User Reviews

The Sheep Detectives is a work brimming with childlike innocence and imagination. It skillfully blends natural elements, intricate design, and a comedic atmosphere, resulting in a viewing experience that is vivid, engaging, and remarkably harmonious.

The Sheep Detectives was a pretty interesting watch. The biggest thing it has going for it is how different it feels. The whole concept is quirky and original, and it doesn't look or play out like your typical mystery movie. That uniqueness kept me interested even when the story itself wasn't doing anything particularly **** mystery is enjoyable enough, but it follows a fairly familiar structure. I found myself predicting a lot of the story beats as it went along, so there weren't many moments where I felt genuinely surprised. The pacing is decent, though, and the movie never really became boring.What I appreciated most was the atmosphere and the overall style. It has its own personality, and that's probably what I'll remember most about it. The humor lands here and there, and the characters are likable enough to carry the story, even if they aren't especially memorable.I will say the ending caught me off guard, though. I wasn't expecting it to go in that direction, and it gave the movie a stronger finish than I thought it was building toward. It doesn't completely change my opinion of the film, but it definitely left me with a better impression than I had for most of the runtime.Overall, The Sheep Detectives is a perfectly average movie with a creative concept and a nice atmosphere, even if the story itself stays pretty conventional. A 5/10 from me — worth watching once, but not something I'd rush to revisit.

Not as poignant as I was led to believe. Fine, amusing, and cute, but not much more.

We need more of this in today's world. Bring back fun, hilarious, heartwarming films thats good for the whole family. Reminded me of Babe and Snow dogs. Its great

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

It’s always a joy to come across a family film that respects the audience’s intelligence and appeals equally to children and parents alike. The characters in the film feel natural – that’s one of its strengths – as does the way it draws on crime novels.

(Mauro Lanari) It's elite. I just don't know who for. Etymologically, quite an egregious flick. 5½

A solid, heartfelt, simple detective movie with enough overall British quirkiness to be enjoyable.

One of the Good Movies I watched in last few Watch it ASAP️. Hopefully, Part 2 With New Story will come.

Fusing supposedly incompatible genres can be tricky business, a practice whose results may seem like a surefire way to an inappropriate mix. Yet, every so often, moviegoers get pleasantly surprised by such unlikely ventures, as is the case in this latest effort from director Kyle Balda, a delightfully whimsical cross between a comical murder mystery and a live action talking animal feature. Shepherd George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) lovingly tends to his flock, treating them more like children than livestock. In fact, he raises his animals purely for their wool, not as fodder for the butcher’s knife. He lives a simple life, caring for their needs and making them feel happy and comfortable, even reading to them (mostly murder mysteries) every night before bed. But, despite his genial relationship with his herd and likeable personality as an upstanding citizen of his rural community, there are people in his world who don’t necessarily have his best interests (or those of his flock) at heart. And, when George ends up dead – apparently poisoned – everyone wonders how this could possibly happen to such a gentle, caring soul. That’s especially true for his sheep, who communicate with one another as if they were human (even if their singular perspectives on life are anything that we might consider conventional). And, because of the kind care he provided them for so many years, they’re committed to helping solve the mystery of his death. But how can a group of sheep make their suspicions known to human investigators? Therein lies the charm and wit of this release, one that’s fun, engaging and entertaining on many fronts. It’s quite insightful, too, especially when conveying interpretations for what it means to be “sheep” (in both literal and metaphorical terms). The film’s animation in depicting the talking creatures is truly superb and made all the more enchanting by the stellar cast of voiceover performers, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall and others. Then there’s the fine supporting cast of investigators and suspects, including Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Hong Chau, Conleth Hill and Molly Gordon. This combination thus makes for a harmonious balance between man and beast as the conundrum is unraveled, a mix suitable for a wide range of viewers. But, if this genre fusion seems challenging to grasp, think about combining talking animal movies like “Babe” (1995) or “The Lion King” (2019) with humorous whodunnits like the “Knives Out” movies or Neil Simon’s “Murder by Death” (1976), and you’ll have an idea of what’s going on here. Admittedly, this is certainly not groundbreaking cinema (the editing could have been tighter in spots and the humor could have been amped up a bit more at times), but it’s pleasant enough fare when one is in the mood to watch something that won’t tax the gray matter too much and to get some modest chuckles along the way. And there’s nothing the least bit sheepish about that.

