The Sheep Detectives
Directed by Kyle Balda
George Hardy 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. From TMDB
246 reactions from 4 sources (Bluesky, Mastodon, TMDB reviews, Lemmy) · newest Oct 15, 2026 · last updated Oct 16, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
Sentiment labels for these sources are still being hand-checked; no score yet.
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky * | 92 | 3 | 74 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| TMDB reviews * | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 1 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
58 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
What viewers are saying
AI summary of the public posts linked below. Not a review by Rotten Tweets.
Counted from the reviewers’ own 0–10 ratings on the 8 rated TMDB user reviews we collected (7–10 positive, 5–6 mixed, 0–4 negative), not by the AI.
Viewers find the film a delightful and heartwarming family mystery. [1][2][3] The voice cast and visual effects are widely praised. [4][2][5] Some note the premise is absurd but executed with charm. [6][4][7]
- [12]
Shepherd dies. It’s the result of murder most foul! Unpropitiously for the manslayer there is a most important factor that they have not accounted for. Unbeknownst to the assassin, the deceased herdsman had been training a crack team of detectives. (If, at this point, you can’t tell who those detectives are from the title of the film, then perhaps murder mysteries are not for you?) What I thought: meh, it was OK. I …
- [6]
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 …
- [1]
Summary: 8/10: a genuinely delightful family film that respects both the mystery genre and its audience, proving that even the most unlikely premise can work when executed with heart and craft. Based on Leonie Swann's very popular novel Three Bags Full, this is a delightfully funny take on the whole Mickey Spillane/Agatha Christie genre, reimagined with the most unlikely detectives imaginable: a flock of sheep who …
- [2]
This fun-filled, heartwarming mystery is an entertaining choice for the whole family. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, and Patrick Stewart deliver wonderful voice performances, giving the sheep distinctive personalities and making them both lovable and believable. With its charming characters, gentle humor, and engaging whodunit plot, The Sheep Detectives offers an endearing escape …
- [4]
Mixing cute farm animals with a cold-blooded murder sounds like a recipe for disaster, and honestly, this movie suffers from a massive identity crisis. The idea of a flock of sheep trying to solve their owner's death is wildly absurd, but on screen, it ends up being a pretty fractured experience. The animation team did an amazing job making the animals look physically real—their wool and movements blend perfectly …
How this was made: an AI model (deepseek-v4-flash) read 34 of the 233 public posts we collected about this film and wrote the summary, likes and dislikes, citing the posts behind each point ([n] opens the post). A second AI pass checked every statement against the posts it cites; anything it could not match was removed, and code removed any statement with quotation marks, numbers that are not in the posts, or unattributed claims about people. The split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Generated Oct 9, 2026. Method
Critics, per Wikipedia
As of 9 September 2026, The Sheep Detectives has grossed $66.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $66.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $132.9 million. In the United States and Canada, The Sheep Detectives was released alongside Mortal Kombat II and Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D), and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,457 theaters during the Mother's Day weekend. It made $4 million on its first day, including $1.03 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $15.1 million, finishing in fourth. In its second weekend the film made $9.6 million, finishing in fifth. In its third weekend it made $9.2…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 246 · most liked firstmovie recommendation for the holiday weekend: The Sheep Detectives!!! a film that answers the question “what if we made a Knives Out movie but with sheep?”
positive · AI labelView post →If you want a fun and touching movie to watch this week, you should definitely check out the Sheep Detectives. It’s free on Prime, 2 hour run time.
positive · AI labelView post →I'd add a whole range of movies--as varied as Weapons, The Housemaid, The Sheep Detectives, Project Hail Mary, The Drama, Iron Lung, and Michael--to make a case that we might be embarking on the first big realignment in ages. (Note: No sequels, and exactly one studio film out of the 9 I've named.)
neutral · AI labelView post →My friend after watching the Sheep Detectives: yeah that was a pretty alright movie Me right next to them with tears running down my face and my mascara all ruined: yeah. It was pretty ok
neutral · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives is a wonderful little movie. I declare it the perfect July 4 entertainment (not set in USA).
positive · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives is such an unexpected delight of a movie. can’t recommend it enough!
positive · AI labelView post →My daughter and I just watched THE SHEEP DETECTIVES and I was not expecting such a wonderful movie. It’s fantastic!
positive · AI labelView post →Look here’s the thing. Somehow I did not realize that the Sheep Detectives was going to be a children’s movie
neutral · AI labelView post →I just watched The Sheep Detectives and it was *so* good Very funny and cute and surprisingly emotional? I did not go into this movie expecting to cry real tears 😭
positive · AI labelView post →Oh my god go see The Sheep Detectives now. The trailers and posters are terrible, but the film is CRIMINALLY good with an absolutely STACKED cast. Baa-gatha Christie. Shears Out. Hot Fuzz but the fuzz is wool.
