American Animals
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Videos & Photos
- Official Trailer (02:26)
- Trailer 1 (02:25)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Part true crime documentary, part breezy heist film, American Animals defies expectations at every turn. The premise is deceptively simple: four young men decide to shake up their existence by stealing millions of dollars worth of rare books from their college library. It’s the kind of bold low stakes/high reward plan they’ve seen in countless glossy and fun flicks. Only this crime really did happen… and it didn’t go down the way it does in the movies. Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, and Jared Abrahamson star as the young men in question, though director Bart Layton has mixed in interview footage with their real-life counterparts and other figures from the case. The result is a meditation on memory, consequences, friendship, and those lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Cast
- Spencer Reinhard
- Warren Lipka
- Eric Borsuk
- Chas Allen
- Betty Jean Gooch
- Evan Peters
- Blake Jenner
- Barry Keoghan
- Jared Abrahamson
- Eddie King
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.7
135.4K
28.4K
32.9K
- Nov 5, 2018
Cool film. Easily one of the best US films of the year. Love the hybrid docu/fiction nature of the film. Lots to analyze here... because basically this is a documentary with cinematic reenactments. From imdb: During filming the actors were not allowed to meet their real…
Sean BakerJul 8, 2018what was working so well as a comedy became dark and realistic FAST, but for the most part i think the genre shift is effective. my rating for this is probably gonna go up or down with some reflection, only time will tell also, the best line in the movie, in reference to…
LucyJun 30, 2018fellas is it gay to take ur bro on a trip to nyc to meet a person that may or may not exist for valentine's day??
Kara - Jan 17, 2021
why isn't coming of age heist film a more popular genre
JaxiJun 13, 2018Honestly shocked at how many of my Letterboxd friends did not seem to like this movie! I reeeeeeally enjoyed it. It’s stylish, tense, upsetting, and SO well-acted– Evan Peters, Blake Jenner, and Barry Keoghan were outstanding. It even acts as it’s own documentary, which…
demi adejuyigbeAug 24, 2018the killing of a sacred heist
lauren - Jun 27, 2018
like a millennial Ocean’s Eleven like a male Thoroughbreds like a dumb Social Network like one of the wildest pieces of film I’ve ever seen. I’m floored
SarahJul 2, 2018When Evan Peters got out of the tub 10th grade me who watched and rewatched Murder House religiously was shaking
Siena 🌞Aug 16, 2018not @ how evan peters’ character was in a public library googling how to execute a robbery
alicja
Queue Community Reviews
87%
Community 2,438
Top Reviews
- Luca Salerno likedAmerican Animals
The use of the narration made by the real authors of the theft is a perfect choice, without it the movie wouldn’t be as strong. Understanding the psychology and emotions of the characters is very interesting, it allows you to reflect and to understand so much more.
eliano likedAmerican Animalsit was good, a little slow at some points and I honestly thought they were gonna get away with it, but i enjoyed it and it was cool actually seeing the people behind the idea in this film too.
Cadence Sninsky lovedAmerican Animals15/10 I HAVE WATCHED THIS MOVIE A HUNDRED TIMES AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. the way it’s formatted and the editing is so good i could honestly watch this movie everyday i honestly did for a bit
- Lizzie LaFont likedAmerican Animals
really cool movie concept—part film part documentary, me likey these guys are idiots tho.
Nicho Dbr likedAmerican Animals8/10 👍🏻 - Narrazione avvincente della più classica micro-rapina americana - Scritto e narrato bene - Oscilla tra umorismo e tensione, rende entrambe le cose dannatamente bene 👎🏻 - Alcune scelte fotografiche e alcuni tagli - Il cambio tra attori e reali autori della rapina
Kyle Hagerman likedAmerican AnimalsAlways love a true story film and this one is truly almost a documentary. Had me a little anxious but this great cast and wild story kept me invested. Would recommend for a first watch but I can’t say I’d watch it again personally
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The Master-Rater likedAmerican Animals7.1/10 very interesting movie with how it was narrated by the real guys. Solid heist movie with more drama than action. Kinda blows my mind that they thought they would be able to get away with it. They all seemed like idiots
Jonathan Allen lovedAmerican AnimalsVery interesting concept. The end left a little to be desired, but worth the watch. I don’t think there was quite enough backdrop for the twist, so it didn’t land as effectively as it could have.
Gaia likedAmerican AnimalsGreat cast. I liked the fact that the real guys that tried to put the robbery in act and all the other people related to them were narrating the events along with the cast. Worth the watch
Atom Users Reviews
POPULAR TAGS
Reviews
- RMRick Mendes
I like the fact this was a true story. I just felt the movie dragged on. I would have liked it better at 1:30.
TSTiffany Solivanwas a different kind of crime movie was very interesting
MMMelody MelodyA movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, even if you know the story - a must-see!
- GHGil Hizon
It took awhile for the pace to pick up, but once it did, I was hooked. A convenient but stark contrast to usual "heist movies" which have become very "paint by numbers."
SGSusan GhikaMCMisty Chavez - SCSenta CunninghamCECg ErwinBBBrittney Bowman
Metacritic
For all its mode-bending gamesmanship, American Animals is ultimately a fairly straightforward heist movie, albeit a stylish and engaging one.
A.A. Dowd
The A.V. Club
Both as a writer and director, Layton delivers the dramatic goods here with the skill of a pro at the top of his game while adding the rueful perspective of time's reassessment of youthful indiscretions; this has to rate among the most accomplished and fully realized big-screen debuts of recent times.
Todd McCarthy
The Hollywood Reporter
American Animals is fiercely entertaining from start to finish, even when its characters are acting so dumb that you start to suspect they still have some more evolving to do.
David Ehrlich
IndieWire
Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Animals (2018) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is American Animals (2018)?
The movie is 1hr 56min long.
What's American Animals (2018) about?
Part true crime documentary, part breezy heist film, American Animals defies expectations at every turn. The premise is deceptively simple: four young men decide to shake up their existence by stealing millions of dollars worth of rare books from their college library. It’s the kind of bold low stakes/high reward plan they’ve seen in countless glossy and fun flicks. Only this crime really did happen… and it didn’t go down the way it does in the movies. Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, and Jared Abrahamson star as the young men in question, though director Bart Layton has mixed in interview footage with their real-life counterparts and other figures from the case. The result is a meditation on memory, consequences, friendship, and those lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
Who's the cast of American Animals (2018)?
- Spencer Reinhard as The Real Spencer Reinhard
- Warren Lipka as The Real Warren Lipka
- Eric Borsuk as The Real Eric Borsuk
- Chas Allen as The Real Chas Allen
- Betty Jean Gooch as The Real Betty Jean 'BJ' Gooch
- Evan Peters as Warren
- Blake Jenner as Chas
- Barry Keoghan as Spencer
- Jared Abrahamson as Eric
- Eddie King as Male Art Professor
Who's the director behind American Animals (2018)?
Bart Layton directed American Animals (2018).
Who produced American Animals (2018)?
Daniel Battsek, Len Blavatnik and Katherine Butler produced American Animals (2018).
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