The Best Episodes of Animal Kingdom
Every episode of Animal Kingdom ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Animal Kingdom!
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.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Animal Kingdom" is "Ghosts", rated 9.5/10 from 995 user votes. It was directed by John Wells and written by John Wells. "Ghosts" aired on 8/13/2019 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Ambo".
9.5/10 995 votes#1 - Ghosts
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 8/13/2019
The Cody family sets off on Smurf’s mysterious heist, unaware of the surprises that await them when they arrive, which will change the family forever.
Director: John Wells
Writer: John Wells
9.2/10 719 votes#2 - Ambo
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 7/16/2019
The Codys head out for a big job, even though Smurf is nowhere to be found. All eyes are on J as he assumes a leadership position in a risky heist.
Director: David Rodriguez
Writer: Bradley Paul
9.1/10 693 votes#3 - Betrayal
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 8/29/2017
When Smurf realizes she may be in jail a lot longer than expected, she pits her sons against one another, the consequences be damned.
Director: John Wells
Writer: John Wells
8.9/10 800 votes#4 - Judas Kiss
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 8/2/2016
While the Codys go after the biggest score of their lives, the cops put J in an impossible position. Catherine triggers Smurf's suspicions when she comes over to make amends. Smurf sends Pope to investigate.
Director: Christopher Chulack
Writer: John Wells
8.9/10 851 votes#5 - What Have You Done
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 8/9/2016
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.
Director: John Wells
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
8.9/10 617 votes#6 - Cry Havoc
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 7/11/2017
As Javi ratchets up the pressure on Smurf, she enlists J to help her. Baz is confronted by a secret Catherine kept from him. Pope and Baz clash in the wake of the megachurch job.
Director: Larry Teng
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
8.9/10 554 votes#7 - Jackpot
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 8/7/2018
Smurf enlists the boys in a surprise job that results in devastating consequences; Pope is forced to confront the truth about Baz's murder as J steps up for the family in an unexpected way.
Director: Shawn Hatosy
Writer: Matt Kester
8.9/10 568 votes#8 - The Hyenas
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 8/21/2018
J realizes the danger of balancing his role in the family with his personal ambitions. Deran wants to take his relationship with Adrian to the next level, but it’s not as easy as he hoped.
Director: Christopher Chulack
Writer: John Wells
8.9/10 877 votes#9 - Fubar
Season 6 Episode 13 - Aired 8/28/2022
The Cody boys embark on their most dangerous job yet. Andrew commits the original sin that destroyed the family.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.7/10 555 votes#10 - You Will Be Gutted
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 8/22/2017
With Smurf in jail, Baz makes his move to run the family, but his brothers have other plans.
Director: Larry Teng
Writer: Jonathan Lisco
8.6/10 588 votes#11 - Forgive Us Our Trespasses
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 6/27/2017
As the boys put the megachurch heist in motion, Craig has second thoughts. Javi surprises Smurf with a visit.
Director: Laura Innes
Writer: T.J. Brady
8.6/10 546 votes#12 - Treasure
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 8/8/2017
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.
Director: Josef Kubota Wladyka
Writer: T.J. Brady
8.6/10 539 votes#13 - Wolves
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 6/19/2018
With the cops on their tail, the Cody boys try to pull off their first heist without Smurf and Baz. They return to find unexpected guests waiting at home. Smurf demands that J get rid of them as she deals with a problem of her own in jail.
Director: James Hanlon
Writer: Bradley Paul
8.6/10 519 votes#14 - Incoming
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 7/17/2018
The weed heist goes awry and leaves J and Deran stranded. Pope and Billy butt heads as Craig tries to keep the peace between them. Smurf learns about what J has been hiding from her since she's been away.
Director: David Rodriguez
Writer: Daniele Nathanson
8.6/10 441 votes#15 - Launch
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 10/3/2021
It's all hands on deck as the Cody family uses all their tools, tricks, and vehicles to pull off the job of their lives and settle all scores. A deadly secret from the past is also revealed. Season finale.
Director: Nick Copus
Writer: Daniele Nathanson
8.5/10 559 votes#16 - Dig
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 7/18/2017
The boys consider how far they’ll go to help Smurf eliminate Javi. Shaken by what’s happened, Nicky and J get closer. Baz shares new information with Pope about Catherine’s disappearance.
Director: David Rodriguez
Writer: Eliza Clark
8.5/10 542 votes#17 - The Leopard
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 8/15/2017
Baz puts his plan to take down Smurf in motion as Marco cashes in a favor with Craig and Deran. Pope seeks the truth behind the reasons for Catherine's death.
Director: Michael Morris
Writer: Eliza Clark
8.5/10 643 votes#18 - The Killing
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 5/29/2018
Baz fights for his life as the Cody boys figure out what their next move is in the aftermath of the shooting. Smurf gets some surprising news in jail and fields an offer from Pearce.
Director: John Wells
Writer: John Wells
8.5/10 478 votes#19 - Homecoming
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 8/14/2018
The Cody family picks up the pieces from their showdown with Lucy; Smurf becomes determined to reel Pope back into the fold at any cost; J goes to extreme lengths to protect a secret.
Director: David Rodriguez
Writer: Eliza Clark
8.5/10 481 votes#20 - Julia
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 8/6/2019
Pope grows suspicious of J when Angela reveals the circumstances of her disappearance. As the threats against Adrian loom larger, Deran scrambles to find a way out. Craig navigates new complications in his relationship with Renn. Janine takes on a different role in the crew’s latest heist as she plans for her future with Colin.
Director: Shawn Hatosy
Writer: Daniele Nathanson
8.5/10 562 votes#21 - Smurf
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 8/20/2019
In the aftermath of Smurf’s heist, the Codys have to protect their reputation, while friends and enemies from the past close in. Deran realizes there is only one way to keep Adrian safe. Craig struggles to adapt to a new pace of life as Pope and J’s growing tension reaches a boiling point.
Director: David Rodriquez
Writer: Eliza Clark
8.5/10 340 votes#22 - Exodus
Season 6 Episode 12 - Aired 8/21/2022
Pope offers information on a cold case in exchange for a prison transfer. Deran says goodbye to the bar, J makes plans with Penny, and Craig chooses Renn and Nick. Smurf learns Julia has been dishonest.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10 490 votes#23 - Off the Tit
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 7/31/2018
Tensions run high as Billy pressures the family to give him what he's owed. Craig has a surprise meeting that makes him reconsider his future. The Cody boys struggle to hold onto the freedom they had when Smurf was in jail.
Director: Larry Teng
Writer: Addison McQuigg
8.4/10 589 votes#24 - Red Handed
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 7/11/2021
Dealing with the blowback from Season 4, the Codys are forced to tie up some loose ends with the cousins and figure out what the family looks like without Smurf.
Director: Nick Copus
Writer: Daniele Nathanson
8.4/10 344 votes#25 - Incognito
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 7/17/2022
Pope prepares to see an old friend. Craig needs Deran’s help when Nick’s in trouble. J pursues Penny romantically. Andrew wants to be called Pope.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A