
Scripted series · TNT
Animal Kingdom
Family ’til the end.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Animal Kingdom actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Animal Kingdom reads strongest on Character Depth, Serialized and Emotional Weight.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
17-year-old Joshua "J" Cody moves in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Headed by boot-tough matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody and her right-hand Baz, who runs the business and calls the shots, the clan also consists of Pope, the oldest and most dangerous of the Cody boys; Craig, the tough and fearless middle son; and Deran, the troubled, suspicious "baby" of the family.
The run
Seasons
6 seasons · 75 episodes.

Season 1 · Complete
Season 1
201610 episodes
6.6IMDbAfter his mother dies of a heroin overdose, Joshua 'J' Cody moves in with his estranged grandmother, Janine ‘Smurf' Cody in Oceanside, California. He finds himself drawn into a dark world funded by criminal activities that he's been shielded from for years, as she and his uncles plan their upcoming heist. J must prove his loyalty to stay alive, all the while learning that Smurf is the intense, beguiling, and complicated matriarch, who rules over "her boys" with a borderline incestuous love.
Best episode · S01E10 What Have You Done

Season 2 · Complete
Season 2
201713 episodes
7.7IMDbAs season two opens, the Cody clan is back to their old ways and in the midst of a fun, high-adrenaline heist. But when things don’t go as planned, the family dynamics become more fractured than ever as some members advocate for independence from Smurf. Adding fuel to the fire is an external threat from Smurf's past that has come back to haunt her.
Best episode · S02E05 Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Season 3 · Complete
Season 3
201813 episodes
7.0IMDbWith Smurf in jail and her grandson J in charge of the family business, the Cody men find themselves increasingly divided as they fight for control and their independence in season three. But when outside threats emerge, they have to come together.
Best episode · S03E08 Incoming

Season 4 · Complete
Season 4
201913 episodes
7.4IMDbIn season four, Smurf is back on top reminding her boys who’s boss no matter whom she hurts in the process. Trapped with Smurf, Pope has found new and dangerous ways to deal with his anger, J continues to scheme about how to take over the family business, Craig plots one of their most difficult heists and Deran is worried about his future with Adrian. Outsiders move in to threaten the Cody’s fragile peace, including Angela the former best friend of J’s deceased mother and a recovering junkie, who tries to snake her way back into the family’s good graces. A new criminal crew is also introduced with a surprising connection to the Codys.
Best episode · S04E12 Ghosts

Season 5 · Complete
Season 5
202113 episodes
7.0IMDbPope, Craig, Deran and J still are dealing with the fallout from the events surrounding Smurf’s death, including family members out for revenge. With their kingdom without a leader, the Codys struggle to maintain their fragile alliance, and to see which of them will come out on top. Meanwhile, they search for more information on Pamela Johnson, whom Smurf made the beneficiary of her estate. And back in 1984, an increasingly volatile 29-year-old Smurf is forging her own path raising Pope and Julia and leading the charge on dangerous jobs with new and old friends.
Best episode · S05E01 Red Handed

Season 6 · Complete
Season 6
202213 episodes
6.5IMDbBest episode · S06E07 Incognito
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S01E10
What Have You Done
Puzzled by Catherine's disappearance, Baz hunts down all leads. With J caught in the middle, the cops close in on the Codys and threaten to take them all down.
- Directed by John Wells
- Written by Jonathan Lisco

S02E05
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
As the boys put the megachurch heist in motion, Craig has second thoughts. Javi surprises Smurf with a visit.
- Directed by Laura Innes
- Written by T.J. Brady

S01E08
Man In
Tensions run high as the Codys prepare for their big heist. Catherine gets a shock and must decide what's best for her family. J faces pressure from the cops.
- Directed by Larry Teng
- Written by Megan Martin

S02E10
Treasure
As Craig leads the boys and Nicky in pirating the yacht, Smurf tries to find out who robbed her. Meanwhile, Baz considers what life would be like without Smurf calling all the shots.
- Directed by Josef Kubota Wladyka
- Written by T.J. Brady

S02E08
Grace
As cops press Amy about the church robbery, Pope diverts their suspicions. Craig plans an unusual heist of his own. Baz tails Smurf to find out what she’s really hiding.
- Directed by Cherie Nowlan
- Written by Megan Martin

S03E02
In The Red
J struggles to keep the family business afloat after Smurf enlists him to make sure all the bills get paid. Deran makes his own moves independent of the family. Pope learns the ins and outs of parenting as he cares for Lena, and Craig makes enemies in Mexico.
- Directed by David Rodriguez
- Written by Eliza Clark
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.

Jonathan Lisco
Showrunner

Liz Watts
Executive producer

David Michôd
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Daniele Nathanson
Executive producer

John Wells
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Erin Jontow
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Carla Frankenbach
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Heath Corson
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Bill Balas
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Matt Kester
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Megan Martin
Writer

Addison McQuigg
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Bradley Paul
Writer

Vanessa Baden Kelly
Writer
- Photo unavailable
T.J. Brady
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Etan Frankel
Writer

Eliza Clark
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Shukree Hassan Tilghman
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Liz WattsExecutive Producer
- David MichôdExecutive Producer
- Daniele NathansonExecutive Producer
- John WellsExecutive Producer
- Erin JontowExecutive Producer
Writing
- Jonathan LiscoWriter
- Carla FrankenbachWriter
- Heath CorsonWriter
- Daniele NathansonWriter
- Bill BalasWriter
- Matt KesterWriter
Direction
- Tim SouthamDirector
- David RodriguezDirector
- Alex ZakrzewskiDirector
- Laura BelseyDirector
- Emmy RossumDirector
- J. Michael MuroDirector
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Amazon Prime VideoStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
- Amazon Prime Video with AdsStreaming
If you liked this
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