If a sheep can be a detective, then I can be a Japanese schoolgirl.10/10 movie.

I initially came into this film thinking it would just be some goofy movie aimed at kids. Boy was I wrong! This film is a genuinely well-written, clever and engaging murder mystery! The voice performances are all excellent and the actors all do a great job. It's also wonderfully shot with a vibrant and colourful cinematography. What elevates this film though is the mature and even dark themes that it explores which was shocking to see in what was a family friendly film.This is an absolute must-watch and the most pleasant surprise of 2026!

Who is this movie even for? It's not rated for kids, and it isn't up to par for adults Can't fault the cast - they are very good. It is very pretty. But was it written by an algorithm, or by those whose minds simply function that way? All of the inclusion rider boxes are checked, and for no apparent reason whatsoever. It's a mess, particularly if you actually know the region. Regardless, disappointing. Wanted to leave halfway through out of tedium, and the previews were so good. Wouldn't waste your time and unless you would like to explain what 'murder' means to your young kids - stay away. Very disappointing on all levels, from writing, to the top notch cast that was hired. My, how the mighty have fallen, especially Emma Thompson and Hugh Jackman. Whither, 'The Tall Guy', or even 'X-Men'?

The Sheep Detectives is a crime/detective story aimed mostly at younger viewers, but it surprised me more than I expected. At first, I was not really convinced. The whole opening, the introduction, the exaggerated innocence of the sheep, and the quick setup of the murder mystery made me think: okay, this probably is not for me. It felt like a hyper-realistic fairy tale with CGI sheep, and for a moment I was ready to mentally check out. I was wrong. The further the film goes, the better it gets. Apart from the introduction, which I think could have been polished a bit more, the story is actually arranged quite well. There is a clear mystery, a set of potential suspects, and a simple but effective way of guiding the viewer through the investigation. The crime plot is not impossible to figure out. You can probably guess who may be involved and how. But the film does a good job of showing who can be ruled out, who is still suspicious, and what small details may have slipped past us. And even though the investigation is technically led by a sheep, I can easily imagine this encouraging kids to play detective themselves, or maybe even to read more detective stories. I also liked that the film has a few moral points that actually make sense for children. There is something here about social exclusion, being treated differently, difficult emotions, and whether painful memories are worth keeping. It is not heavy or complicated, but it gives you a few things to talk about after watching. Visually, the sheep are obviously CGI, and I noticed that a lot at the beginning. But once I started getting into the film, that artificial feeling slowly faded into the background. That is a plus, because some children’s movies push their effects so hard that you can only focus on the CGI, not the story. Here, after a while, it works. As for the cast, this is mostly about the voice acting. The real actors appear enough to serve their roles, although I do wish we had seen more of Hugh Jackman. Still, I liked the idea of him as this watchful father/pastor figure. And when you look at the names attached to the film, it is clear that Amazon MGM invested well. Was such a strong cast absolutely necessary? Maybe not. But does every character sound good? Yes. Sometimes it is simply fun to suddenly think: “Wait, where do I know that voice from? Oh, Roy Kent.” So yes, I recommend The Sheep Detectives. It is childish, but in the right way. A simple, warm, family-friendly detective story that gets better as it goes on. And if you let yourself enter its world and suspend your disbelief, the ending can even be gently moving. 8/10.

I only gave this 2 stars, as there are certainly worse movies out there, but wow was this awful. Nothing interesting happens in the entire film. There are far too many "tender moments" between the sheep, so much so that it is easy to forget what the movie is even about. Lots of formulaic humor; the type you'd expect to see in a b-movie for kids. Think of a movie you saw as a kid and thought was "okay" in the theater, but when you went to watch it again as an adult you thought, "OMG that did not age well at ALL." This is one of those moves. This is a boring, uninspired film that unsuccessfully uses its premise alone to try to drive an entire film. Audiences are sure to forget this movie ever even existed by 2027.

