Live-action family films are becoming increasingly rare nowadays. Outside of films like the Paddington series, which blends CGI and live-action elements, most family movies are animated. What’s even more rare is a live-action family film that isn’t based on any other property. While The Sheep Detectives is based on a novel, its execution offers a refreshing take on both the murder mystery and the family movie, potentially spawning a new wave of live-action children’s movies.

The film follows a flock of sheep, voiced by an A-list ensemble including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall, and Bryan Cranston, who wake up one morning to discover that their shepherd has been murdered. Taking inspiration from the murder-mystery novels the shepherd used to read to them before bed, the sheep attempt to solve the case and catch the perpetrator. Also, solving the murder is bumbling police officer Tim Derry, played by Nicholas Braun, who cannot fathom that a flock of sheep is trying to help him catch the killer.

Following a flock of sheep as they try to solve their shepherd’s murder is a silly concept in and of itself, and The Sheep Detectives leans into the absurdity in all the right ways. Blending tongue-in-cheek humor with slapstick gags, director Kyle Balda perfectly captures the whimsical tone promised by the premise. From sheep breaking into buildings to jokes about the incompetence of the police, Balda beautifully brings Craig Mazin’s excellent script to life with energy and charm. Although a little more adult humor would’ve been preferred, what Mazin brought is solid enough to work for all ages.

The cast all around is pitch-perfect. Braun is excellent as the town dimwit attempting to prove himself as an accomplished police officer. He portrays dumbness with such sincerity that he makes for an easy human protagonist to root for. Hugh Jackman makes the most of his limited screen time, exuding heart and care for his character in every frame. Despite acting as the plot device, his character is given strong moments of development as the mystery unfolds, and Jackman delivers them wonderfully. The film’s true standout performances come from the voice work, particularly Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Lily and Bryan Cranston as Sebastian. Both are given the most backstory and development, delving into the darker aspects of their characters in unexpected ways, and both portray the roles to perfection. Cranston, in particular, is given an emotional moment toward the third act, and his diction and passion make the scene more heartbreaking than anyone would expect from a film about talking sheep. If there were an Oscar for voice acting, Louis-Dreyfus and Cranston would easily rank as top 2026 contenders thus far.

It is easy to view The Sheep Detectives as a light comedy for the whole family, but there is a surprising amount of dark moments that make the film stand out more than the average children’s flick. Instead of focusing just on the mystery aspects, the film delves into themes of memories and trauma in a shockingly sentimental manner. The shepherd’s death is not just a plot device; it also serves to discuss how humanity processes bad memories and moves forward. Lines like “Remembering hurts” sum up the themes beautifully and carry a heavy potency that elevates the film to great heights. Not only will the film make you cry from laughing, but also from its moving moments.

Like many family-oriented films, there are cheap jabs meant to elicit emotional reactions from the audience, mainly from the small winter lamb. Although the lamb serves its purpose in the film, there were moments when it relied solely on the animal’s cuteness to spark emotion rather than drive the story forward, using its cuteness and innocence as a reason to feel sorry for it. The reveal of the murder, as shocking as it is, came across as convoluted in the initial explanation, having to jump through silly barriers in order to justify itself. That being said, most murder mysteries have their moments of implausibility, and The Sheep Detectives luckily didn’t detract from the overall experience.

One wouldn’t expect from the trailer that The Sheep Detectives would be an emotionally rich experience, but it somehow manages to be. Blending humor and heart in all the right ways, this is the perfect family film that not only delivers a good time but also a good message to take away. With the live-action family film dying by the minute, this film acts as a perfect slingshot for a comeback. There likely won’t be many films in 2026 that are as surprisingly good as this.

The Sheep Detectives is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Rating: 8/10

Oscar Prospects:

None.