The Animal Kingdom

Released Mar 15

2h 10m

Adventure

Drama

Sci-Fi

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List

82%

55 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

In THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, a visionary new thriller that drops viewers into an extraordinary world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures, François (Roman Duris) does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, François embarks with Emile (Paul Kircher), their 16-year-old son, on a quest to find her with help from a local police officer (Adèle Exarchopoulos).

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Critics Consensus

The Animal Kingdom's talented cast anchors its more fantastical elements in human emotion, helping offset a superficial treatment of thought-provoking themes.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Thomas Cailley’s sci-fi fantasy has too much sensitivity and good taste to be the proper horror-thriller or creature feature that it almost resembles.

Rated: 3/5

May 1, 2024

Full Review

David Fear

Rolling Stone

Stay for how Kircher and Duris embed a father-son story into the fantastical elements, and transform a far-out tale of genetics run amuck into an elegy about the pain of letting go.

Mar 20, 2024

Full Review

Dais Johnston

Inverse

The film takes its X-Men-style message of the superpowered being discriminated against, and treats it with the sincerity of any fledgling indie coming-of-age movie.

Mar 17, 2024

Full Review

Brandon Judell

Brandon Judell (Medium)

Beautifully shot while perfectly cast and helmed, Animal Kingdom is an exuberant example of humane cinema at its best.

Rated: 8/10

Apr 1, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

It’s a profound message that uses science fiction when speaking about its themes [...] Cailley never soapboxes or clarifies his real-world parallels; he trusts his audience to interpret his message. That’s the rewarding power of genre.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 28, 2024

Full Review

Wade Major

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's not done like a Hollywood tentpole film, much more focused on character and intimacy rather than showing off the effects.

Mar 23, 2024

Full Review

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Paul M

This years version of Freaks vs. The Reich... yes it's its subtitled but that let's be honest you should be watch every movie with them on. Beautifully shot, the lead is extremely strong! In one word it was REFRESHING!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

Nobody C

This was the biggest waste of time in a long long time. Please don't make the same mistake like me and two other poor souls. We feel mentally hurt and physically exhausted after going through this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

Full Review

Hugo S

In a world hit by an unknown disease that transforms humans into animals, a man struggles to save his wife and son from the gruesome mutations that will transform their lives forever. "The Animal Kingdom" challenges the audience to go above and beyond the traditional boundaries of what it means to be human. A movie that explores the limits of our humanity in a passionate and unexpected way. And it does an outstanding job in delivering this social exercise!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/24

Full Review

Valerie G

What a beautiful movie of the relationship of father and son after their wife and mother caught the mutation virus. Beautifully done without focusing on shock values with the creatures. A movie after viewing you can't stop thinking about.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

AM D

This shows, in a pretty realistic way, how different people react when confronted with someone who is different. Some embrace, some protect and help, while far too many with to destroy. And, as usual, the more violent voices seem to win. The primary purpose of this movie is to tell a love story. A man who truly loves his wife, and refuses to give up on her, even though no one would blame him for turning away. And the love of a father for his son, doing everything he can to help the son survive and stay safe. It was a refreshing change to see a father represented as honorable, instead of the usual incompetent, selfish joke we see so many times in movies and shows.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

Full Review

lel t

Something else than the usual American films. I recommend!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/24

Full Review

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Thomas Cailley

Director

Romain Duris

Actor

Adèle Exarchopoulos

Actor

Paul Kircher

Actor

Tom Mercier

Actor

Thomas Cailley

Screenwriter

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The Animal Kingdom: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, a visionary new thriller that drops viewers into an extraordinary world where mutations in human genetics cause people to transform into hybrid creatures, François (Roman Duris) does everything he can to save his wife, who is affected by this mysterious condition. As some of the creatures disappear into a nearby forest, François embarks with Emile (Paul Kircher), their 16-year-old son, on a quest to find her with help from a local police officer (Adèle Exarchopoulos).

Director: Thomas Cailley
Screenwriter: Thomas Cailley, Pauline Munier
Distributor: Magnet Releasing
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 15, 2024
Runtime: 2h 10m