![\"Finn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283417533-4736.jpg\")
\n\t\tAn American series based on a real-life crime family is now streaming on Netflix (Picture: TNT\/ Everett\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tAn American series based on a real-life crime family is now streaming on Netflix (Picture: TNT\/ Everett\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
A series that was initially inspired by an infamous Australian<\/a> criminal family tied up in drug trafficking, arms dealing and armed robberies is now streaming on Netflix<\/a> in the UK.<\/p>\n In 2010 the \u2018gritty\u2019 film Animal Kingdom was released. It starred Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce<\/a>, James Frecheville, Luke Ford, Jacki Weaver, and Sullivan Stapleton and was inspired by several crimes allegedly committed by the Pettingill family of Melbourne.<\/p>\n That included the infamous 1988 murders of two police officers, which brothers Trevor Pettingill and Victor Peirce were accused of committing.<\/p>\n After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Jury Prize, the film earnt critical and commercial acclaim, with Weaver also being nominated for an Academy Award<\/a> for best supporting actress.<\/p>\n Holding a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, the critics consensus\u2019 reads: \u2018With confident pacing, a smart script, and a top-notch cast, Animal Kingdom represents the best the Australian film industry has to offer.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on all things Netflix\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n Six years after the film, a TV series of the same name was released<\/a> \u2013 but this time set in the United States. Running for 75 episodes across six seasons, this version of Animal Kingdom starred Finn Cole as Joshua \u2018J\u2019 Cody, a teenager who moves in with estranged relatives following the death of his mother.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t However, it turns out they run a criminal enterprise in California<\/a>, with the family\u2019s business dealings overseen by matriarch Janine \u2018Smurf\u2019 Cody (Ellen Barkin).<\/p>\n Like the movie before it, the TV series was received warmly, with Rotten Tomatoes calling it \u2018a darkly intriguing, twisted family drama\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018As gritty, dysfunctional family, crime-fuelled dramas go, Animal Kingdom roars with dark promise,\u2019 The Detroit News wrote in its review.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s freakin\u2019 terrific \u2013 dark, funny, exciting, smartly written and beautifully acted,\u2019 TV Line wrote.<\/p>\n \u2018This series adaptation of the 2010 movie Animal Kingdom is remarkably confident from the start. The story unfolds naturally, the hand-held camerawork is quite effective, and the acting is aces,\u2019 The Boston Globe added.<\/p>\n \t\t Meanwhile, in a Reddit<\/a> thread, many have raved about the \u2018forgotten\u2019 series, which was added to Netflix UK this week.<\/p>\n \u2018I always recommend it and a lot of people don\u2019t even know about it. I didn\u2019t until last year but once I started, I was absolutely hooked! That is hands down one of the best shows I\u2019ve ever seen!\u2019 user FineJellyfish4321 wrote.<\/p>\n \u2018Highly underrated show imo,\u2019 jwC731 shared.<\/p>\n \u2018Animal Kingdom blows Peaky Blinders<\/a> out of the water,\u2019 slardybartfast8 boldly declared.<\/p>\n The comparisons to the BBC<\/a> period crime drama also came due to the fact Cole starred in both \u2013 playing Michael Grey in the series from 2014 until 2022.<\/p>\n Ahead of the first season premiering, his co-star Scott Speedman (who played Baz) discussed the whether the cast were asked to tune into the film.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018It wasn\u2019t even a conversation. Like most actors I had seen the movie. We were all aware of it but when you\u2019re doing a television show and you\u2019re obviously not doing it in Australia \u2013 you\u2019re taking it and putting it in Oceanside, California, which is this blue-collar kind of seedy little beach town, it just changes the whole dynamic,\u2019 he told Entertainment Weekly<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n \u2018I thought that was a brilliant place to put it. It\u2019s the perfect place to see the town juxtaposed with this beautiful surf culture.\u2019<\/p>\n The Pettingill family was headed by matriarch Kath Pettingill, with the family involved in the infamous Melbourne gangland killings.<\/p>\n Members of the family, their associates and real-life exploits, have been depicted in multiple films and TV shows \u2013 including Underbelly, Killing Time and Drug Lords.<\/p>\n Animal Kingdom is streaming on Netflix.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283417522-92d7.jpg\")
\n\t\tAnimal Kingdom ran for six seasons after premiering in 2016 (Picture: THA\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283417459-caec.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt was inspired by the 2010 Australian film of the same name (Picture: Australia\/ Kobal\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"For](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_283417523-a87c.jpg\")
\n\t\tSome fans have said it \u2018blows Peaky Blinders out of the water\u2019 (Picture: Eddy Chen\/ THA\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Kath](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-540167447.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe movie was inspired by the Pettingill family \u2013 headed up by matriarch Kath Pettingill (Picture: Fairfax Media via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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