The Sheep Detectives is a rare family film that trusts its audience - both children and adults - to feel genuine emotions without manipulation. Kyle Balda crafts a film that's genuinely funny (Nicholas Braun's bumbling detective is comedy gold), deeply moving about grief and loss, and narratively clever without ever winking at the camera. The Agatha Christie whodunnit template could've felt stale, but the sheep investigation gives it fresh life. What's remarkable is how seamlessly it balances tones: one moment you're laughing at sheep debating clues over dinner, the next you're contemplating what it means to lose someone you love and continue their legacy. The film respects both its animal characters and its young viewers by refusing easy sentimentality. Rebecca's journey from outsider to caretaker, the sheep learning to narrate their own mystery - these feel earned, not manipulative. Hugh Jackman's absence is felt throughout (a bold choice), and the epilogue where the new lamb named George inherits the nightly storytelling ritual is genuinely moving. This film lands in that impossibly small category of modern family films that work across generations because it has something real to say about love, loss, and continuity. 8.5/10: Heartwarming without ever feeling saccharine.

A wonderful movie! The film struck me with its balance: it's witty, but not stupid; touching, but without excessive sentimentality. Hugh Jackman and the entire cast did 100%! British provincial landscapes, a cozy atmosphere and unexpected plot twists. That case when the movie turned out to be much better than you expect before watching it. The ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are completely justified!

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Great cast (which I'm guessing they paid through the teeth for), great little story with a twist at the end. Where this falls down is in the visuals, it is very jarring at parts.

Great imaginative film in the style of "Babe". After a bit, you forget the sheep are CGI, and believe they are characters in this mystery as to who killed their kind and gentle shepherd (Hugh Jackman). Life lessons are introduced, and the concepts of love and loss are present. Excellent film for families, but as grandparents who went without our children/grandchildren, we enjoyed very much.

Great fun! Excellent story and casting, highly recommend for anyone, different

7.5/10 This unlikely whodunnit, which i had zero interest in at first, genuinely surprised me for its pure entertainment that they deliver, from a mystery perspective, there's nothing especially groundbreaking, but for a whodunnit to work, the most important thing is keeping the audience engaged, and i think the film does that pretty well. As for the sheep elements, while i'm probably no longer the target audience for talking animal stuff, i eventually started to recognize the charm they bring to the movie, by the end, i found myself more connected to it and could easily see myself enjoying it even more on a second watch. The cast did a good performance throughout, and the voice actors do a solid job as well, it's surprisingly funny, fun, and entertaining, honestly, i'm not even sure this is really a movie for kids, since they probably wouldn't follow most of the clues and would mainly watch it because of the sheep, in many ways, this feels like Knives Out for early teenagers, which honestly isn't a bad thing at all. The Sheep Detectives ended up being a genuinely pleasant surprise, a movie i expected not to care about whatsoever, only for it to give me a pretty good time with its charming and enjoyable enough whodunnit story.

Who would have thought that we would see Hugh Jackman as a shepherd who reads mystery novels to his adorable sheep? But we did, and I am happy to say that it is one of the best movies you will watch this year. Sheep Detectives offers an interesting premise, with a flock of sheep investigating their shepherd's murder while the list of suspects keep increasing and the sole but incompetent policeman struggles to solve his first murder case.Whodunits and British comedies are two genres that I absolutely love. When the two come together, we get movies like Sheep Detectives. The humour works, especially when it is focused on the sheep and their interactions. The voice cast is stacked with Julia Dreyfus, Chris O' Dowd, Bryan Cranston, Brett Goldstein taking centre stage. Nicholas Braun as the clueless policeman stands out among the human cast. The Sheep Detectives ticks a lot of the boxes. It is family friendly, hilarious, emotional and works really well as a whodunit as well. Based on the book titled, Three Bags Full, The Sheep Detectives is definitely a movie that you should check out.

