Ben Affleck's new thriller dominates global viewings
Ben Affleck's new thriller Animals, released on Netflix on October 9, quickly reached the top of the most-watched films list in 82 countries, including France, according to FlixPatrol. It remained at the top of the global rankings for two weeks and has already accumulated 30.8 million viewings, according to Netflix data.Plot centers on a mayoral candidate's crisis
In the film, Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a candidate for the Los Angeles mayoral election whose son is kidnapped. Alongside his wife, played by Kerry Washington, he finds himself caught in a spiral of lies and secrets as he tries to raise the ransom. Gillian Anderson and Steven Yeun complete the cast of this thriller, which has divided viewers, with a rating of 2.3 out of 5 on AlloCiné.Affleck's history with the thriller genre
Affleck is not new to the thriller genre, having previously directed Argo, a political thriller released in 2012. Inspired by a true story, Argo recounts an incredible rescue operation during the Iranian revolution in November 1979, when militants stormed the American embassy in Tehran and took 52 people hostage.Rescue involved a fictional film cover
Six diplomats escaped and found refuge with Canadian representatives. To get these Americans out of the country without arousing suspicion, the CIA turned to Tony Mendez, an expert in exfiltration operations played by Affleck. His idea was to make the six Americans appear as members of a Canadian film crew coming to Iran to do location scouting.Hollywood's role in a high-stakes mission
To make this cover credible, Mendez created a fictional science fiction film project called Argo, with the help of Hollywood professionals. An operation as improbable as risky, where the slightest mistake could cost the diplomats their lives. Alongside Affleck, the film features Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, and Victor Garber.Critical and commercial success of Argo
Between geopolitical tension and satire of the Hollywood industry, the film transforms this real secret operation, carried out in January 1980, into a breathless thriller. Argo received three Oscars, including best film, and was nominated seven times at the 85th Academy Awards ceremony in February 2013.French reception and career trajectory
In France, Argo attracted more than 1.3 million viewers in theaters, while internet users on AlloCiné gave it a rating of 4.1 out of 5. This marked a turning point in Affleck's career, following his previous directorial efforts Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Town (2010).Affleck returns to dark thrillers
After Live by Night in 2016 and Air in 2023, Affleck continues his path as a director, returning to dark thrillers and characters facing moral dilemmas. Animals is available on Netflix.
