10 Movies & Shows Similar to The Animal Kingdom (2023)

Description: Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror shares with 'The Animal Kingdom' a fascination with the terrifying beauty of non-human life forms. Both films create a sense of awe and dread around their creatures. The themes of survival and the unknown are central to both, though 'Alien' is more overtly horror-oriented.

Fact: H.R. Giger's designs revolutionized creature design in cinema. The chestburster scene shocked even the cast during filming. Sigourney Weaver's Ripley became an iconic female action hero.

Description: David Cronenberg's body horror masterpiece shares with 'The Animal Kingdom' the theme of terrifying yet tragic transformation. Both films depict the gradual merging of human and animal traits, exploring the physical and psychological toll. The visceral special effects in both make the transformations deeply unsettling.

Fact: Jeff Goldblum's performance was largely improvised. The film won an Oscar for Best Makeup. Cronenberg saw the story as a metaphor for aging and disease.

Description: While more action-oriented, 'Predator' shares with 'The Animal Kingdom' the theme of humans confronting a superior non-human species. Both explore the hunter/hunted dynamic and the blurring of lines between human and animal instincts. The creature designs in both are memorable and biologically plausible.

Fact: The original script was called 'Hunter'. Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator. The creature's clicking sounds were created using a combination of dolphin and other animal noises.

Description: This film shares with 'The Animal Kingdom' the central theme of human-animal hybrids and the moral questions they raise. Both explore the consequences of playing god and the blurred lines between humanity and animality. The eerie and unsettling atmosphere in both films heightens the sense of otherness and horror.

Fact: The film is an adaptation of H.G. Wells' 1896 novel. Marlon Brando's eccentric performance as Dr. Moreau became infamous. The production was plagued by difficulties, including hurricanes and conflicts between Brando and the director.

Description: This South Korean film, like 'The Animal Kingdom', features a unique creature that becomes central to a family's story. Both blend genres, mixing horror, drama, and even comedy. The creature in 'The Host' is as much a victim as a monster, similar to the hybrids in 'The Animal Kingdom'.

Fact: Directed by Bong Joon-ho, who later won Oscars for 'Parasite'. The creature was inspired by a real-life incident involving formaldehyde dumping. It broke box office records in South Korea.

Description: 'District 9' and 'The Animal Kingdom' both examine how societies treat 'the other', whether alien or hybrid. The themes of segregation, transformation, and empathy are central to both. The gritty, documentary-style visuals in 'District 9' contrast with 'The Animal Kingdom's' more poetic approach, but both are powerful in their depiction of outsider beings.

Fact: The film was shot on a budget of $30 million, low for a sci-fi feature. It began as a short film called 'Alive in Joburg'. The alien language was developed by the director and actors.

Description: Similar to 'The Animal Kingdom' (2023), 'Sweet Tooth' explores themes of human-animal hybrids and the societal reactions to such beings. Both delve into the emotional and ethical dilemmas surrounding these creatures, blending fantasy with deep human drama. The visual aesthetics in both are striking, with a mix of beauty and grotesquery in the hybrid designs.

Fact: 'Sweet Tooth' is based on a comic book series by Jeff Lemire. The series was produced by Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan Downey. The show combines post-apocalyptic settings with fairy-tale elements.

Description: Like 'The Animal Kingdom', 'Annihilation' deals with transformation and the merging of species, creating beings that defy natural laws. Both films use stunning visuals to depict these changes, evoking a sense of wonder and terror. The themes of identity and evolution are central to both narratives.

Fact: Based on Jeff VanderMeer's novel, the first in the 'Southern Reach Trilogy'. Director Alex Garland chose to diverge significantly from the source material. The bear scene is one of the most terrifying moments in modern sci-fi cinema.

Description: This film parallels 'The Animal Kingdom' in its exploration of love and connection between humans and non-human creatures. Both films challenge societal norms and prejudices, presenting their hybrid characters with empathy and depth. The visual style in both is lush and evocative, blending realism with fantasy.

Fact: Guillermo del Toro's film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The creature was inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Sally Hawkins performed all her scenes without speaking.

Description: While not about hybrids, 'A Quiet Place' shares with 'The Animal Kingdom' a focus on survival in a world where nature has turned against humanity. Both films use sound (or its absence) creatively to build tension. The emotional core in both is family and protection of loved ones in extreme circumstances.

Fact: John Krasinski co-wrote, directed, and starred in the film. Emily Blunt, his real-life wife, plays his on-screen wife. The creatures' design was inspired by nightmares Krasinski had as a child.