positive · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives score is out now as well! Long time followers know how much I care about score and its importance in a movie. In my short time in film I already have so many incredible memories but working with Christophe Beck on this score might be at the top. open.spotify.com/track/4Ak7E0...
neutral · AI labelView post →People who dont think The Sheep Detectives is a kids movie should watch one(1) kids movie made in the 90s. All kids movies used to be the Sheep Detectives.
neutral · AI labelView post →Holy cow "The Sheep Detectives" (2026) is absolutely incredible. STUNNING visual effects work in an extremely charming movie.
positive · AI labelView post →Out of the blue movie recommendation — our whole family watched “The Sheep Detectives” tonight. I hadn’t heard about it. It’s completely wonderful. What’s your movie recommendation that folks may not have heard about?
positive · AI labelView post →(And I also note that if you enjoyed this movie I'm talking about, which is probably The Sheep Detectives or The Devil Wears Prada Part 9, that is very good, and I want you to enjoy things, even when I do not enjoy those same things.)
neutral · AI labelView post →"It’s clever without being cloying, occasionally dark and tense without being too scary for the younger crowd. It is good family fun for all ages, in an era desperately needing more such films." Check out "The Sheep Detectives":
neutral · AI labelView post →If you ever wanted a Knives Out movie made with Muppets, The Sheep Detectives is for you. It's an absolute delight.
positive · AI labelView post →We are thinking of seeing a movie. Are BACKROOMS or THE SHEEP DETECTIVES good, either one?
neutral · AI labelView post →Interesting tidbit about Toy Story 2, among the numerous animators for the film who would later go on to board projects for other studios is Kyle Balda (director of the first two Minions movies and The Sheep Detectives), who actually animated the "Reach for the Sky" shot with Woody and Buster!
neutral · AI labelView post →This is the Google page for the new movie The Sheep Detectives This timeline is getting stupider and stupider
neutral · AI labelView post →*Stepping gingerly over discourse and current affairs, tugging at your sleeve* Ah, The Sheep Detectives is a gorgeous aul' film isn't it
positive · AI labelView post →New Projector Review! Hugh Jackman's been bumped off, and it is up to a star-studded cast of sheep to find the culprit in The Sheep Detectives, a movie which I had very much under-estimated - I certainly didn't expect to find it surprisingly moving as well as cute. youtu.be/X1kNiYB1WlI
neutral · AI labelView post →I don't usually do movie reviews, but my husband & I just watched the Sheep Detectives and found it to be the kind of old-fashioned (family-friendly yet not too sappy) film that Hollywood used to make. We found it charming, and at times thought-provoking. All the critics who praised it were right.
positive · AI labelView post →"The Sheep Detectives is one of those movies that just gets all the small things perfectly right, that perfectly times each joke, that perfectly hides funny little things in the background." And it's a kids' movie about talking sheep.
neutral · AI labelView post →You can watch this delightful film for free if you have Amazon Prime. "The Sheep Detectives" is among my favorite films of 2026 so far. It's that good! Full article: franksfilmreview.com/2026/05/03/t...
positive · AI labelView post →Watched The Sheep Detectives That was a dang delight. Both a rock solid mystery and an absolutely endearing and genuinely sweet little family flick all in one. About the best you could possibly hope for a movie about Sheep solving a murder to be.
positive · AI labelView post →Finally saw the Sheep Detectives last night - didn’t know what to expect but it was a lovely film. Much more than just a kids flick.
positive · AI labelView post →It's been a while since I've seen a movie with a premise as gloriously insane as "Hugh Jackman's murder is investigated by his own sheep", so thank you, The Sheep Detectives.
positive · AI labelView post →Okay imma need you all to stop what youre doing and go see this gem of a movie. The Sheep Detectives is a surprisingly brilliant wee movie and arguably my favourite so far this year!!
positive · AI labelView post →I watched The Sheep Detectives last night, which answers a simple question… what if everyone you showed up for, showed up for you, even when it seems impossible. Anyhow, cried the whole time. 10/10 movie.
positive · AI labelView post →I just saw The Sheep Detectives, and I have never been more surprised by a film in my life. I expected a silly, dumb little film, and what I got was not that in the slightest in the best way.
positive · AI labelView post →So you skipped Super Mario, Ryan Gosling and Rocky and Meryl Streep; if you've been waiting for a group of sheep trying to solve the mystery of a farmer (Hugh Jackman) then boy, have I got the film for you; get charmed by The Sheep Detectives, out Fri. 4 out of 5. film-authority.com/2026/05/05/t...
