Product Info

Studio

Amazon MGM Studios

Director

Kyle Balda

Genre

Family, Mystery

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

May 8, 2026

Film Length

1hr 49min

Purchase From

The Sheep Detectives is a family-friendly film about a herd of sheep trying to solve the mystery of their shepherd’s murder. It’s a shear joy!

It’s a Mystery

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Set in the countryside in a small English town named Denbrook. Outside of the small town lives a shepherd named George Hardy, played by Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Les Misérables). George showcases a tremendous amount of love and care to his herd of sheep. Giving one sheep medicine by hand, feeding, shearing, and reading stories each night, mostly murder mystery novels. One day, the sheep found their shepherd outside his camper… dead.

The sheep themselves talk in the human language, only amongst themselves by using computer-generated imagery (CGI) along with facial expressions that showcase each of the sheep’s emotions that carry weight through the film. One sheep, named Lily, voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Thunderbolts*), volunteers to find the culprit behind George’s murder. While there is a language barrier between the sheep and humans, the sheep find a way to get their thoughts across in comical ways such as stealing a cop’s hat to bring him back to the scene of crime or delivering George’s murder mystery book to help the cop’s investigation.

The story stays within the area of Denbrook and focuses on various human characters connected to the murder. Is it the butcher? The receptionist? The pastor? The other shepherd? It’s like watching a live-action board game of Clue but with CGI sheep and is well-executed. Clues and answers didn’t feel rushed though the ending while a happy one, may feel overwhelming for the younger viewers. The climax, with its twists and turns, may be a bit complex and a reach for some audiences, but it highlights the key moments of solving the case.

It’s Baaaffling

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The film mostly follows Lily and a couple of other sheep, Mopple, voiced by Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The Sapphires) and Sebastian, voiced by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle). Mopple is more of a support system for Lily, Sebastian, a winter born sheep that prefers to be secluded from the herd, shows an interest in Lily’s knowledge of solving the case of their murdered shepherd. The three experience various moments of laughter and suspense. Such as difficulty crossing a concrete road for the first time, and being chased by dogs. This small flock makes the movie entertaining for all.

First viewing the film, the CGI used on the sheep’s faces stood out right away. With so many films using CGI to the point it feels overused, my first reaction was “was this going to be another family film overloaded with CGI.” I’m glad to say it wasn’t and the way the CGI was handled was better than I expected. It brought out each sheep’s personality, along with the talented voices behind them. You could say it was un-baa-lievable.

The Sheep Detectives touches on a few themes beyond just a murder case. The “winter-born sheep” is used as a bad omen, neglecting the small lamb in the herd. Another theme is avoiding and denying reality, such as deaths, by purposefully losing memories through a countdown. These elements add depth to the story, revealing Sebastian’s backstory and Lily’s realization that Mopple held onto these painful memories while everyone else in the herd denied it.

This family-friendly film boasts a strong cast that delivers lively expressions and emotion. Hugh Jackman portrays the shepherd with a humble approach. Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: The Next Generation) lends his voice as one of the elderly goats and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso, Thor: Love and Thunder) voices the comical twin Norfolk Horn sheep Reggie and Ronnie.

The soundtrack is a mix of whimsical and cozy scores along with licensed songs, such as “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” from The Proclaimers. Some scores are used multiple times as background filler, but overall, it doesn’t steal the spotlight and keeps the audience entertained until the end. It just won’t be memorable.

With a slew of family films out and the wild usage of CGI such as the recent release of Animal Farm and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, The Sheep Detectives shouldn’t be brushed off and highly recommend picking up to watch. Especially with a family of little ones.

The Final Flock

The Sheep Detectives is a baa-rilliantly cozy mystery where an unexpected flock unravels the shepherd’s murder. A family-friendly movie to pop in for shear fun, even if the clues get a little woolly.

An early screening was provided for this review. The Sheep Detectives arrives in theaters on May 8, 2026. Viewers can visit the film’s official website for showtimes and tickets.