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.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critics Zoey F. comments, “The Sheep Detectives is a wonderful movie with a great theme and a great cast of actors. Its main strength is its simplicity and very cute sheep.” Julie O. adds, “I love this film! The Sheep Detectives is a heartwarming murder mystery that keeps you guessing “who did it” right up to the end. I found myself laughing and crying! The storyline is intriguing and the characters act very suspicious, making it so much more interesting to watch.” Beatriz D. wraps it up with, “This is a humorous, but profound murder mystery that is very heartfelt…The storyline follows a flock of sheep who attempt to uncover the murder of their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) after he unexpectedly dies.” See their full reviews below, plus our talent interviews on and off the red carpet by Raasti and Zoey.
The Sheep Detectives
By Zoey F, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14
The Sheep Detectives is a wonderful movie with a great theme and a great cast of actors. Its main strength is its simplicity and very cute sheep.
The plot follows George (Hugh Jackman) whose favorite pastime is reading murder mysteries to his beloved sheep. After sending several mysterious letters, George is found dead in his pasture. Just like the novels he has read them; the flock discovers this is indeed a murder. The self-proclaimed detective, Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun) is completely useless along with his unlikely friend, Elliot Mathews (Nicholas Galitzine) who is even less helpful. So, it’s up to the flock to solve the murder before the contents of his will are followed through.
The best thing about The Sheep Detectives is the utter simplicity of the movie. Sometimes films are trying way too hard to cater to a younger audience. They try to be relatable, and it seems that most of the budget is spent on celebrity cameos instead of good screenwriting. This movie completely shatters that pattern. Where to even begin? Each character’s development makes complete sense. Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is the leader of the sheep. She is confident but some of her values are misplaced. She often grapples with the fact that death exists and how heavy grief can feel. During the course of the film, she embraces community and learns to work through it with people she loves and trusts. Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) is my personal favorite character. The other sheep have the power to forget any event – every other sheep except for him. Chris O’Dowd excels at capturing Mopple’s pain. He must carry all the painful memories that the rest of the flock chooses to forget because he cannot. O’Dowd adds some much-needed humor with this development, but he also adds just enough of the tragedy. Aside from the heartfelt moments in the movie, there is still a mystery.
I did feel that the movie sometimes focuses too much on ways to make me cry rather than the mystery itself. The main suspects quickly become the people named in George’s will. But not enough time is spent getting to know the other characters so we have no reason to suspect them or not. Because of that, when the mystery is solved, the culprit’s motive makes sense, but it is not as satisfying as it could have been. This is just a small thing, and it did not stop me from enjoying the film. This movie is an emotional rollercoaster; it is guaranteed to make anyone who watches it laugh, cry and fall in love with CGI sheep.
The film has themes of belonging, family and the importance of treating others with respect. It also explores grief, loss, and coping strategies. The sheep often choose to forget when something gets too difficult or hurts too much. By the end, Lily and Mopple realize that forgetting is not healthy and it’s important to feel negative emotions, not just hide from them.
I give The Sheep Detectives 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to kids ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters May 8, 2026.
The Sheep Detectives
By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
I love this film! The Sheep Detectives is a heartwarming murder mystery that keeps you guessing “who did it” right up to the end. I found myself laughing and crying! The storyline is intriguing and the characters act very suspicious, making it so much more interesting to watch.
The Sheep Detectives is based on the book Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann. It takes place in a fictional village, called Derrybrook, in England, and focuses on the lives of a herd of sheep, their shepherd (Hugh Jackman), and a few of the villagers. Two of the sheep Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) help the local policeman (Nicolas Braun) solve a murder.
The storyline is well developed and I enjoy the pace of the film. I especially love the humor that is used from beginning to end and the use of a riddle to help solve the murder. I like that the sheep and human characters have similar storylines. Each has to deal with death, different personalities, challenges, and love. The film explores what makes individuals unique and how coming together as a community is rewarding. The voice actors for the sheep create characters that are easily relatable and complex. I love how they bring the sheep to life with sheep-like characteristics and well developed personalities. The human characters also have relatable personalities and demonstrate love, jealousy, ambition, and greed. The sheep and humans go through several experiences that make their characters grow and become more mature. My favorite part is learning the back story behind the independent and protective sheep named Sebastian (Bryan Cranston). This was my favorite part because I like how the events he experienced in his past helped shape how he interacts with the herd.
The film’s message is that as long as we remember those we love, they are never truly gone. It also reminds us to be willing to accept help from unexpected places and how important it is to be kind and accepting of those who are different. Be aware that there are some alcohol references, mild violence between animals, and death.
I give The Sheep Detectives 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. The Sheep Detectives releases in theaters on May 8, 2026.
The Sheep Detectives
By Beatriz D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 14
I really loved watching The Sheep Detectives! This is a humorous, but profound murder mystery that is very heartfelt.
The storyline follows a flock of sheep who attempt to uncover the murder of their shepherd (Hugh Jackman) after he unexpectedly dies. The sheep find ways to communicate to the police officer (Nicholas Braun) every time they find a clue, which made me laugh because the way they show the humans is very funny.
The movie is paced well and the plot develops with precision. I really love the animation of the sheep especially that of the lamb, which made me want a baby lamb because they are so cute. The actors’ performances are very well executed; each actor skillfully plays their part. My favorite character is Sebastian, voiced by Bryan Cranston, because he goes through so much and has so much knowledge and, even though it doesn’t seem like he cares for his friends, he would do anything for them. My favorite part is when the two main sheep, Lily (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd) attempt to cross the street for the first time, while being led by Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) , a more experienced sheep. This scene is so funny because Sebastian easily crosses the street while Lily and Mopple have a hard time even touching the concrete.
The film’s message is that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Be forewarned that there are death related topics discussed.
I give The Sheep Detectives 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters May 8, 2026.
