Animals is a crime thriller movie directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars in the film. The movie features Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Kerry Washington, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher. The story follows a mayoral candidate and his wife after their son is kidnapped. As they try to raise the ransom, dark secrets begin to come out.
The movie was filmed in Los Angeles, California, with the city playing an important role in the story. Here is everything we know about the filming locations and production of Animals.
Animals follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife after their son is kidnapped. They must find a way to pay the ransom. As they fight to save their son, their private lives and hidden secrets begin to fall apart.
The movie is set to be released on October 9, 2026, via Netflix.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was Netflix’s Animals Filmed?
| Film Name | Animals |
|---|---|
| Genres | Crime, Drama, Thriller, Action |
| Filming Locations | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Filming Dates | March 7, 2025 – April 16, 2025 |
| Cinematography by | Mauro Fiore |
| Release Date | October 9, 2026 |
Principal photography for Animals began in Los Angeles on March 7, 2025. The production continued through April, with filming taking place at several real locations around the city.
The California Film Commission lists the movie as an approved production with 33 California filming days. Filming was reported to have wrapped on April 16, 2025.
Los Angeles is more than just a background in Animals. The city is closely tied to the story, which follows a mayoral candidate and his family during a dangerous kidnapping crisis.
📍Los Angeles River and Storm-Drain System, Los Angeles, California
One of the confirmed filming locations for Animals is the Los Angeles River and the nearby concrete flood-control areas. Ben Affleck, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Gillian Anderson, and other members of the cast and crew were seen filming there in April 2025.
The area was used for an intense action sequence. Set footage showed Affleck carrying a duffel bag and moving through the concrete surroundings. The production also filmed around the storm-drain system, giving the scenes a dark and industrial look.
The concrete channels and tunnels of the Los Angeles River helped create the tense atmosphere needed for the movie. The location also fits the crime-thriller style of Animals.
📍The Original Farmers Market — Los Angeles, California
The Original Farmers Market was another confirmed filming location for Animals. Ben Affleck and Steven Yeun were seen filming there on April 15, 2025.
The scene was connected to Affleck’s character and his mayoral campaign. The actors were filmed moving through the busy market while handing out campaign material.
The market was a natural choice for this part of the story because it gives the campaign scenes a real public setting. Instead of filming inside a fictional political building, the production placed the characters among everyday people in Los Angeles.
📍Other Los Angeles Locations — California
The production also filmed at other locations around Los Angeles, although many of the exact streets and addresses have not been publicly confirmed.
Set footage from April 7, 2025, showed Ben Affleck and Steven Yeun filming a mayoral campaign scene in Los Angeles. Affleck was seen speaking at a podium during the scene.
Since Los Angeles is an important part of the story, the production used real city locations to make the political and crime elements feel more authentic.
When Did Animals Start Filming?
Filming for Animals began on March 7, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. The production continued for several weeks.
Major location filming took place in April. The cast was seen filming near the Los Angeles River in early April, while Affleck and Steven Yeun filmed at The Original Farmers Market on April 15.
Production was reported to have finished on April 16, 2025. The California Film Commission recorded 33 filming days in California.
Animals Behind the Scenes
The production of Animals brought Ben Affleck back to the director’s chair. Affleck also plays the lead character, Mark Kimball, a mayoral candidate whose family is caught in a dangerous kidnapping.
Several behind-the-scenes photos from the Los Angeles shoot showed Affleck and other cast members working on outdoor scenes. Some of the most notable footage came from the Los Angeles River, where the production filmed action scenes involving Affleck and Luis Gerardo Méndez.
Affleck and Steven Yeun were also photographed filming campaign scenes at The Original Farmers Market.
Is There Any Trailer Available for Animals?
Yes. An official trailer for Animals is available, giving viewers a first look at Ben Affleck’s crime thriller. The trailer is about 1 minute and 9 seconds long and shows the dark and tense world of the movie.
Animals is set to be released on October 9, 2026, via Netflix.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Animals filmed?
A1: Animals was mainly filmed in Los Angeles, California. Confirmed locations include the Los Angeles River area and The Original Farmers Market.
Q2: When did filming for Animals begin?
A2: Filming for Animals began in Los Angeles on March 7, 2025.
Q3: When did Animals finish filming?
A3: Production was reported to have wrapped on April 16, 2025, after several weeks of filming in Los Angeles.
Q4: Was Animals filmed at the Los Angeles River?
A4: Yes. The production filmed action scenes around the Los Angeles River and its concrete flood-control and storm-drain areas in April 2025.
Q5: Was Animals filmed at The Original Farmers Market?
A5: Yes. Ben Affleck and Steven Yeun were filmed at The Original Farmers Market on April 15, 2025. The scene was connected to the mayoral campaign in the movie.
Q6: Who stars in Animals?
A6: The cast of Animals includes Ben Affleck, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Kerry Washington, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher.
Q7: Who directed Animals?
A7: Ben Affleck directed Animals. He also stars in the movie as Mark Kimball.
Q8: When will Animals be released?
A8: Animals is scheduled to be released on October 9, 2026, on Netflix.
Animals was filmed mainly in Los Angeles, California, with the city playing an important role in the movie’s story. The Los Angeles River, its storm-drain areas, and The Original Farmers Market are among the confirmed filming locations.
Filming began on March 7, 2025, and continued through April, with production wrapping around April 16, 2025. With Ben Affleck directing and starring alongside a strong cast, Animals is set to bring a tense crime story to Netflix on October 9, 2026.
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