Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Kerry Washington's R-Rated Thriller 'Animals' Becomes Netflix's Biggest Streaming Hit
Kerry Washington's new R-rated thriller 'Animals,' directed by and co-starring Ben Affleck, has become Netflix's biggest streaming hit, adding another success to the actress's run on the platform.
Kerry Washington has another Netflix hit on her hands. The actress stars in «Animals,» an R-rated thriller directed by and co-starring Ben Affleck, and the film has officially become the streaming service's biggest hit, according to industry tracking.
The 108-minute film marks a notable collaboration between Washington and Affleck, who steps behind the camera while also appearing on screen. The pairing of a decorated dramatic actress with a director-actor known for both blockbuster and prestige work has clearly resonated with Netflix subscribers, propelling «Animals» to the top of the platform's viewership charts.
The thriller's success adds to Washington's growing streaming résumé. She recently appeared in «Wake Up Dead Man,» the latest installment in the «Knives Out» mystery franchise, which also debuted on Netflix. That film, directed by Rian Johnson, featured Washington alongside Daniel Craig and a stacked ensemble cast, and it performed strongly with subscribers. Now «Animals» has surpassed it as the platform's biggest streaming title.
Netflix does not publicly release traditional box office figures, but the company's internal rankings and third-party streaming trackers place «Animals» at the top of the most-watched charts. The film's R rating suggests it is aimed at adult audiences, a segment Netflix has increasingly targeted with star-driven thrillers.
Affleck's involvement as both director and co-star has been a major draw. The actor and filmmaker has shifted between large-scale studio projects and smaller, character-driven work in recent years, and «Animals» fits into a growing trend of A-list talent bringing mid-budget thrillers directly to streaming platforms rather than traditional theaters.
Washington, meanwhile, continues to build on a career that spans acclaimed television work, including her long-running role on «Scandal,» and a range of film projects. Her move into Netflix's thriller space appears to be paying off, with two high-profile titles in quick succession.
The film's 108-minute runtime and R rating position it as a lean, adult-oriented thriller, a format that has found consistent success on Netflix. The platform has increasingly invested in star-led genre films that can attract subscribers looking for suspenseful, well-crafted entertainment without leaving home.
For now, «Animals» stands as the streamer's biggest hit, a testament to the drawing power of its two leads and the enduring appetite for thrillers on streaming. Whether the film will hold its position in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but its early performance has already made it one of Netflix's most notable releases of the season.
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