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The Sheep Detectives
Amazon MGM Studios Amazon MGM Studios
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Three Strange Angels
Working Title Films Working Title Films

Not part of a collection.

The Sheep Detectives

A new breed of mystery.

2026 109 min ★ 8.0 (1,583) Released
Comedy Family Mystery

George Hardy is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

Original title
The Sheep Detectives
Language
EN
Country
GB,US
Budget
$75,000,000
Revenue
$131,550,648
Reviews & Ratings 6
C

Cheeziepoof

Aug 3, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

This movie was really great had some good laughs and at one part had me in tears. Well written and very well told. One part even had me in tears. Worth a watch and would be a great movie to sit down with the family for movie night !

B

Brent Marchant

Jun 30, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Fusing supposedly incompatible genres can be tricky business, a practice whose results may seem like a surefire way to an inappropriate mix. Yet, every so often, moviegoers get pleasantly surprised by such unlikely ventures, as is the case in this latest effort from director Kyle Balda, a delightfully whimsical cross between a comical murder mystery and a live action talking animal feature. Shepherd George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) lovingly tends to his flock, treating them more like children than livestock. In fact, he raises his animals purely for their wool, not as fodder for the butcher’s knife. He lives a simple life, caring for their needs and making them feel happy and comfortable, even reading to them (mostly murder mysteries) every night before bed. But, despite his genial relationship with his herd and likeable personality as an upstanding citizen of his rural community, there are people in his world who don’t necessarily have his best interests (or those of his flock) at heart. And, when George ends up dead – apparently poisoned – everyone wonders how this could possibly happen to such a gentle, caring soul. That’s especially true for his sheep, who communicate with one another as if they were human (even if their singular perspectives on life are anything that we might consider conventional). And, because of the kind care he provided them for so many years, they’re committed to helping solve the mystery of his death. But how can a group of sheep make their suspicions known to human investigators? Therein lies the charm and wit of this release, one that’s fun, engaging and entertaining on many fronts. It’s quite insightful, too, especially when conveying interpretations for what it means to be “sheep” (in both literal and metaphorical terms). The film’s animation in depicting the talking creatures is truly superb and made all the more enchanting by the stellar cast of voiceover performers, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall and others. Then there’s the fine supporting cast of investigators and suspects, including Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Hong Chau, Conleth Hill and Molly Gordon. This combination thus makes for a harmonious balance between man and beast as the conundrum is unraveled, a mix suitable for a wide range of viewers. But, if this genre fusion seems challenging to grasp, think about combining talking animal movies like “Babe” (1995) or “The Lion King” (2019) with humorous whodunnits like the “Knives Out” movies or Neil Simon’s “Murder by Death” (1976), and you’ll have an idea of what’s going on here. Admittedly, this is certainly not groundbreaking cinema (the editing could have been tighter in spots and the humor could have been amped up a bit more at times), but it’s pleasant enough fare when one is in the mood to watch something that won’t tax the gray matter too much and to get some modest chuckles along the way. And there’s nothing the least bit sheepish about that.

B

badelf

Jun 26, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

Summary: 8/10: a genuinely delightful family film that respects both the mystery genre and its audience, proving that even the most unlikely premise can work when executed with heart and craft. Based on Leonie Swann's very popular novel Three Bags Full, this is a delightfully funny take on the whole Mickey Spillane/Agatha Christie genre, reimagined with the most unlikely detectives imaginable: a flock of sheep who must solve their shepherd's murder. Hugh Jackman is absolutely adorable as George, the shepherd who reads mystery novels to his beloved sheep each night, never suspecting they understand every word. It's a warm, gentle performance that anchors the film's heart. But the real stars here are the sheep themselves, backed up by an all-star voice cast including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, and with Emma Thompson as George's lawyer. Each brings distinct personality to their woolly detective, and the ensemble work is genuinely charming. Kudos to the FX team for creating phenomenal talking sheep that never get in the way of the storytelling. The animation and effects are seamlessly integrated; the sheep feel believable within the film's reality without ever tipping into uncanny valley territory or becoming distracting spectacle. The technical achievement serves the story rather than overwhelming it. This is highly creative and heartwarming filmmaking, a mystery that works on its own terms while delivering messages about tolerance, belonging, and love. The sheep, after all, are outsiders solving a crime in a human world that underestimates them, and there's real sweetness in watching them prove their worth. And perhaps there's a subtle feather in the cap of vegetarians here; spending two hours with these clever, endearing creatures makes you think twice about what we eat.

Sierbahnn

Sierbahnn

Jun 26, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

It's weird to make a sheep movie without any sheep. While this is a murder mystery, Hugh Jackman doesn't actually do anything in this movie and is away from most of it being dead and the movie is all about the sheep and their interaction with each other and the human world. The movie is strange because it doesn't actually contain that many sheep. It's mostly just a high polygon count and fantastic voice work instead. I think the movie is cute and the casting for the voices is excellent. And while it is funny, it isn't funny to the degree where it ruins the actual junior murder plot that is afoot here. I had a lot of fun watching this and I think I can recommend it.

H

HaremCinema

May 31, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 3.0

Shepherd dies. It’s the result of murder most foul! Unpropitiously for the manslayer there is a most important factor that they have not accounted for. Unbeknownst to the assassin, the deceased herdsman had been training a crack team of detectives. (If, at this point, you can’t tell who those detectives are from the title of the film, then perhaps murder mysteries are not for you?) What I thought: meh, it was OK. I wanted it to be funnier, maybe a little cuter. I don’t think they are unreasonable expectations going into a kids movie, right? The village is charming and the characters have some chemistry. For me it suffered from severe miscasting. Hugh Jackman couldn’t make this material work through little fault of his own. To make that character work it really needed a gruff, older curmudgeon who showed us his soft, tender, underbelly at the end. I think this movie would have fared better by setting my expectations lower. I see that Jackman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Emma Thompson are in a flick together and I’m expecting something special. But the comedy didn’t really work for me. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s an OK movie. But I wouldn’t watch it again.

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

May 10, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Hugh Jackman may take top billing here, but the real plaudits have to go to some animatronic sheep and to Nicholas Braun's hapless detective "Tim". He is completely out of his depth when a body is discovered in a field. He just assumes that "George" (Jackman) has had an heart attack - but the sheep, well thanks to the observations of the hitherto shunned winter lamb, they start to put two and two together and conclude something altogether more sinister is a-hoof. Those suspicions are only increased when his lawyer (Dame Emma Thompson) arrives for the will reading and declares that he had left an unexpected fortune to his daughter "Rebecca" (Molly Gordon) whom nobody even knew existed until that fateful day. The challenge for the sheep is, though: how can they convey their thoughts to the constable and has he the wherewithal to assemble the clues? Someone described this is as a sort of "Thursday Murder Club" meets "Babe" and that's about the height of it. There are plenty of engaging woolly characters who manage successfully to avoid dipping us in too much sentiment; Braun does the nice-but-dim engagingly and Dame Emma brings a well-dressed imperiousness to the proceedings as the red herrings gradually accumulate and "Cloud", "Mopple" and the grumpy ram "Sebastian" slowly realise that they too might be destined for the inside of a tin can too, if they can't thwart some cunning scheming from their two-legged neighbours. On a marginally more serious note, it also serves to dispel the notion that sheep are all a bit thick as they take quite a few risks - even crossing the road - to get to the truth. This is a family film in that there is plenty for the kids, but there is also enough of a mystery and some comedy for the grown ups too, and if you're in the mood for something light, fluffy and entirely devoid of crooning then this ought to do the trick.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 14
adoring aftercreditsstinger animal adventure based on novel or book bumbling detective comforting inspirational investigate investigation murder murder mystery shepherd talking animal whodunnit
Streaming
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Cast 24
Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman

George Hardy

Nicholas Braun

Nicholas Braun

Officer Tim Derry

Nicholas Galitzine

Nicholas Galitzine

Elliot Matthews

Molly Gordon

Molly Gordon

Rebecca Hampstead

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Lily (voice)

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston

Sebastian (voice)

Chris O'Dowd

Chris O'Dowd

Mopple (voice)

Regina Hall

Regina Hall

Cloud (voice)

Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart

Sir Ritchfield (voice)

Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey

Zora (voice)

Rhys Darby

Rhys Darby

Wool-Eyes (voice)

Brett Goldstein

Brett Goldstein

Ronnie / Reggie (voice)

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson

Lydia Harbottle

Hong Chau

Hong Chau

Beth Pennock

Tosin Cole

Tosin Cole

Caleb Merrow

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Reverend Hillcoate

Conleth Hill

Conleth Hill

Ham Gilyard

Mandeep Dhillon

Mandeep Dhillon

Postwoman Jo

Tommy Birchall

Tommy Birchall

The Winter Lamb (voice)

Sarah Flind

Sarah Flind

Tonia the Tow Truck Driver

Laraine Newman

Laraine Newman

Fainting Sheep (voice)

Michael Wildman

Michael Wildman

Frank the County Police Officer

Tom Wilton

Tom Wilton

Puppeteer

Ross Green

Ross Green

Puppeteer

Crew 26
Suzie Davies

Suzie Davies

Production Design

Charlotte Dirickx

Charlotte Dirickx

Set Decoration

George Steel

George Steel

Director of Photography

Mark Southworth

Mark Southworth

Stunt Coordinator

Paul Kennington

Paul Kennington

Stunt Coordinator

Rachael Evelyn

Rachael Evelyn

Stunt Double

Freddie Mason

Freddie Mason

Stunts

Kyle Balda

Kyle Balda

Director

Greg Fisher

Greg Fisher

Colorist

Martin Walsh

Martin Walsh

Editor

Paul Machliss

Paul Machliss

Editor

Lucy Bevan

Lucy Bevan

Casting

Aditya Sood

Aditya Sood

Executive Producer

Christopher Miller

Christopher Miller

Executive Producer

Phil Lord

Phil Lord

Executive Producer

Tyson Hesse

Tyson Hesse

Executive Producer

Eric Fellner

Eric Fellner

Producer

Lindsay Doran

Lindsay Doran

Producer

Tim Bevan

Tim Bevan

Producer

Christophe Beck

Christophe Beck

Original Music Composer

Christian Kaestner

Christian Kaestner

Visual Effects Supervisor

Graham Page

Graham Page

Visual Effects Supervisor

Josh Simmonds

Josh Simmonds

Visual Effects Supervisor

Leonie Swann

Leonie Swann

Novel

Craig Mazin

Craig Mazin

Screenplay

Craig Mazin

Craig Mazin

Screenstory

Gallery 322
Videos 79
Similar Movies 668
US Release Dates 4

Apr 19, 2026

New York City, New York

Premiere

May 8, 2026

PG Theatrical

Jun 24, 2026

Prime Video

PG Digital

Aug 25, 2026

Blu-ray / DVD

PG Physical

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2018

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🥇 Evil Dead II

Evil Dead II

1987 · 14 wins

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The Dark Knight

2008 · 14 wins

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Final Destination

2000 · 12 wins

#4 Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick

2022 · 11 wins

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2019 · 11 wins

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