What a delightful movie with witty dialog, a good mystery and some strong messages about acceptance and cooperation. Great for kids and very entertaining for adults. 10/10

Hugh Jackman plays the kindly shepherd who’s murdered and it’s up to his sheep to solve the case. The talking sheep had potential for a cute comedy, but even though they have some personality, the dialogue's never especially smart or clever. Even with voices that include Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, Chris O’Dowd and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Things start off with bright charm and a few laughs, but the whole affair soon becomes a more traditional whodunit. As the local cop, Nicholas Braun brings some of his wonky charm, but that’s not sufficient. Director Kyle Balda (“Minions,” “Despicable Me 3”) knows his way around quirky characters, but this script doesn’t provide sufficient eccentricity or humor. It ultimately becomes a sweet little mystery, without the wacky fun that the premise promised.

The trailer made me feel like this would be a very childish movie but it wasn't! I was very surprised at how good this is. It's a very nice, light story full of quirky-funny moments!

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

After some disastrous films from Amazon MGM Studios such as "Melania", this studio finally finds its footing with this film that is extremely adorable and funny. Also sadder than I expected in some parts.

A warm as wool movie for all ages. I think many parts of it are lovable - it may have USA elements but I loved how a studio like Amazon MGM could make a family friendly movie & have to be dark. Hugh Jackman can be great in anything: whether he was Roddy in "Flushed Away" but now the farmer, George Hardy. I loved the character of George Hardy, he was a unique character, who cared for all his sheep, giving them names & reading him mystery stories. Soon, it gets dark, he is murdered - but it is right to be so. That is when the sheep of different kinds must stand up together to find out what caused the death. We believed it could have been anybody, even the people, who we love. Sheep & all of us need/deserve to have names, we should all be recognised. This movie is unpredictable, funny & cute to be. CGI animals never look great but this time, I should recognize it to be part of its charm.

The Sheep Detectives (PG) is based on "Three Bags Full" by Leonie Swann. Perhaps if Richard Osman had written a detective novel about sheep instead of OAPs it would have been like this. George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd of a flock to whom he has given names. Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) the black ram is a loner who does his own thing, Mopple (Chris O'Dowd) unlike most sheep, can never forget facts as his species can conveniently choose to do when experiencing trauma. Ronnie and Reggie (Brett Goldstein) are twin rams who make up for their lack of brains with violence - usually against each other. Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is George's favourite and is considered the most intelligent of his sheep. There is an unnamed lamb, an outcast of the flock because he was born in winter not spring and so has disturbed the natural order as sheep like uniformity and not the unfamiliar. Of course George loves and hand feeds him but he has a solitary life in the meadow. A murder occurs and the sheep resolve to solve it or at the very least point the humans in the right direction. They have their own personalities.They talk to each other but they are not anthropomorphic, having a logic all of their own. George reads detective stories to them before they bed down for the night in the barn, so they understand the three key components; motive, opportunity and means. The local policeman Tim Derry was back of the line when brains were handed out and reminds me a little of the village policeman in Doc Martin. Fortunately a junior journalist Elliot (Nicholas Galitzine) is looking for a story to move him off the obit pages of the local rag and he helps Tim (as do the sheep) to piece together the story of what happened and why. There are a number of suspects. A young woman, Rebecca (Molly Gordon), who has just arrived in the village, the butcher, Ham (Conleth Hill), who can tolerate vegetarians as long as they are women, Caleb (Tosin Cole), a fellow shepherd, Beth (Hong Chau) the proprietor of the only hotel in Denbrook and finally Reverend Hillcote (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith) the vicar of the local church. George has had dealings with all of them, both good and bad, so all come under suspicion. I enjoyed this film and it would be a good one for a family to watch. There may be a few awkward questions about where the lamb for our dinner comes from afterwards from younger children but parents will have to answer such questions eventually, so why not now?