Corporate Animals
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Corporate Animals
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Corporate Animals is an unpleasant dark comedy about a nasty boss (Demi Moore) and her employees (including Jessica Williams, Karan Soni, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who get trapped in a cave during a team-building excursion. It includes some graphic gore and cannibalism -- though much of it is presented in a comic tone. Expect to see gory wounds and body parts, characters smashed by rocks, flesh-eating, urine-drinking, blood on clothes, and animated sequences with creepy, gory imagery. Sex noises are heard while two women make love (off camera), a fully naked man is shown, two men kiss briefly, and there's tons of sex talk. There's also an ongoing masturbation-related joke. Language is constant and extreme, with many uses of "f--k," "s--t," and more. Characters hallucinate after drinking cave water and eating newts.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In CORPORATE ANIMALS, Lucy (Demi Moore) is the ruthless CEO of an edible cutlery company, ruling with an iron fist. She decides to take eight employees on a morale-building cave-exploring trip. Among them, Freddie (Karan Soni) and Jess (Jessica Williams) both covet the soon-to-be-opening position of vice president. The rest include Derek (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Gloria (Martha Kelly), Billy (Dan Bakkedahl), May (Jennifer Kim), Suzy (Nasim Pedrad), and intern Aidan (Calum Worthy). Against the warnings of their guide, Brandon (Ed Helms), Lucy insists on taking the "expert" route. Before anyone knows it, a cave-in has trapped them in an underground cavern, where they must learn to work together and trust one another to survive.
Is It Any Good?
This mostly laugh-free dark comedy plunges into icky territory, with largely unlikable characters; aside from trying to mock the American workforce, it doesn't seem to have much of a point. Directed by Patrick Brice (of the clever found-footage horror movies Creep and Creep 2), Corporate Animals revolves around a bunch of paper-thin, cartoon-like characters with one-note personalities -- ultimately, it's difficult to care whether they survive their ordeal. Whitlock Jr.'s Derek earns the movie's only couple of giggles, but he still doesn't feel very rounded.
Only Jess seems above it all, which unfortunately forces the otherwise dynamic, funny Williams into an uncharacteristically sober, rather uninteresting role. The movie's comedic approach should have lightened the oppressiveness of the grimy, claustrophobic cave setting, but instead it only seems awkwardly at odds with it. The result is both oppressive and unfunny. The ultimate goal of Corporate Animals remains a mystery. Moore's nasty boss is, eventually, mostly toothless, and a joke about affirmative action and the diverse cast feels terribly misplaced. Better to take a day off from this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Corporate Animals' violence and gore. Does the fact that it's supposed to be funny change its impact?
How is sex portrayed? Which relationships are based in trust, and which are based in power? What's the difference?
How does teamwork play into this story? Does the movie promote teamwork?
Would you consider this film a good example of diversity/representation? Did the joke about grants and affirmative action affect your perception?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 20, 2019
- On DVD or streaming: November 5, 2019
- Cast: Demi Moore, Ed Helms, Jessica Williams, Karan Soni
- Director: Patrick Brice
- Studio: Screen Media Films
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 86 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive language, sexual content, some gore and brief nudity
- Last updated: February 7, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
Horrible Bosses
All-star comedy is pretty raunchy -- and hilarious.
-
Sorry to Bother You
Very mature satire is unique, impossible to dismiss.
-
Office Space
Funny but dark '90s comedy has lots of cursing, some sex.
For kids who love comedy and horror
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate