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The Sheep Detectives
Amazon MGM Studios Amazon MGM Studios
?
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 • ★ 7.9 (1,648) • 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
Vinicius Monteiro

Vinicius Monteiro

Sep 18, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Mixing cute farm animals with a cold-blooded murder sounds like a recipe for disaster, and honestly, this movie suffers from a massive identity crisis. The idea of a flock of sheep trying to solve their owner's death is wildly absurd, but on screen, it ends up being a pretty fractured experience. The animation team did an amazing job making the animals look physically real—their wool and movements blend perfectly into the beautiful, real-world English countryside. However, once these hyper-realistic sheep start moving their human-like lips to speak, the film dives straight into the uncanny valley. It’s super distracting and turns what should be a visual win into something a bit creepy, making it hard to actually connect with the mystery. Despite the weird visuals, the voice cast absolutely nails it and brings a lot of heart to the story. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is fantastic as Lily, the sharp and empathetic leader of the flock, while Bryan Cranston brings a grounded, lonely weight to his character. Veterans like Patrick Stewart and Regina Hall give the sheep so much personality, creating some genuinely funny moments as the animals try to make sense of human behavior. Unfortunately, the actual human cast is completely wasted. It’s baffling to see huge stars like Hugh Jackman (whose screen time is basically a cameo) and Emma Thompson reduced to flat, exposition-dumping caricatures. Having such an A-list live-action cast just to use them as simple roadblocks for the sheep feels like a huge missed opportunity. The biggest structural issue here is that the movie just can’t figure out what it wants to be. It constantly struggles to balance the innocent perspective of the sheep with the heavy reality of grief and murder, leading to some really jarring emotional whiplash. While the basic framework of a classic whodunit is there, anyone who's seen a few thrillers will figure out the killer way too early. To make matters worse, the middle of the film really drags. It spends way too much time on repetitive jokes about the sheep trying to communicate with the locals instead of actually advancing the plot, turning the second act into a bit of a patience test before things finally get moving again. When it's finally time to wrap things up, the script ditches its quirky, clever vibe and goes full-on melodramatic. The director tries to force tears with heavy speeches and a swelling soundtrack, which feels manipulative and totally unearned compared to the smart humor of the first half. Adapting Leonie Swann's weird and wonderful book was never going to be easy, and the movie definitely hits some very noticeable highs and lows. Still, the premise is so original that it might just justify the watch. It’s one of those bizarre cinematic experiments you just have to watch with an open mind to decide for yourself if this unconventional mystery actually works for you.

K

km34638

Aug 29, 2026 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

This fun-filled, heartwarming mystery is an entertaining choice for the whole family. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart deliver wonderful voice performances, giving the sheep distinctive personalities and making them both lovable and believable. With its charming characters, gentle humor, and engaging whodunit plot, *The Sheep Detectives* offers an endearing escape that kept my family entertained for nearly two hours.

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.

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
Amazon Prime Video Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video with Ads Amazon Prime Video with Ads
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 325
Videos 79
Similar Movies 722
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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The Whirled

The Whirled

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VS
Mardi Gras: Made in China

Mardi Gras: Made in China

2005

Sign in to vote

Battle your watched movies head-to-head

Community Top Movies

🥇 Evil Dead II

Evil Dead II

1987 · 14 wins

🥈 The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

2008 · 14 wins

🥉 Halloween

Halloween

1978 · 13 wins

#4 Final Destination

Final Destination

2000 · 12 wins

#5 Halloween II

Halloween II

1981 · 11 wins

Sign in to build your own ranking
0 Points
0/0 Correct
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Movie Trivia

Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.

What movie experience do you prefer?

Movie theater — theater popcorn with Icee/soda & maybe nachos 60%
At home — relaxed on your favorite couch or chair with whatever drinks & snacks are in the kitchen 40%
5 votes

What is your favorite movie genre?

Action 50%
Adventure 0%
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