Animals, Ben Affleck’s Los Angeles-set crime thriller, has become a worldwide Netflix hit despite receiving an unfavourable critical response.
Animals leads Netflix movie charts worldwide
The film stars Affleck with Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun. Affleck also directed and co-wrote the thriller, which has attracted a huge audience despite little apparent marketing.
Data tracked by FlixPatrol places Animals at number one among Netflix films worldwide by a substantial margin. It tops the service’s movie chart in 79 of the 93 countries monitored by the site.
Its performance spans a wide range of markets. Viewers in Qatar, Lithuania and Trinidad and Tobago were among those watching Animals, while audiences in Poland preferred Less of a Stranger, a biographical film about Jan Borysewicz, founder of the Polish rock band Lady Pank.
Is it the biggest streaming film overall?
There is no definitive way to compare every streaming service. Platforms do not release a shared set of worldwide viewing figures, meaning Netflix’s leading position across the entire market cannot be confirmed.
Netflix’s international reach nevertheless makes Animals a strong contender for the overall streaming lead. The most credible rival is Toy Story 5, which currently sits at the top of the Disney Plus worldwide chart. That comparison can be followed through the current Disney Plus chart-topper.
A major audience response despite poor reviews
The film’s popularity is notable because critics have responded harshly. Animals has a 35% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while its audience Popcornometer rating is 41%. The current figures are listed with the 35% Rotten Tomatoes score.
One review described the movie as a catastrophe, criticising its awkward opening, chaotic middle and ludicrous ending. Those reactions have not stopped millions of Netflix subscribers from choosing to watch it.
The contrast reflects a familiar streaming dynamic: a recognisable star, a direct crime premise and prominent platform placement can create enormous viewing numbers even when reviews are negative. RETROCADE readers can find more entertainment and gaming coverage in the Arcade Blog, watch arcade industry videos or explore the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
Why Animals has found an audience
Affleck remains a household-name performer, while his combined roles as director and co-writer give the film an additional point of interest. Its chart performance suggests that curiosity, star power and worldwide availability can outweigh poor reviews when viewers decide what to watch next.
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