Animal Kingdom

The film begins with a tragic event where Joshua 'J' Cody loses his mother to a drug overdose. This devastating loss serves as the catalyst for his move into the chaotic world of his estranged grandmother, known as Smurf.

Following his mother's death, J is compelled to leave his old life behind and move in with his grandmother, Janine 'Smurf' Cody. Smurf is a dominant figure in the Melbourne crime scene, and J soon finds himself thrown into the tumultuous dynamics of the Cody crime family.

Upon settling in, J meets the Cody Boys—his uncles Andrew 'Pope' Cody, Craig, and Darren. Each of them has a distinct role in the family: Pope is an armed robber on the run, Craig is a violent drug dealer, and Darren looks up to his brothers, eager to find his place within the family ranks.

One day, Craig takes J for a drive, during which they encounter a confrontation at a traffic light. In a fit of aggression, Craig hands J a handgun and provokes an altercation, pushing J into a position of intimidation against an unknown assailant.

Tensions escalate within the Cody family as J learns about the betrayal of Pope's best friend, Baz, who tries to escape the life of crime. Tragically, his plan to leave ends in his death at the hands of the police, who misinterpret his actions, leaving the family in upheaval.

The violent nature of the Cody family leads J to participate in a chilling event: the ambush of two police officers orchestrated by Pope and Darren. This brutal confrontation marks a dark turning point in J's life and deepens his ties to his family's criminal activities.

After the violent episodes, J is taken in for questioning by Senior Police Officer Nathan Leckie. Recognizing J's precarious situation, Leckie offers him a chance at witness protection, hoping to help him escape the toxic influence of his family.

Despite the temptation for a way out, J ultimately rejects Leckie's offer for witness protection. This decision reflects J's complicated loyalties and the powerful pull of his family’s dark legacy.

As the violence intensifies, J suffers another personal blow when his girlfriend is murdered by Pope. This tragic event leaves J heartbroken and feeling trapped within the vortex of his family's criminal life.

Smurf begins to perceive J as a liability due to his potential as a witness against the family. In a chilling directive, she orchestrates a plan to eliminate J, recognizing that he has become too involved in the criminal underworld to be a safe presence.

In a high-tension sequence, J narrowly escapes an assassination attempt orchestrated by his own grandmother. This close call forces him to confront the reality of his family's ruthless nature.

Feeling overwhelmed by the violence that surrounds him, J returns to Smurf's house expressing his inability to continue living this way. He becomes determined to find a way to get Pope and Darren released from prison, seeking some semblance of family unity.

To facilitate the release of his uncles, the family lawyer devises a strategy to weaken the prosecution's case against Pope and Darren. This plan sets off a chain of events leading up to their eventual freedom.

After successfully maneuvering through the legal system, J welcomes Pope and Darren back home, reinstating their familial bond. However, the atmosphere is fraught with tension as J’s internal struggle reaches a boiling point.

In a shocking climax, after reuniting with his uncles, J suddenly turns on Pope and shoots him in the head. The film ends with J returning to a tense living room, symbolizing the dark choices ahead and the inescapable legacy of violence and betrayal.