Kerry Washington Is a Scene Stealer in the New Animals Trailer

By Elizabeth Paige Richardson | October 6, 2026 | Best TV Shows, Celebrity & Culture

Kerry Washington and Ben Affleck in Animals on Netflix

This time of year, there’s always a handful of thrillers that take over the streaming charts. Classic horror flicks like Halloween and eerie true-crime series always find a spot on top ten lists throughout October, but this year Netflix is looking to dominate part of the season with Animals.

Starring Kerry Washington alongside Ben Affleck, the Animals trailer sets the stakes high. The two star as a couple in the political spotlight forced to expose all the skeletons in the closet to each other when they encounter every family’s worst nightmare: their kidnapped son (Christopher Woodley) is being held for ransom with a ticking time limit. And in this day and age, is there anything scarier than politics?

Although we almost didn’t get to see Washington star as Abigail in Animals, the actress already proved that she was the right choice to step into the role by bringing her signature intensity to the screen. One shouldn’t be surprised by how well the actress embodies the role thanks to her career-defining work on Scandal, where the lines between politics, business, and relationships were blurred. The film is poised to be her second psychological thriller hit to dominate streaming this year, with her leading role on Apple TV’s Imperfect Women garnering buzz earlier this year.

As for her experience on set, Washington gushed, “We had so much fun working together as an ensemble,” which includes costars Ray Fisher, Steven Yeun, and Gillian Anderson.