Ranbir Kapoor's Animal received a polarised response from critics and audience. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film made headlines for his brutal violence and incredible performances by the cast. Despite the criticism, the crime drama was loved by a large section of the audience including many from the film fraternity. 

Karan Johar praised Animal as the best film of the year in an interview with Galatta Plus. He said, "I think Animal to me is my best film of the year. It took me a while to reach this statement and a lot of courage because when you’re around people, you fear judgment."

The filmmaker further added, "I’m just going to say it that I loved Animal for its front footed absolutely conviction-based narrative, storytelling, breaking grammar, breaking myths, breaking everything that you conform to in mainstream cinema. Suddenly, you have an interval block where the hero is getting bashed up, and people are singing a song. I’m like, ‘Where have you seen a sequence like this? It’s genius."

Karan revealed in the interview that he had tears in his eyes during the climax face-off between Ranbir and Bobby Deol. "The end when the two men are going for each other, and they play that song, I had tears in my eyes and there was only blood. So, I was like something is wrong with me, something is wrong with him (Sandeep Reddy Vanga), but something put together is very right about the film. This is the mind of somebody who is so distinct and so individualistic that I was so blown away," he stated.

Animal starred Ranbir with Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Triptii Dimri. It released in theatres on December 1, 2023.