Animals is a crime thriller film directed by Ben Affleck, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray. The Netflix film follows Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, and his wife Abigail, as their son is kidnapped for ransom, but all of their money is invested in the campaign. To get their son back, the couple goes to extreme lengths and does things they never expected. Animals stars Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun. If you loved Animals’ intense story, thrilling drama, and compelling characters, here are some similar movies you should check out next.
Highest 2 Lowest (Apple TV)
Highest 2 Lowest is a crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by Alan Fox. Based on the 1963 Japanese film High and Low by Akira Kurosawa, the 2025 film follows David King, a powerful music mogul who discovers that his son has been kidnapped for ransom, but the situation gets even more complicated when he discovers that the kidnappers mistakenly kidnapped his chauffeur’s son. The film stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and ASAP Rocky.
Trapped (Rent on Prime Video)
Trapped is a crime thriller film directed by Luis Mandoki from a screenplay by Greg Iles. Based on Iles’ 2000 novel 24 Hours, the 2002 film follows a wealthy couple as they are held hostage and their daughter is kidnapped, and they must figure out a way to outsmart the kidnappers to save their daughter. Trapped stars Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend, Kevin Bacon, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Dakota Fanning.
Ransom (Buy on Amazon)
Ransom is an action thriller film directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay co-written by Richard Price and Alexander Ignon. The 1996 film follows millionaire Tom Mullen as his son is kidnapped for ransom, and instead of paying it, Tom goes on television and puts a bounty out on the kidnappers. Ransom stars Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, and Lili Taylor.
High and Low (HBO Max, Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex & Rent on Prime Video)
High and Low is a Japanese crime thriller film directed by Akira Kurosawa, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Hideo Oguni, Ryūzō Kikushima, and Eijirō Hisaita. Based on Evan Hunter’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom, the 1963 film follows a wealthy executive looking to buy a shoe company, but the situation gets complicated when his driver’s son is kidnapped, and he is on the hook to pay the ransom. High and Low stars Toshirō Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyōko Kagawa, and Tatsuya Mihashi.
Gone Baby Gone (Paramount+, MGM+, Pluto TV & Rent on Prime Video)
Gone Baby Gone is a crime drama film directed by Ben Affleck, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Stockard. Based on Dennis Lehane’s 1998 novel of the same name, the 2007 film follows two Boston private investigators as they are hired to search for a kidnapped young girl. During their investigation, they uncover a connection to drug gangs and paedophiles. Gone Baby Gone stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, and Amy Madigan.
Prisoners (Rent on Prime Video)
Prisoners is a crime thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski. The 2013 film is set in Pennsylvania, and it revolves around the abduction of two young girls and the search for the kidnapped girls that follows. Fearing that the police will be unable to find his daughter, one of the fathers decides to take matters in his own hands. Prisoners stars Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, and Paul Dano.
All the Money in the World (Rent on Prime Video)
All the Money in the World is a biographical crime thriller film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa. Based on John Pearson’s 1995 book, the 2017 film revolves around the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, the grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. John’s mother tries to persuade her ex-father-in-law to pay the ransom. All the Money in the World stars Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, and Timothy Hutton.