Nocturnal Animals

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1:29

Nocturnal Animals

R

2016

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Kambole Campbell

One Room With A View

Aug 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.

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Kristen Lopez

Culturess

Nov 20, 2017

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

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K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

Aug 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.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 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.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Feb 12, 2025

4/5

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

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

Feb 5, 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.

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Chris H

@RT60525826 Oct 9, 2026

A very unpleasant story set within a tragic story. The two deliberately parallel each other, with the story in the book reflecting the historic breakup of the real relationship. It's very well acted and filmed, nicely paced and the ending is effective. Can you feel the "but" coming? The story in the book is too unpleasant for me and, because we're watching the two stories together, not reading a book ourselves, appears equally real.

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Greg M

@RT15704283 Sep 30, 2026

I truly enjoyed this movie, after the opening credits, that is. It’s a fast pace movie. I didn’t grab for my phone once, and we all know how easy that is to do with a yawner of a movie. This kept my attention the whole time. Great work. I’m glad I watched it. Made me think of my ex wife and her decision to leave me and our kids.

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Andrew J

@jynx2706 Sep 29, 2026

That highway scene was palpable. Unique telling of a revenge story.

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John F

@RT84127024 Aug 10, 2026

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.

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Madam D

@Madam1948 Aug 1, 2026

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.

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Leonardo M

@leosblinds Jul 31, 2026

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

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Tom Ford

Director

Amy Adams

Susan Morrow

Jake Gyllenhaal

Tony Hastings

Michael Shannon

Bobby Andes

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Ray Marcus

Isla Fisher

Laura Hastings

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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

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