When a truck crashes into the fence of an African wildlife preserve in Texas, animals pour out into the street, causing a massive traffic jam, and go on to menace nearby neighborhoods. Rangers Kev Johnson (Dale Robinette), Rick (Casey Biggs), and Eddie Morgan (Philip Michael Thomas) work to recapture the animals, while veterinarian Claire McCauley (Carol Lynley) helps organize the search and care for the recaptured animals. Conflict occurs between the rangers, who want to tranquilize the animals, and the police, who want to shoot them to minimize danger to people. Meanwhile, hunter Jim Scudder (Billy Green Bush), his friend Al Loring (Burton Gilliam), and Jim's teenage son Hal (Jeff Bongfeldt) go big game hunting.
The Beasts Are on the Streets contains examples of:
- Bridal Carry: After Jim shoots Hal, he carries him this way to get help.
- Cub Cues Protective Parent: Claire's young daughter Sandy (Michelle Walling) hears a lion cub pawing at her door and lets him in. A minute later, his mother arrives at the house and breaks in. Sandy hides in her mother's bedroom, not knowing the cub is under the bed.
- Friend or Foe?: In the forest at night, Jim sees yellow fur and shoots. It's his son Hal's blond hair. Hal is alive, but he ends up needing major surgery.
- Kids Play Matchmaker: Sandy constantly tries to persuade Claire and Kev to get married.
- Lens Flare: Seen in almost every outdoor scene.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Jim mutters, "Forgive me son, forgive me, I'm sorry," after shooting Hal.
- Soft Glass: The lioness breaks into the McCauley home by gently batting at a window, shattering it.
- Special Thanks: At the beginning of the movie, a voice reads words on the screen: "The producers of this program wish to thank the American Humane Society and Dr. Joe Cannon, D.V.M. for their supervision of the animal sequences of this film." The end credits have, "The producers wish to thank the people of Grand Prairie, Texas and the International Animal Exchange, Inc. for their cooperation in making this film."
- Walk and Talk: Kev walks down a hallway with Officer Ellman (Robert Hibbard), arguing about the best way to deal with the escaped animals.
