Nocturnal Animals

Play trailer

1:29

Nocturnal Animals

R

2016

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

301 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A successful Los Angeles art-gallery owner's idyllic life is marred by the constant traveling of her handsome second husband. While he is away, she is shaken by the arrival of a manuscript written by her first husband, who she has not seen in years. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher who finds a trip with his family turning into a nightmare. As Susan reads the book, it forces her to examine her past and confront some dark truths.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Well-acted and lovely to look at, Nocturnal Animals further underscores writer-director Tom Ford's distinctive visual and narrative skill.

Read Critics Reviews

Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

08/25/2018

4/5

A gorgeous, harrowing and occasionally bizarre meta-thriller that mixes multiple narrative threads together with beautiful visuals and a breathtaking score.

Go to Full Review

Kristen Lopez

Culturess

11/20/2017

Nocturnal Animals is a frantic fever dream of the ways we betray and disappoint ourselves and those we love.

Go to Full Review

K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

08/10/2017

Nocturnal Animals ultimately reaches for something that isn't there, and falters. Ford is the consummate commercial artist, but he seems to hate it - while still, as an artist, trafficking in it.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

07/23/2025

5/5

Unexpected and completely forthright, it is a calculated barrage that is heavily layered in symbolic external and internal darkness that defies and questions definitions of beauty, morality, and material success.

Go to Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

02/12/2025

4/5

Gorgeously shot and deeply affecting, Tom Ford's packs a gut punch of a revenge tale into his sophomore effort.

Go to Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

02/05/2025

3/5

A slightly messy, but gorgeous sophomore outing from Tom Ford finds Adams playing against type in an understated tale of revenge. Gyllenhaal and Shannon are solid, and the tension in the highway scenes is palpable.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

John F

@RT84127024 Aug 10

Postmodern, nihilistic slop that is as misogynistic a film as it gets. Gyllenhaal could've won a Razzie for his overacting here, while Shannon's performance is its saving grace.

See more

Madam D

@Madam1948 Aug 1

This movie will make you think about choices you & those you love have made. Whether you believe them to be good or bad, you will mull them over.

See more

Leonardo M

@leosblinds Jul 31

More of a romance movie than crime/drama. Should've been categorized as such.

See more

Sean D

@RT32113921 Apr 20

Wow this film definitely sticks with you, and has you thinking about it long after. The scene where they run them off the road just had me feeling allsorts I didn't want to think about. Like what would/ coukd you do in the position 🙆‍♂️. But great film, the story in the book ties in so well with the real story. I totally got it. Pretty amazing

See more

Brian D.

@bdboston Apr 5

Excellent, multi layered, dark but well paced. Very well acted and written.

See more

Los G

@RT08187295 Mar 14

A film that isn't nearly as smart as it thinks it is. The critics really love the atmosphere and style, but it seems to come at the cost of substance. The film is basically a neat little trick, but the sort where you can see just how it's done

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Tom Ford

Director

Amy Adams

Susan Morrow

Jake Gyllenhaal

Tony Hastings

Michael Shannon

Bobby Andes

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Ray Marcus

Isla Fisher

Laura Hastings

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - A Good Man

1:45

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Pull Over!

2:36

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Did They Suffer?

2:11

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Get in My Car

2:55

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Do You Love Me?

2:00

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - A Nice Guy Like You

2:55

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Eyes Like Your Mother

2:37

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Make Him Suffer

2:59

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Any Last Words?

2:59

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Official Clip - Recognize this Man?

1:45

Now Playing

View more videos

Hollywoodland

68%

48%

Hollywoodland

Watchlist

A Kind of Murder

35%

18%

A Kind of Murder

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Kind of Murder

Gone Girl

88%

87%

Gone Girl

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Gone Girl

Vincent N Roxxy

47%

63%

Vincent N Roxxy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Vincent N Roxxy

Small Town Crime

82%

70%

Small Town Crime

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Small Town Crime

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Nocturnal Animals: Trailer 2

1:29

Now Playing

Nocturnal Animals: Trailer 1

2:06

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A successful Los Angeles art-gallery owner's idyllic life is marred by the constant traveling of her handsome second husband. While he is away, she is shaken by the arrival of a manuscript written by her first husband, who she has not seen in years. The manuscript tells the story of a teacher who finds a trip with his family turning into a nightmare. As Susan reads the book, it forces her to examine her past and confront some dark truths.

Director: Tom Ford
Producer: Tom Ford, Robert Salerno
Screenwriter: Tom Ford
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Focus Features, Fade to Black Productions, Artina Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Menace|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 9, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.4M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings