‘The Sheep Detectives’ (2026) will not have you counting sheep, but it might awaken the curious child within you.
Reminiscent of 1995’s “Babe,” another talking-animals film, this one similarity has many caked-in moral lessons amid the adventures and misadventures — and it comes with a side of murder.
Released this month by Amazon MGM Studios in the US and by Sony Pictures Releasing International, it is now playing at cinemas in Saudi Arabia to positive reviews.
Based on the 2005 German novel, “Glennkill,” written by Leonie Swann (a pen name), its English translation was published as “Three Bags Full,” a title which sheepishly plucked a phrase from the classic English nursery rhyme “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.”
Directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, this murder-comedy features an exciting ensemble with notable names, mainly — and perhaps ironically — “The Wolverine” star Hugh Jackman, who plays shepherd George Hardy.
Known by his flock simply as George, he cares for his wooly bunch and affectionately reads chapters aloud to them from murder mystery books in the picturesque English village of Denbrook.
Then, as soon as he heads to bed, in true “Toy Story” fashion, the sheep’s voices emerge as they converse and even try to guess who the murderer might be after each partial read.
But before they find out the ending to one of the stories, their beloved shepherd George is found dead. For real.
The sheep reluctantly vow to solve the mystery of George’s death — using the detective training he unknowingly armed them with while reading all those novels day after day.
While it is devastating news to the sheep, not everyone in town is sad to see George go. He has two local enemies who openly despise him. And everyone in town seems to be hiding something.
During George’s will reading at the local inn, at which two of the sheep listen in to report back to the flock, the town learns that George had several shocking secrets — including heirs nobody knew about.
The plot thickens as other significant and motive-inspiring revelations come to light.
Award-winning Emma Thompson plays his no-nonsense lawyer Lydia Harbottle; Nicholas Braun plays Tim Derry, an awkward police officer, and Nicholas Galitzine plays Elliot Matthews, a reporter who comes to town to cover a cultural festival and stays to help piece together the story.
Now for the standout sheep voiceovers: “Seinfeld” actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is sensational as Lily; Regina Hall from the cult-classic “Scary Movies” film series is great as Cloud; and “Game of Thrones” and “The Last of Us” star Bella Ramsey is notable as Zora.
What this film succeeds in doing is making it a family-friendly morbid good time: a story about tackling personal fears, dabbling with great grief while also flocking to a space filled with collective hope. It is well worth a watch.