neutral · AI labelView post →More from Rhys Darby about "The Sheep Detectives". (Watch closely and you can see the exact moment every other cast member's name leaves his head... 😂)
neutral · AI labelView post →I am 30min into The Sheep Detectives and this is possibly the greatest movie ever made. My throat hurts from cackling so much.
positive · AI labelView post →Just watched The Sheep Detectives. I cried alot n felt its impact on me. Its silly n fun but its message hits me very deep. Please go watch that film Baaa.
positive · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives I had the chance to catch an early preview of The Sheep Detectives and went in unsure of what to expect. I thought it might not be my kind of film, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise — one that moved me to tears... Full article: franksfilmreview.com/2026/05/03/t...
neutral · AI labelView post →Watched The Sheep Detectives A murder mystery with sheeps sounds like a bizarre idea but the film manages to find a way to have it be hilarious with the humour and full of wit with both the human and sheep characters with the acting and writing to make this worth watching
positive · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives was an absolute delight of a movie
positive · AI labelView post →Oh The Sheep Detectives embargo is up? Great. Number One Sheep Detectives evangelist here. It's such a pleasure to have a kids movie that's actually dark the way kids movies used to be. Very Babe energy.
positive · AI labelView post →The Sheep Detectives is the Knives Out sheep movie I always knew I wanted
positive · AI labelView post →THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is out this week and it’s very good www.premiereparty.com/p/the-sheep-...
neutral · AI labelView post →THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026) Streaming: June 24, 2026 Prime Video #TheSheepDetectives whentostream.com/the-sheep-de...
neutral · AI labelView post →THE SHEEP DETECTIVES - REVIEW A super heartwarming story about sheep wanting to solve the murder of their shepherd, with the classic murder-mystery cast of unique suspects. The CGI is really the most top-notch part of this film, they look and emote so good you really connect! #review #moviereview
neutral · AI labelView post →I don't think we're talking enough about the cast of THE SHEEP DETECTIVES. No film has been so stuffed since A BRIDGE TOO FAR...
neutral · AI labelView post →The last 4 movies I watched... The Hunger Games The Sheep Detectives Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spider-Man: No Way Home #lastfourwatched #letterboxdfriday #letterboxd #filmsky #moviesky boxd.it/Iqj
neutral · AI labelView post →#NW The Sheep Detectives. It's like a live action Aardman film. I can't give it any higher praise than that.
positive · AI labelView post →I don’t like Hugh Jackman and this movie’s premise is weird AF, but The Sheep Detectives movie has me crying a little. What’s happening here? 😭😭
positive · AI labelView post →You can watch this delightful film for free if you have Amazon Prime. "The Sheep Detectives" is among my favorite films of 2026 so far. It's that good! Full article: franksfilmreview.com/2026/05/03/t...
neutral · AI labelView post →THE SHEEP DETECTIVES: a cute, cozy mystery that just might make you cry. My review www.wyomingnews.com/features/mov...
neutral · AI labelView post →I saw this movie solely because of this post and left the theater dabbing tears from my eyes going “did I just get wrecked by a movie called The Sheep Detectives”
positive · AI labelView post →Happy #LetterboxdFriday My #LastFourWatched included two films that I only watched because of reviews from others and I really enjoyed them! I can’t remember the last time I experienced an audience so engaged in a film like during The Sheep Detectives! 😊
positive · AI labelView post →I'm tempted to make a joke about the movie "The Sheep Detectives" but I refewes.
neutral · AI labelView post →Now watching: The Sheep Detectives (2026)! 📽
neutral · AI labelView post →Oh man also just saw The Sheep Detectives I went in not really knowing anything about the movie but it was actually REALLY good! Incredibly sweet film (and I mayyyy have cried shhhh)
positive · AI labelView post →FURRIES, GO WATCH THE SHEEP DETECTIVES!! 🤍☁️ It was an amazing movie... 😭
positive · AI labelView post →Tonight’s family movie is The Sheep Detectives. Such a cute movie
positive · AI labelView post →i wrote about THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, this month’s must-watch movie about sheep avenging hugh jackman: sundownmotel.ghost.io/sheep-detect...
neutral · AI labelView post →Or better yet, watch The Sheep Detectives when that comes out in theaters soon after (and it's a better farm animal movie):
neutral · AI labelView post →For the @avclub.com, I reviewed THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, which features a really great Julia Louis-Dreyfus performance as a smart ewe who discovers she has a lot to learn.
neutral · AI labelView post →Rhysie’s in the upcoming movie, “The Sheep Detectives”! I can’t find anything about his role yet, but it’s something to look out for next year. 🐑🔎
neutral · AI labelView post →
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