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

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

173 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ 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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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

5h

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

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Melanie McFarland

Salon.com

20h

Even if you don’t buy into the notion that sheep, of all creatures great and small, could possibly have the brainpower to crack a murder case, a movie like this is exactly what we need in these ungentle days.

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

21h

3.5/4

Like any good murder mystery movie, the real fun lies in watching the performances and taking the overall journey. “The Sheep Detective” scores big on both of those counts. This is one of the most enjoyable movies of the year.

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David Griffiths

Subculture Entertainment

10h

4/5

Funny when it needs to be. Dramatic when it needs to be and constantly keeps you guessing about the crime at hand. Are family films supposed to be this good?

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Alison Gillmor

Winnipeg Free Press

1d

3.5/5

Freely adapting the novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, scripter Craig Mazin uses the sheep’s knowledge of vintage mysteries to poke affectionate fun at the genre’s conventions.

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Carol K

1h

A sweet and funny little movie to enjoy.

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DOps

2h

This was a clever, well-produced fantasy film with just the right doses of "cute" and "awe." The world of sheep values and perceptions was really thought through. It was a beautiful collage of innocence and reality. Maybe not for the little ones because of the death themes (which are not dark in any case). Well worth the popcorn.

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Martha D

5h

Wonderfully entertaining but might be a little traumatizing for children under 8. And the ending made me cry.

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Sarah

7h

Very entertaining, funny and feel good. Nice date night movie

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Jeff T

9h

A family friendly murder mystery that is full of heart.

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Carly

12h

This movie was so heartwarming!! It made me smile, tear up, and laugh and I’d go see it again in a heartbeat. It’s such a lovely story about sheep, the humans in their world, and everything they navigate together. 11/10 movie, I would recommend it to anyone!! Such a feel good movie. If you love animals then you’re going to love this one. Definitely one of the best movies this year!

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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

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The Sheep Detectives: Trailer 1

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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, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 8, 2026, Wide
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos