The Sheep Detectives

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2:33

The Sheep Detectives

PG

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1h 49m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

182 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Verified Ratings

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.

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Critics Consensus

Drolly funny and sweet as a lamb, The Sheep Detectives is a delightful family entertainment that bundles disarmingly profound themes in a cozy package.

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Audience Says

A flock of committed sleuths spin a splendid whodunnit in The Sheep Detectives, a mystery as whimsical as it is charming.

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Shirley Li

The Atlantic

2d

The result may just be the most tonally surprising feature of the year so far, a rare, unabashedly earnest PG-rated film that has enchanted audiences with the deceptively simple power of well-deployed tropes.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

May 22

3.5/4

Like the great kid films of the 1970s and ‘80s, Mazin isn’t afraid to deal with heady topics like unexpected death, racism, grief, cultural bias, and shortsighted groupthink.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

May 21

A kind of movie that Hollywood has all but forgotten how to make, if they ever knew.

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Rubén Rosario

MiamiArtZine

3d

What does not surprise, as a headstrong porker taught us so many years ago, is that a movie dominated by talking animals can be this good, so good that you end up forgetting these are talking critters and become invested in their welfare.

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Ruben Peralta Rigaud

Cocalecas

3d

Perhaps that's the biggest surprise of all: that a film about sheep detectives ends up saying so much about people. [Full review in Spanish]

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Bruce R. Miller

Sioux City Journal

4d

2.5/4

It’s fascinating to watch, even though Balda uses too many celebrity voices (who happen to be American) to portray the sheep.

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Ankur P

29m

Excellent, sweet movie.

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Tricia

3h

It was a really good movie

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Jeanne

6h

It a very clever entertaining movie

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Helen O

10h

Accent can be hard to understand. Loved all the stars that stepped up to do the voices.

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Trichelle B

17h

It was a great movie. Kept my attention the whole tie line . Really a heartfelt movie

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Paul

18h

Fun family film. Clever idea, good humor and just a great family film

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Kyle Balda

Director

Hugh Jackman

George Hardy

Nicholas Braun

Officer Tim Derry

Emma Thompson

Lydia Harbottle

Nicholas Galitzine

Elliot Matthews

Hong Chau

Beth Pennock

The Sheep Detectives: Movie Clip - I Have A Question As Well

1:05

The Sheep Detectives: Exclusive Clip - Introducing the Sheep

1:27

The Sheep Detectives: Movie Clip - I See Everything

0:35

The Sheep Detectives: Movie Clip - Reading

0:51

The Sheep Detectives: Movie Clip - Crossing the Road

1:15

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The BEST Script Hugh Jackman's Ever Read?!

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"It's Knives Out Meets Babe" Hugh Jackman & Nicholas Braun on 'The Sheep Detectives'

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The Sheep Detectives: Featurette - First Look

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The Sheep Detectives: Trailer 2

2:33

The Sheep Detectives: Trailer 1

2:39

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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.

Director: Kyle Balda
Producer: Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Screenwriter: Craig Mazin, Craig Mazin
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Production Co: Working Title Films, Three Strange Angels
Rating: PG (Thematic Material|Some Violent Content|Brief Language)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 8, 2026, Wide
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos