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Drama horror film

Animale (2025): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Animale (2025) movie poster

Animale is a 2025 drama horror film directed by Emma Benestan, starring Oulaya Amamra as Nejma, Damien Rebattel and Elies-Morgan Admi-Bensellam. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $71,924 worldwide on a $380 million budget. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
94%
worldwide gross
$71.9K
Echo Score
80
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Animale (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Director
Emma Benestan
Genres
Drama , Horror
Original language
French
Budget
$380M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Animale About?

The premise of Animale without spoilers.

In the Camargue region of southern France, a notorious, centuries‑old tradition of bullfighting endures. Local youths take part in a graceful yet perilous contest, performing a modernized version that avoids killing the animals and instead highlights speed, skill and dominance. Among them is Nejma, an intrepid participant who embraces the challenge and the culture surrounding it.

Animale Themes & Keywords

· 39 tags
  • young
  • injury
  • oil lamp
  • slow motion scene
  • bare chested male
  • blood
  • triple f rated
  • arena
  • bull
  • human transforms into animal
  • bathtub
  • f rated
+27 more
  • one word title
  • turned into an animal
  • death
  • transformation
  • title directed by female
  • human becoming an animal
  • drinking alcohol
  • body transformation
  • gay son
  • full moon
  • female protagonist
  • training
  • dancing
  • rifle shot
  • dead bull
  • reflection in eye
  • horse
  • night
  • human turned into an animal
  • reflection in an eye
  • physical transformation
  • animal killed
  • camargue
  • south of france
  • horseback riding
  • body horror
  • folk horror
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Cast & crew

Animale Cast & Characters

Oulaya Amamra leads the cast as Nejma, with Damien Rebattel as Tony and Elies-Morgan Admi-Bensellam as Jordan. Directed by Emma Benestan; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Animale

· 10 more
From the director

More from Emma Benestan

More films directed by Emma Benestan: Hard Shell, Soft Shell, Facing the Beast, Taste of Love and Summer of Sarah.

Full filmography
Ratings

Animale Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Animale 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in sensory experience (88) and weakest in story & flow (65).

80 /100

Animale Echo Score Breakdown

Animale delivers a visually arresting horror experience anchored by a compelling lead performance, with its cinematography and atmospheric sound design standing out as its primary strengths. The film’s thematic exploration of gender and power adds depth, while the narrative structure suffers from uneven pacing and underdeveloped backstory, limiting its cohesion. Consequently, the movie offers a powerful sensory impression that rewards repeat viewings despite its storytelling flaws.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    The film’s direction showcases a bold visual language, highlighted by kinetic camerawork and an understated color palette that amplifies tension. Cinematographer Ruben Impens contributes bustling, intimate framing that aligns with the brutal subject matter. Production design reinforces the fog‑filled swampland setting, while editing maintains rhythm during action sequences. Overall, the artful craftsmanship elevates the horror premise.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    Lead actress Emma Benestan delivers a nuanced performance that anchors the film’s emotional core, conveying both vulnerability and ferocity. Supporting cast members provide solid contributions, though some characters lack sufficient development, leaving relational dynamics underexplored. Chemistry between protagonists is palpable in key moments, reinforcing thematic concerns. In sum, the character work is strong but unevenly detailed.

  • Story & Flow 65

    Animale presents an intriguing premise centered on revenge and gendered violence, offering thematic richness that engages thoughtful viewers. However, the plot suffers from fragmented pacing and sparse exposition, resulting in a narrative that occasionally drifts off course. Key backstory elements remain underexplored, limiting audience investment in character motivations. Overall, the story is conceptually strong yet executionally inconsistent.

  • Sensory Experience 88

    The soundscape combines menacing music with ambient wilderness noises, creating a pervasive sense of dread that heightens tension. Visuals employ fog‑laden swampland and kinetic bullfighting sequences to deliver visceral impact without relying on graphic gore. The film’s dreamlike moments oscillate between hypnotic beauty and nightmarish intensity, reinforcing its atmospheric ambitions. Collectively, the sensory design immerses viewers in a haunting environment.

  • Rewatch Factor 72

    The film’s strong visual and auditory motifs reward attentive viewing, revealing new layers on subsequent watches. The lead’s performance and thematic depth encourage re‑engagement, while the atmospheric sequences retain their visceral appeal. Nonetheless, narrative gaps and unresolved subplots may deter some viewers from repeated enjoyment. Altogether, Animale offers a compelling but imperfect rewatch experience.

Box office

Animale Box Office & Budget

Animale grossed $71,924 worldwide on a $380 million budget.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$71.9K

International
$71.9K
Budget
$380M
Videos

Animale Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Animale.

Animale (2024) - Trailer (English Subs)
Details

Animale Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Bullgirl” and “Zwierzę”.

Also known as
  • Bullgirl
  • Zwierzę
  • Оборотень
  • 兽性
  • 아니말
  • Zvijer

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FAQ

Animale FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Animale, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Animale?

Animale runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was Animale released?

Animale was released on August 8, 2025.

Who directed Animale?

Animale was directed by Emma Benestan.

More films by Emma Benestan

Who is in the cast of Animale?

Animale stars Oulaya Amamra as Nejma, Damien Rebattel as Tony and Elies-Morgan Admi-Bensellam as Jordan, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Animale make at the box office?

Animale grossed $71,924 worldwide on a budget of $380 million.

How is Animale rated?

Animale has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Animale have a post-credit scene?

No. Animale has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Animale in?

The original language of Animale is French.

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