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Sheep in the Box

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Sheep in the Box PG Jul 2026 2h 6m Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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41% Tomatometer 90 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In the near future, Otone and Kensuke, a grieving couple who have lost their son, take into their lives a humanoid identical to their late child.
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Sheep in the Box

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Critics Consensus

A rare disappointment from director Hirokazu Koreeda, Sheep in the Box is a muted domestic drama whose rumination on artificial intelligence could have used more of the filmmaker's characteristic humanity.

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Critics Reviews

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Moira MacDonald Seattle Times Jul 31, 2026
3/4
It’s rich emotional territory for Kore-eda, who makes the film less a parable about technology but a meditation on grief and loss and parental love, on how the heart can will itself to see something that isn’t there. Go to Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Jul 31, 2026
2.5/5
Maybe if he’d grappled with any of those elements more fully, or trimmed them away, Sheep in the Box would feel less like an imitation of life. Go to Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Jul 30, 2026
3.5/4
While some might balk at its final act and think it’s too sentimental, I felt the opposite and thought it was lovely and both sweet and bittersweet, and above all else, comforting. Go to Full Review Dionar Hidalgo Algo Más Que Cine 2 days ago
4/10
Hirokazu Koreeda tackles grief and AI with a compelling premise, but heavy-handed symbolism, sluggish pacing, and underdeveloped characters leave this sci-fi drama feeling emotionally distant and frustratingly shallow. Go to Full Review Pieter-Jan Van Haecke Psychocinematography Sep 23, 2026
The cerebral stillness of the film and the thematical fragmentation nevertheless constitutes an inviting call for audiences to ponder over its obliquely-raised questions. Go to Full Review Guilherme Quireza PopMatters Sep 18, 2026
5/10
Sheep in the Box seemed like a film about accepting and overcoming trauma and grief, but by the end, it comes to signify a failed attempt to humanize the artificialization of parental relationships and to transform our desire to escape pain... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sergey Aug 24, 2026 an amazing deep dive into a topic of life and death and how it all connected.. very touching and a beautiful view on humans from the "outside". I'd recommend to watch it at least twice, since the second time you get to notice all the phrases and script connections much better See more jesse v Aug 6, 2026 the movie starts out like black mirror and the movie Companion but quickly moves on from that. i appreciate the emotional sentiment but it's just too mellow of a drama. Could the editors have at least put more effort with the English subtitles? They are too basic with what the characters were saying. Odd how the father quickly changed his mind in believing the kid. There are a couple of side characters storylines that really don't go anywhere. The ending becomes a bizarre Kids Next Door origins plot. See more Barnabs V @RT82399350 Sep 26, 2026 The difficulty of letting go wrapped in a unique package. Deeply touching and it also shows how people put their trust in AI without thinking, hoping it will solve all their problems. See more B P @Bradster69 Aug 30, 2026 Not Bad, but Not My Favorite See more Evan C @RT74783562 Aug 4, 2026 Conceptually Sheep In The Box treads on interesting & familiar themes from director Kore-eda. The film is best when it focuses on the main family, & intentionally shies away from any ethical conversation. That said, there's not much of an emotional journey to really latch on to. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 31, 2026 The worldwide gross is $4,462,758.00. All ages admitted worldwide. See more Read all reviews
Sheep in the Box

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Cast & Crew

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Hirokazu Koreeda

Director

Haruka Ayase

Actor

Daigo

Actor

Rimu Kuwaki

Actor

Nana Seino

Actor

Kanichiro

Actor
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Sheep in the Box

Sheep in the Box: Trailer 1 Sheep in the Box: Trailer 1 1:47 Now Playing View more videos
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Sheep in the Box

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the near future, Otone and Kensuke, a grieving couple who have lost their son, take into their lives a humanoid identical to their late child.
Director
Hirokazu Koreeda
Producer
Kaoru Matsuzaki, Megumi Banse
Screenwriter
Hirokazu Koreeda
Distributor
NEON
Production Co
AOI Pro
Rating
PG (Thematic Material|A Brief Bloody Image|Some Language|Smoking)
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 8, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA)
$191.8K
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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