The Sheep Detectives
Amazon MGM Studios | Release Date: May 8, 2026 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews
Positive:
25
Mixed:
12
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
RogerEbert.comNell MinowMay 7, 2026
The Sheep Detectives brims with charm, wit, and a twisty murder mystery that can only be solved by the most endearing set of farm animals since Farmer Hoggett said “That’ll do” to Babe the pig. Read full review
91
Original-CinThom ErnstMay 6, 2026
From the first act straight through to the third, the film engages on a level far higher than it needs to. Which is what happens when you put real craft behind a premise that could have coasted on novelty. Read full review
90
The AtlanticShirley LiJun 5, 2026
Investigating the case tests their instinct to ignore what causes them pain and instead accept that fear, grief, and loss are necessary for a fulfilling life. That lesson, of course, isn’t new. But The Sheep Detectives pulls it off while juggling the beats of an engrossing crime thriller and the goofy humor of a Saturday-morning cartoon. Read full review
90
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerMay 8, 2026
The best family films are those that entertain both children and adults. The Sheep Detectives can be enjoyed simply as a funny fable with a solvable mystery at its center. The well-placed clues are hidden in plain view. Read full review
90
The New York TimesAlissa WilkinsonMay 7, 2026
Not only is The Sheep Detectives delightful, but it’s funny and emotionally complex and, dare I say, unusually deferential toward the noble sheep, frequently cast as brain-dead losers in cinema’s barnyards (Shaun notwithstanding). Read full review
89
TheWrapWilliam BibbianiApr 27, 2026
As cozy farm animal detective stories go, it simply can’t be bleat. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeOdie HendersonMay 18, 2026
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. Read full review
88
The Seattle TimesMoira MacdonaldMay 7, 2026
What really lingers after The Sheep Detectives is its tone: earnest, uncomplicated sweetness, rooted in the love that we — whether human or sheep — have for those with whom we share our lives, and a gentle acceptance of loss as part of that love. Read full review
80
Arizona RepublicBill GoodykoontzMay 19, 2026
In an algorithm-driven world in which every decision is made based on numbers, prediction markets or a desperate attempt to be all things to all people (especially the people not buying your product), hooray for this weird little movie that refuses to play that game. If it can’t always figure out quite what it wants to be, it’s all the better for it. Read full review
80
SlateSam AdamsMay 11, 2026
The movie, directed by Kyle Balda and adapted by Craig Mazin from Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full, is endlessly charming and pleasingly clever, as well as surprisingly moving in spots. And, oh yes, it’s about death. Read full review
80
The Travers TakePeter TraversMay 8, 2026
Hugh Jackman shepherds a tale of sheep crimesolvers that tickles the funnybone, touches the heart and just may end up as the summer’s sweetest surprise. Read full review
80
New York Magazine (Vulture)Alison WillmoreMay 8, 2026
A fascinating movie for kids, but it’s an improbably effective and tear-jerking one for adults as well. Read full review
80
The Irish TimesTara BradyMay 8, 2026
The Sheep Detectives, a family-friendly whodunit that marries pastoral whimsy with unexpectedly weighty themes, is a rare, woolly beast. Read full review
80
VarietyGuy LodgeApr 27, 2026
The filmmakers have lightened and brightened their source material to a kid-friendly degree — even the English countryside, as glisteningly shot by George Steel, has never looked less overcast. Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility. Read full review
80
IGNJim VejvodaApr 27, 2026
The Sheep Detectives is a very sweet, and often quite moving, family comedy about grief and death. I know that sounds weird, but director Kyle Balda and screenwriter Craig Mazin are mostly successful at threading that needle, with the broad humor of some of the human characters being the film’s weakest aspect. The sheep characters Lily and Sebastian have compelling arcs that highlight the movie’s themes of acceptance and growth. As dark as the story can sometimes get, there’s still enough warmth and wit to make The Sheep Detectives appropriate for younger audiences. Read full review
80
ColliderTania HussainApr 27, 2026
As one of the year’s most delightful surprises, The Sheep Detectives is a charming, smart, and sincerely heartfelt whodunit that proves even the smallest voices can carry the biggest stories. But best of all, it’s also the kind of film you don’t expect to love this much and one you won’t forget anytime soon! Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneKatie WalshMay 8, 2026
What you might not expect is how moving this whole story actually is. It’s not just the fun of figuring things out among this cast of colorful characters, rendered with a storybook look, it’s actually a tale about the importance of finding, and tending to, a flock. Read full review
75
IndieWireWilson ChapmanMay 8, 2026
Learning how to face difficult emotions as a natural part of life: that’s a great lesson to teach kids, just as much as how to solve their first whodunit. Read full review
75
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiMay 7, 2026
The evidence adds up cleverly and the script doesn’t coast on its status as a nice family movie in order to avoid delivering a satisfying conclusion. It’s meaty, like a roast leg of, well, you know. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonMay 6, 2026
One might quibble that Jackman and Thompson aren’t in the film enough, but really, humans are a distraction. The movie rides on its woolly sleuths, so audiences won’t feel fleeced. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubTim GriersonApr 27, 2026
Jokes may fall flat, and the movie might get a bit treacly, but The Sheep Detectives‘ big heart is never in question. Read full review
70
The Observer (UK)Wendy IdeMay 8, 2026
While it is not quite in the same league as any of the films that clearly influenced it, The Sheep Detectives is an appealingly offbeat children’s film, showcasing Balda’s knack for visual humour while also sheep-dipping into unexpectedly weighty themes. Read full review
70
Screen RantBrandon ZacharyMay 7, 2026
At times coming across like a fusion of Babe and The Thursday Murder Club, The Sheep Detectives gets by a lot on pure charm. The mystery is compelling enough to keep audiences guessing, while the central characters are engaging enough to follow as they find out more about George's death. The film doesn't quite overtake other entries in the cozy mystery genre, but the sweet morals and clever twists make this a worthwhile watch. Read full review
70
The RevealKeith PhippsMay 7, 2026
It’s a lively but also lovely kids film about what happens when you can’t just be a kid anymore. Read full review
67
The PlaylistMarshall ShafferMay 1, 2026
There’s plenty to like, and this starter kit for detective fiction ought to serve as more of a net positive for kids than another soulless reboot of existing IP. But it’s a shame to settle for merely good when something great was very clearly a plausible outcome. Read full review
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