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We the Animals

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for We the Animals R 2018 1h 34m Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 102 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Manny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood. Their mother and father have a volatile relationship that makes and unmakes the family many times over, often leaving the boys fending for themselves. As their parents rip at one another, Manny and Joel harden and grow into versions of their father. With the triumvirate fractured, Jonah, who is the youngest, becomes increasingly aware of his desperate need to escape. Driven to the edge, Jonah embraces an imagined world all his own.
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We the Animals

We the Animals

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Critics Consensus

Dreamlike and haunting, We the Animals approaches the coming-of-age odyssey with a uniquely documentarian eye.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 06/16/2019
4/5
One of the discoveries of the year so far. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review 06/14/2019
It deals with difficult subject matter with extreme grace. Go to Full Review Ed Potton The Times (UK) 06/14/2019
3/5
While the child actors are often excellent, they don't get much to say, and it's asking a lot for boys of primary-school age to express soulful depths through glances alone. Go to Full Review Brendan Cassidy InSession Film 07/02/2024
We the Animals is at once disassociating and full of warmth. Go to Full Review Brian T. Carney Washington Blade 12/08/2022
A visceral yet lyrical film... Go to Full Review M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut 08/17/2022
3.5/5
We the Animals is a mishmash of puzzle pieces that form a coming-of-age tale reminiscent of Moonlight, but that won’t quite fit the way they should (which is rather the point). Moving, and almost mystical. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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PridePosterStudios @RT04271525 09/20/2023 Body heat body heat body heat See more ari v @RT59419633 07/28/2021 Next Day Update: It's honesty/resonance and disconformity became clearer when thinking about it while listening to Joyner Lucas' ISIS the next day; especially where supporting characters are concerned. Still a little too romantic about the central character's likeness to reach the heights of Precious or Moonlight or Bests Of No Nation, but closer to that than to wokepleasers like Get Out, Parasite or Knives Out. Original Review: Pretty good, but I'd be surprised if it sticks with me long. Perhaps because it's little too convenniently in-vogue abd articised to a point of disconect. See more georgan g @RT98616417 11/16/2020 Beautiful imagery, good acting, but very depressing. The only hopeful part was the child flying away. See more 05/08/2020 Wow. Honestly so beautiful and accomplishes exactly what it set out to do. The last ten (or five?) minutes evoked a lot of emotion from me, and of course the movie is very pretty visually. Does a great job conveying brotherhood and childhood, as well as the difficulties impoverished people face, all through the convincing lens of a child. Gorgeous film. See more 01/17/2020 Poetic, beautiful and heartfelt. We the Animals is a sublime, hypnotic and coming of age story about brotherhood, love and finding yourself in the world. Every shot looks like an oil painting. Camera and sound are used expressively and powerfully like any director with a very specific sense of vision would use. See more 12/31/2019 I absolutely love this movie. It is beautiful and tells a necessary and realistic tale of childhood. It's characters feel completely human, and you can understand how each of them got to where they are without agreeing with them. In many ways it reminds me of Moonlight, and just like it We the Animals is a film that everyone should see. See more Read all reviews
We the Animals

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Cast & Crew

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Jeremiah Zagar

Director

Raúl Castillo

Paps

Sheila Vand

Ma

Evan Rosado

Jonah

Isaiah Kristian

Manny

Josiah Gabriel

Joel

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We the Animals

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We the Animals

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Movie Info

Synopsis Manny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood. Their mother and father have a volatile relationship that makes and unmakes the family many times over, often leaving the boys fending for themselves. As their parents rip at one another, Manny and Joel harden and grow into versions of their father. With the triumvirate fractured, Jonah, who is the youngest, becomes increasingly aware of his desperate need to escape. Driven to the edge, Jonah embraces an imagined world all his own.
Director
Jeremiah Zagar
Producer
Jeremy Yaches, Christina D. King, Paul Mezey, Andrew Goldman
Screenwriter
Jeremiah Zagar, Daniel Kitrosser
Distributor
The Orchard
Production Co
Cinereach, Public Record
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Strong Sexual Content|Underage Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre
Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 17, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 13, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$400.4K
Runtime
1h 34m