The Sheep Detectives review: Fun for the whole flock | Radio Times

This baa-rmy whodunnit based on the book from German writer Leonie Swann, Three Bags Full, turns the cosy crime trend fully woolly as it pairs Babe’s talking farmyard animals with Knives Out’s brazen backstabbers. In keeping with the overarching oddness, The Sheep Detectives comes to the screen courtesy of an unlikely duo, with Minions director Kyle Balda behind the camera, and Craig Mazin, the creator of TV’s Chernobyl and dystopian drama The Last of Us, on screenwriting duties.

The film brings together a sublime international ensemble for a story of untimely death, family and farming set in the fictional British town of Denbrook. Appearing in person are Hugh Jackman as doomed shepherd George Hardy, whose flock must solve his murder due to the spectacularly incompetent efforts of the town’s inexperienced and distractingly lovestruck police officer Tim (the hilarious Nicholas Braun).

Molly Gordon plays George's estranged daughter and the object of Tim’s affection, Rebecca, whose arrival coincides with her father’s demise. Nicholas Galitzine is junior reporter Elliot, who spies a scoop whilst trying to make a name for himself. And if Conleth Hill sadly has little to do as Ham, the local butcher, he at least gets the odd great line, delivered with fitting venom ("He was a vegetarian. I can forgive that in a woman. But in a man…disgusting").

Also joining the suspects is Hong Chau as innkeeper Beth, a jealous admirer of George, and Tosin Cole as rival shepherd Caleb. While Emma Thompson sweeps in and steals the show playing no-nonsense, purple-pinstriped lawyer Lydia, who leads the reading of a will that really puts the cat amongst the pigeons (or should that be the wolf amongst the sheep?).

Amongst those voicing the flock are Bryan Cranston (as lone sheep Sebastian, who’s seen it all) and Brett Goldstein on double duty as twin battering rams Reggie and Ronnie. Plus there are contributions from Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Regina Hall, Rhys Darby, and, leading the pack, Julia Louis-Dreyfus provides the voice of Lily, a sheep with the instincts of an elite investigator, who has been schooled in sifting through suspects by the nightly murder mysteries read to the group by their beloved shepherd. Together, they must assist clueless copper Tim after he arrests an innocent party, and herd him towards the real culprit.

Although The Sheep Detectives has many of the expected elements of a murder mystery, it's simultaneously a visually sunny, firmly family orientated effort, with some child-friendly discussion of the concept of death, as the wilfully ignorant flock (who wipe their own memories on a regular basis and have a belief system constructed around clouds) come to terms with life’s harsh realities.

Neither the simple story, nor the lighter than usual tone will satisfy die-hard whodunnit fans, while others might find it controversial to package up murder as family entertainment. However, for the most part it feels like a neat introduction for younger viewers to the conventions of this ever-popular genre, with the really scary stuff omitted. The film does suffer from a somewhat uncertain, not especially amusing start, marred by a too-sentimental tone and jarring details which create confusion about the setting (the appearance of a strangely generic postal service for one), before rapidly finding its feet.

The Sheep Detectives comes into its own in enjoyable fashion once Jackman’s shepherd has departed for the great farmyard in the sky, settling nicely into its quirky little groove, as the sheep go about solving the crime in chaotic and surreal style, buoyed by game performances from the cast. Ultimately it generates plenty of fun for the whole flock, and the more it leans into its madness the more it succeeds.

The Sheep Detectives is released in UK cinemas on Friday 8 May 2026.

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