THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026)

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Kyle Balda
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, Chris O'Dowd, Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brett Goldstein, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Emma Thompson
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 7  May 2026

Synopsis: In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) 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.

Movie Review:

If you have a murder on your hands, forget about getting Sherlock Holmes or Benoit Blanc to solve the crime, just bring in the Sheep Detectives.

In this delightful whodunit set in the small English town of Denbrook, a shepherd named George Hardy is murdered, leaving his beloved flock of sheep to unravel the mystery behind his death. Hardy is no ordinary shepherd. He treats his sheep with love and kindness, and every evening, he reads crime-fiction novels to them. To top it all off, he has also invented a secret medical formula to cure Orf disease.

His favourite sheep and the smartest of the flock, Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) decides to take on the case together with the stoic Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd), the sheep blessed with the best memory. Together, they assist the fumbling local cop Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun) in investigating the motives and circumstances surrounding the murder. Could the culprit be fellow shepherd Caleb (Tosin Cole), Reverend Hillcoate (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), innkeeper Beth (Chau Hong), butcher Ham (Conleth Hill), or Hardy’s long-lost daughter Rebecca Hampstead (Molly Gordon)?

Even though everyone’s favourite Aussie Hugh Jackman is featured prominently on the poster, we are sorry to say that he plays the unfortunate George Hardy, the kind-hearted shepherd whose murder sets the story in motion. Hardy may not be particularly popular among the townsfolk but he certainly knows how to be a sheep whisperer.

The Sheep Detectives is undeniably a star-studded affair. Besides the names mentioned above, Sir Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, and Bella Ramsey also lend their voices to the animated cast. On the live-action side, the film features soon-to-be He-Man Nicholas Galitzine as a journalist and Emma Thompson as a solicitor.

Framestore, the visual effects house behind the film, deserves praise for delivering remarkably believable textures for the wool, fur, and various animals throughout the movie. The CGI work is so convincing that audiences will quickly accept the presence of talking sheep and other animals although, strangely enough, only the sheep can actually speak. It has certainly been a while since films like Charlotte’s Web and Babe delivered this sort of charming animal fantasy.

As for the story, writer Craig Mazin best known for The Hangover and the Scary Movie series has truly outdone himself this time. The Sheep Detectives is a generous blend of humour, wit and heartfelt moments. The mystery element may be relatively mild, but Mazin and director Kyle Balda (Despicable Me, Minions) skilfully manoeuvre the plot and clues within the believable limitations of the sheep. After all, they are still animals.

There is plenty of goofiness and comedic chaos throughout the film, including a surprisingly thoughtful touch on the meaning of death. Thankfully, it is not all fluffy clouds and easy answers by the end. One of the film’s most touching themes revolves around the idea that a “winter lamb” should never be isolated from the flock, reinforcing the movie’s warm and compassionate message.

The Sheep Detectives, surprise surprise, is a little gem arriving just before the onslaught of summer blockbusters. While it is packed with CGI, the effects always serve the story rather than overwhelm it. Without relying on crude humour or lazy storytelling, the film’s excellent voice and live-action cast deliver a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the entire family. Shaun the Sheep may finally have some worthy competition in the form of this delightfully British-style whodunit.  

Movie Rating:

(Three and a half bags of woolly warmth and fun)

Review by Linus Tee