The Sheep Detectives (2026)
The term "family film" is often misused, applied to movies that might appeal to children ages 10 and under but no one else. However, director Kyle Balda's The Sheep Detectives is a family film in the truest sense. Viewers from ages 5 to 85 will find plenty to enjoy.
George (Hugh Jackman) is a feisty shepherd in a quaint English village. Every night, he reads mystery novels to his flock. When George is found murdered one morning, his sheep put their detective skills to use. The main sheep include the loner Sebastian (voiced by Bryan Cranston); George's favorite, Lily (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus); and the sensitive Mopple (voiced by Chris O'Dowd).
Other critics have referred to the film as Knives Out meets Babe, and that's an accurate comparison. Like Babe, it's a PG-rated story that's kid-friendly but also weaves in messages about animal rights. It also teaches lessons about the importance of grieving and holding on to memories even if they are painful. Like Knives Out, there's a collection of suspects chasing a fortune and a hilarious will-reading scene.
The human cast members all turn in good work. Emma Thompson as an all-business lawyer and Nicholas Braun as a constable reminiscent of Frank Drebin and Inspector Clouseau are highlights. The mystery plotting is good while still being clear enough for young audiences to follow.
While comedies are slowly starting to inch their way back into theaters, they're still relatively rare at this moment in cinema history. Family films like The Sheep Detectives and Hoppers are some of the precious few modern movies that feature a continuous effort to make viewers smile and laugh.
May
has a fairly crowded release schedule this year, but The Sheep Detectives is
well worth making time for.
