The Sheep Detectives is a 2026 mystery comedy film directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. The film features an ensemble cast including Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson, with the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein.
๐ Plot Summary
The film follows a flock of sheep who try to solve the murder of their shepherd. In the English village of Denbrook, shepherd George Hardy spends his time reading murder mystery novels to his flock of sheep.
One morning, George is discovered dead outside his trailer. Devastated by George’s death, the sheep decide to solve the mystery on their own, led by crime aficionado ewe Lily, the ram Mopple who always keeps his memories, and loner Sebastian who George rescued from a carnival.
๐ญ Cast and Production
The Sheep Detectives entered development in March 2024, under the title Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie, with Jackman and Thompson cast in the lead roles. The rest of the cast was announced in June 2024 and in April 2025.
Principal photography took place from June to July 2024 in locations across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. Framestore provided the animation for the animals in the film, while its score was composed by Christophe Beck.
๐ Release and Box Office
The film had preview screenings on 2 May 2026, and was released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing International on 8 May 2026. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on June 24, 2026.
As of 22 June 2026, The Sheep Detectives has grossed $65 million in the United States and Canada, and $61 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $126 million.
โญ Critical Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 194 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.
Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “Aโ” on an A+ to F scale. The film received positive reviews from critics.
| Category | Detail | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Kyle Balda | Writer | Craig Mazin |
| Release Date | 8 May 2026 | Rotten Tomatoes | 95% positive |
| Worldwide Gross | $126 million | Metacritic Score | 72/100 |
| CinemaScore | Aโ | Composer | Christophe Beck |