Our Review

                    Movie: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES

          Rating: PG, thematic material, some violent                                     content and brief language

                                        Length: 1:43

                                Release Date: May 8, 2026

Jeanne: Who doesn’t love sheep? They are such adorable creatures --- and affectionate. Just ask my illustrious partner, David, about his experience with a flock of sheep in the English countryside. They were all over him. It may have had something to do with the M&Ms in his pocket, who knows? Well, now, it has come to light that they love being read to --- and solving murders. Such is the case in THE SHEEP DETECTIVES.

George (Hugh Jackman) is the best shepherd. He loves  his flock of sheep dearly and has named each one of them. He even reads detective novels to them every night before bed. But George is totally unaware that they are paying attention and actually trying to solve the murder mysteries themselves. And when the worst happens, his sheep are fully committed to unraveling the whodunit.

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is a charming, funny family movie with more than enough entertainment for adults. Producer Lindsay Doran came across Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story years ago and was convinced it would make a terrific movie. She enlisted screenwriter Craig Mazin to adapt Swann’s book and the result is priceless. 

Directed by Kyle Balda, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES boasts an amazing cast. The real-life actors include Nicholas Braun as police officer Tim Derry, Nicholas Galitzine as the reporter Elliot Mathews, Molly Gordon as Rebecca Hampstead, George’s daughter, and Emma Thompson as Lydia Harbottle, the lawyer, among others.

The voice actors for the sheep feature Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily, the smartest sheep, Chris O’Dowd as Mopple, the most patient sheep, Regina Hall as Cloud, the fluffiest sheep, Brett Goldstein as brothers Ronnie and Reggie, Patrick Stewart as Sir Ritchfield, the most proud and dignified sheep, Bryan Cranston as Sebastian, the loner, and last --- and most precious --- Tommy Birchall as the Winter Lamb, the outsider. As David will undoubtedly write, Winter Lamb is one of the cutest animals ever on film. And watching these clever sheep work together --- then in tandem with the humans --- is incredibly delightful.

As one may deduce, this is quite the production. The sheep, as perfect as they seem, are not real. They are photorealistic animated creations based on real sheep which were brought to the production office, which was in a park, so the animators could study their every move. The results are so realistic you would swear they are, in fact, real. And the wonderful voices of these amazing actors are why THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is so very enjoyable.

Jackman is exactly the right person to play George. He has always come across as warm and kind, so who better to shepherd this eclectic flock of sheep? He was totally dedicated to the experience, even crying three times while reading the script. That says a great deal itself. Braun plays the bumbling police officer perfectly, while Galitzine is rather cagey as the wannabe crime reporter. And, per  usual, Thompson kicks everything up a notch with her presence.

Production designer Suzie Davies has gifted viewers of THE SHEEP DETECTIVES with the stunning countryside of Oxfordshire, replete with opulent green fields. The cinematography by George Steel is divine. And Christophe Beck has composed a score that is marvelously suited for this sheep-driven murder mystery. It’s so fun --- be sure to see it with Mom, as it opens before Mother’s Day.

Opinion: See It Now!

David: Anyone looking for a true family film that parents and children can thoroughly enjoy?  On different levels, of course. The solution is THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, starring a very good sport named Hugh Jackman. Actually, after reading the script, Jackman revealed he cried three times and alerted the powers that be that he was definitely “IN” and couldn’t wait to be part of the project.

The sheep characters in this delightful film came about in what is described as “photorealistic animated creations”. All you have to know is that they are adorable and will have you believing that sheep are incredibly intelligent --- and/or that you will refuse to eat lamb ever again. That was actually the case with more than one of the cast members.

The household names that make up the voice cast for the sheep include Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Lily), Regina Hall (Cloud), Brett Goldstein (Reggie and Ronnie), Patrick Stewart (Sir Ritchfield) and Bryan Cranston (Sebastian). THE SHEEP DETECTIVES also features a live action cast that includes Emma Thompson and Nicholas Braun – you know him from TV’s “Succession”.

Jackman plays George, a shepherd who reads murder mysteries to his flock of sheep every night. It’s a hoot to see these animals lazing patiently in the grass and reacting to the story. So, when a tragedy occurs, the sheep leap into action to solve what is an apparent murder.

The movie is directed by Kyle Balda with a screenplay and story by Craig Mazin. He based his story on the novel by Leonie Swann entitled Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story.  Producer Lindsay Doran partnered with Working Title which has classics like FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL and LES MISÉRABLES in its large library. Of special note: the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (PROJECT HAIL MARY) are executive producers for this film.

Given the pedigree of cast and crew, there is no chance of

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES falling short of moviegoer expectations. One of the sheep creations, the smallest and cutest of them all, is Winter Lamb (voiced by Tommy Birchall). This little guy is ostracized by the others because he was born in the winter, which makes him even more precious.

Opinion: See It Now!