During a team-building retreat in a New Mexico cave, Lucy, a demanding executive, and her employees find themselves trapped after a sudden collapse. As they struggle to survive alongside their inexperienced guide, Brandon, the group must confront their own shortcomings and Lucy's controlling nature. Freddie and Jess are among those battling to escape the dangerous, underground maze, facing both physical peril and the complexities of their working relationships.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Corporate Animals (2019), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Lucy, portrayed by Demi Moore, is the self-absorbed CEO of Incredible Edibles, the leading provider of edible cutlery in America. With her unyielding management style, she leads her team, which includes her beleaguered assistants, Freddie played by Karan Soni and Jess portrayed by Jessica Williams, on a corporate team-building expedition in New Mexico. Both Freddie and Jess believe they are contenders for a much-coveted promotion to VP. However, Lucy makes a surprising change to their plans: after initially suggesting they follow an easier hiking path, she opts for a challenging trek against the advice of their guide, Brandon played by Ed Helms.
As the group sets off, various tensions simmer beneath the surface. Aidan, the intern played by Calum Worthy, faces embarrassment after an accident, while Suzy, portrayed by Nasim Pedrad, is paralyzed by fear and pleads not to take part in the rigorous hike. May, played by Jennifer Kim, recently took over accounting but is struggling, prompting gentle nudges from Gloria played by Martha Kelly.
As troubles escalate, disaster strikes when an earthquake traps them underground, leading to the death of their guide, Brandon, when the only exit collapses. With little food and dwindling water supplies, tensions mount. Billy, played by Dan Bakkedahl, becomes wrathful over his water rations being squandered, while Lucy assures the group help is imminent, even as reality sets in.
Day by day, their situation grows desperate. The group’s firsthand experiences with Lucy’s ruthless leadership cause discord, leading Jess and Freddie to confront her about their floundering accounts and lack of trust. Tensions peak when they consider the unthinkable—dining on their deceased guide, Brandon—causing a heated debate among the team until they ultimately decide to go through with it, unearthing haunting truths in the process, such as Lucy hoarding a part of Brandon for herself.
With each passing day, the group’s condition worsens, health deteriorates, and Lucy’s instability intensifies. Conflict erupts as they uncover Lucy’s motives, realizing she hired them purely as part of an affirmative action initiative. An attempt to unify the team resurfaces, leading them to collaborate against Lucy to survive.
On days 9 and 10, the group faces pivotal moments that spiral into a raging fight for survival. Lucy’s injury on a rock inflames the already simmering tension, prompting Jess to galvanize the others for a collective stand against her. As they reclaim their power and ultimately decide to keep their dark secrets hidden, they craft a fabricated narrative for the press, claiming a rock fell on Lucy in her sleep, ensuring their sordid adventure stays buried along with Lucy.
Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 10:45
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Dark comedies where modern workplace dynamics descend into primal survival.For viewers seeking movies like Corporate Animals, this collection features dark comedies and thrillers that trap corporate teams in survival scenarios. If you liked seeing workplace satire collide with life-or-death stakes, these films offer similar blends of high tension, social commentary, and dark humor.
The narrative typically follows a group of coworkers, initially defined by their professional roles and petty grievances, who are thrust into a dangerous situation. The plot focuses on their unraveling: power structures collapse, social niceties vanish, and the group's descent is measured by the abandonment of civilized behavior for the sake of survival, all while maintaining a satirical edge.
Movies in this thread are grouped by their unique fusion of genre: the biting critique of corporate culture meets the raw, high-tension thrills of survival horror. They share a darkly comic tone, a steady escalation of desperation, and a thematic focus on how modern societal structures crumble under primal pressures.
Stories where a trapped group's tensions lead to moral collapse and betrayal.If you enjoyed the claustrophobic tension and group dynamics of Corporate Animals, this list features similar contained thrillers. Explore movies where characters are trapped together, forcing conflicts to boil over in stories of psychological stress, moral compromise, and desperate survival.
The narrative pattern is defined by a group's psychological and moral decay within a limited space. The plot is a linear escalation of crisis, moving from initial panic to strategic cooperation, and finally to fractured alliances and ethical compromises. The central conflict shifts from an external threat (the environment) to the internal threat the group poses to itself.
These films are connected by their core premise: confinement as a narrative engine. They share a claustrophobic mood, high tension, a steady pacing that methodically builds dread, and a heavy emotional weight derived from watching civilized people descend into desperation, often crossing moral lines they never thought they would.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Corporate Animals in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Corporate Animals is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Corporate Animals with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Corporate Animals. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Corporate Animals that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
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