 5 but I save that for all but a few films.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/20/25

Full Review

Audience Member

a really good thriller movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

Full Review

José Miguel G

A great showing of the monster within, and how they go out after an very painful breakup. Tom Ford is a magnificent visual storyteller and his touch it's perfect for the story. Addams and Gyllenhall are amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

Landen D

Brilliant use of parallels and very creative way of tying things all together. Edge of your seat type of movie. Takeaways from this movie is that people can be strong and different ways and that just because a man has a weak moment, even in a critical situation, that doesn't make him a bad man. character development. Grew to love Michael Shannon.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/25

Full Review

Akatsuki M

It'a nice and well constructed movie, but I think the message behind it should have been delivered in a better way; the plot feels too weird and stretched.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

Full Review

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Tom Ford

Director

Amy Adams

Susan Morrow

Jake Gyllenhaal

Tony Hastings

Michael Shannon

Bobby Andes

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Ray Marcus

Isla Fisher

Laura Hastings

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Pull Over!

2:36

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - A Good Man

1:45

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Get in My Car

2:55

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Do You Love Me?

2:00

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Did They Suffer?

2:11

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - A Nice Guy Like You

2:55

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Recognize this Man?

1:45

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Any Last Words?

2:59

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Make Him Suffer

2:59

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Eyes Like Your Mother

2:37

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Nocturnal Animals: Trailer 2

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Nocturnal Animals: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A successful Los Angeles art-gallery owner's idyllic life is marred by the constant traveling of her handsome second husband. While he is away, she is shaken by the arrival of a manuscript written by her first husband, who she has not seen in years. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher who finds a trip with his family turning into a nightmare. As Susan reads the book, it forces her to examine her past and confront some dark truths.

Director: Tom Ford
Producer: Tom Ford, Robert Salerno
Screenwriter: Tom Ford
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features, Fade to Black Productions, Artina Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Menace|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.4M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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