The Sheep Detectives
May 5th, 2026
MOVIE: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES
STARRING: HUGH JACKMAN, BRETT GOLDSTEIN, JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS, HONG CHAU, NICHOLAS GALITZINE
DIRECTED BY: KYLE BALDA
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 109 MINUTES
You can count the truly good live-action movies featuring talking animals on one hand. There’s Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, and now The Sheep Detectives. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few that came before my time, but then again, how many people are reminiscing about Kangaroo Jack or Look Who’s Talking Now? Probably not many, as this sort of movie is often viewed as lower-brow in the cinematic world. The Sheep Detectives, however, manages to shear through those expectations with an all-star cast, both live-action and voice, while delivering a genuinely delightful mystery. It’s a charming movie for the entire flock.
The film is set in a quiet country town outside of London, where George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) cares for his sheep by cleaning them, tending to their medical needs, and occasionally reading a murder mystery before bed. The flock gathers around to listen, though George has no idea they hang on his every word. The sheep each have their own distinct personalities: gentle leader Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the forgetful-but-loyal Mopple (Chris O’Dowd), twin rams Ronnie and Reggie (Brett Goldstein), runt Zora (Bella Ramsey), and wise old ram Sebastian (Bryan Cranston). Together, they adore their peaceful owner- until George winds up dead, forcing the flock to solve a mystery of their own.
Surrounding the sheep is a cast of human characters, each with their own complicated relationship to George: business disputes, romantic fallout, and lingering resentments all create a lengthy suspect list for bumbling Officer Tim (Nicholas Braun) to stumble through. Caleb (Tosin Cole) wants to buy the sheep, local butcher Ham (Conleth Hill) sees them as inventory, and George’s ex-lover Beth (Hong Chau) has grievances of her own, all while George’s estranged daughter Rebecca (Molly Gordon) unexpectedly returns home. Yet beneath the murder mystery, the real heart of the story is watching the sheep band together and venture beyond their familiar green pastures in search of the truth.
The film is based on the novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann and adapted by Craig Mazin, best known for Chernobyl, with direction from Kyle Balda. The humor varies between broad family comedy and quieter character-driven jokes; some moments earn huge laughs, while others simply charm. Still, Balda keeps the energy consistently light and entertaining. There’s a genuine pleasure in following the flock as they examine clues, revisit crime scenes, and attempt to piece together the mystery themselves. Like all classic whodunits, from Death on the Nile to Knives Out, much of the fun comes from knowing the final reveal is always waiting around the corner.
What ultimately makes The Sheep Detectives work is its constant sense of charm. Whether it’s the flock panicking over stepping onto a concrete road, the rams endlessly trying to bash things with their heads, or the sheep struggling with their hilariously unreliable memories, every gag adds another layer of creativity to the story. The voice cast is terrific across the board, from Patrick Stewart as an overenthusiastic goat to Regina Hall as a delightfully clueless sheep. Each performer creates a memorable character, adding to the film’s warmth and joy.
The result is exactly what you would hope for from a movie called The Sheep Detectives: a wholesome, funny, and surprisingly engaging adventure for audiences of all ages. Movies like this rarely make it to theaters anymore, let alone leave audiences walking out with huge smiles on their faces. It’s the kind of family film that reminds you how joyful and crowd-pleasing cinema can be, and that’s not too baaaaad.
3 STARS
THE SHEEP DETECTIVES IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, MAY 8TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
