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We the Animals

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for We the Animals R Released Aug 17, 2018 1h 34m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 102 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Manny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood. Their mother and father have a volatile relationship that makes and unmakes the family many times over, often leaving the boys fending for themselves. As their parents rip at one another, Manny and Joel harden and grow into versions of their father. With the triumvirate fractured, Jonah, who is the youngest, becomes increasingly aware of his desperate need to escape. Driven to the edge, Jonah embraces an imagined world all his own.
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We the Animals

We the Animals

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Critics Consensus

Dreamlike and haunting, We the Animals approaches the coming-of-age odyssey with a uniquely documentarian eye.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) One of the discoveries of the year so far. Rated: 4/5 Jun 16, 2019 Full Review Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review It deals with difficult subject matter with extreme grace. Jun 14, 2019 Full Review Ed Potton Times (UK) While the child actors are often excellent, they don't get much to say, and it's asking a lot for boys of primary-school age to express soulful depths through glances alone. Rated: 3/5 Jun 14, 2019 Full Review Brendan Cassidy InSession Film We the Animals is at once disassociating and full of warmth. Jul 2, 2024 Full Review Brian T. Carney Washington Blade A visceral yet lyrical film... Dec 8, 2022 Full Review M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut We the Animals is a mishmash of puzzle pieces that form a coming-of-age tale reminiscent of Moonlight, but that won’t quite fit the way they should (which is rather the point). Moving, and almost mystical. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 17, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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PridePosterStudios Body heat body heat body heat Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/12/24 Full Review ari v Next Day Update: It's honesty/resonance and disconformity became clearer when thinking about it while listening to Joyner Lucas' ISIS the next day; especially where supporting characters are concerned. Still a little too romantic about the central character's likeness to reach the heights of Precious or Moonlight or Bests Of No Nation, but closer to that than to wokepleasers like Get Out, Parasite or Knives Out. Original Review: Pretty good, but I'd be surprised if it sticks with me long. Perhaps because it's little too convenniently in-vogue abd articised to a point of disconect. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review georgan g Beautiful imagery, good acting, but very depressing. The only hopeful part was the child flying away. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow. Honestly so beautiful and accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. The last ten (or five?) minutes evoked a lot of emotion from me, and of course the movie is very pretty visually. Does a great job conveying brotherhood and childhood, as well as the difficulties impoverished people face, all through the convincing lens of a child. Gorgeous film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Poetic, beautiful and heartfelt. We the Animals is a sublime, hypnotic and coming of age story about brotherhood, love and finding yourself in the world. Every shot looks like an oil painting. Camera and sound are used expressively and powerfully like any director with a very specific sense of vision would use. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member I absolutely love this movie. It is beautiful and tells a necessary and realistic tale of childhood. It's characters feel completely human, and you can understand how each of them got to where they are without agreeing with them. In many ways it reminds me of Moonlight, and just like it We the Animals is a film that everyone should see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Manny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood. Their mother and father have a volatile relationship that makes and unmakes the family many times over, often leaving the boys fending for themselves. As their parents rip at one another, Manny and Joel harden and grow into versions of their father. With the triumvirate fractured, Jonah, who is the youngest, becomes increasingly aware of his desperate need to escape. Driven to the edge, Jonah embraces an imagined world all his own.
Director
Jeremiah Zagar
Producer
Jeremy Yaches, Christina D. King, Paul Mezey, Andrew Goldman
Screenwriter
Jeremiah Zagar, Daniel Kitrosser
Distributor
The Orchard
Production Co
Cinereach, Public Record
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Strong Sexual Content|Underage Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 17, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$400.4K
Runtime
1h 34m
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