The Animal Kingdom
A grieving father and his changing son navigate a society that fears humans evolving into animals.
Overview
In a world where humanity is evolving into something primal, a father and son embark on a perilous journey of survival.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- uncanny
- melancholic
- tense
- thoughtful movie night
- rainy day viewing
What critics said
Critics generally praised the talented cast and emotional grounding of its fantastical premise, while finding its thematic treatment somewhat superficial.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mutated humans are treated as dangerous animals, making transformation a concrete metaphor for marginalization.
François and Émile’s relationship anchors the conflict as Émile undergoes an animal mutation.
The film’s human-to-animal transformations are a defining production and visual-effects feature.
Mutated people are hunted and separated from ordinary society rather than accepted as changing humans.
Films like The Animal Kingdom, and why
The Shape of Water
shared speculative transformation premise, intimate family drama, and emotionally grounded science fiction
Okja
shared human nonhuman relationship, lyrical fantasy, and themes of alienation and acceptance
A Quiet Place
shared father son relationship, mutation anxiety, and tense speculative worldbuilding
The Fly
shared body transformation, melancholic atmosphere, and unsettling reflections on identity
Movie Details
- Director
- Thomas Cailley
- Release Date
- 2023-10-04
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (973)
Cast
- Romain Duris
- Paul Kircher
- Adèle Exarchopoulos
- Tom Mercier
- Billie Blain
- Xavier Aubert
- Saadia Bentaïeb
- Gabriel Caballero
- Iliana Khelifa
- Paul Muguruza
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Animal Kingdom about?
- A grieving father and his changing son navigate a society that fears humans evolving into animals.
- What is The Animal Kingdom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Animal Kingdom as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Animal Kingdom violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Animal Kingdom as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Animal Kingdom?
- Critics generally praised the talented cast and emotional grounding of its fantastical premise, while finding its thematic treatment somewhat superficial.
- Which films are like The Animal Kingdom?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shape of Water, Okja, A Quiet Place, and The Fly.
- How long is The Animal Kingdom?
- The Animal Kingdom runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Animal Kingdom?
- In United States, The Animal Kingdom streams on Hulu.
