Hugh Jackman’s The Sheep Detectives Storms to an Impressive Rotten Tomatoes Debut

Summer movie season is pretty much here, and studios are starting to roll out their big bets for the next few months. There are the usual sequels and action blockbusters (looking at you, Mortal Kombat II), but tucked in the middle of all that is a downright oddball mystery called The Sheep Detectives. This one's making its debut over Mother’s Day weekend, and—not to be dramatic—it might actually be worth your time if early buzz is any indication. The title kind of says it all, but the details are even weirder (in a good way).

So, What Exactly Is This?

The movie is based on the book Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, which is honestly not a title I ever expected to see on the big screen. The premise: a flock of sheep discover that their beloved shepherd (played by Hugh Jackman, of all people) has been murdered. Instead of the usual sheep reaction (which I assume is 'meh'), this flock turns their mystery novel training on the case—they are apparently well-versed thanks to their shepherd's reading habits—and try to solve the crime themselves. Yes, it's about sheep detectives investigating a murder, so if you’re picturing a cross between Knives Out and Babe, you’re not wrong. Critics are literally describing it as that combo (minus any actual Mad Max car chases, sorry George Miller fans).

The Numbers So Far

Let's get into the early response, because that's a big part of why people are talking: The Sheep Detectives is sitting at a 93% 'fresh' score on Rotten Tomatoes right now. True, that's based on just 15 reviews at this point—it takes a while before that 'certified fresh' badge shows up. Still, that’s not too shabby for a movie that could have easily slipped into gimmick territory. The big takeaway from critics: the film is charming and genuinely intriguing, with the cast getting most of the credit for that.

The Star-Packed Cast

• Humans: Hugh Jackman (the poor shepherd), Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Emma Thompson
• Sheep Voices: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Brett Goldstein

That's right—this film went all out on voice talent for its four-legged stars. Who knew sheep had such good agents.

Behind the Scenes: Familiar Names, Weird New Jobs

The director is Kyle Balda, who comes out of the animation world (he directed Despicable Me 3 and Minions: The Rise of Gru). So, if the animated sheep end up looking suspiciously like they belong in a kids’ movie, now you know why. The screenplay is by Craig Mazin—yes, Craig Mazin, the guy who made Chernobyl and The Last of Us for HBO. Not exactly someone you’d expect to pivot straight into a talking sheep murder-mystery, but I guess Hollywood careers are nothing if not unpredictable.

How Does It Fit Into the Bigger Picture?

The Sheep Detectives is part of the Amazon MGM Studios lineup, and they’re on a little bit of a hot streak lately. Their other high-profile project, Project Hail Mary, got plenty of good press and is still doing well financially. So, the hope (at least for Amazon execs with spreadsheets) is that the good reviews for this animal whodunit will translate to decent box office when it comes out for Mother’s Day weekend.

Early Word from Critics

One review sums up the vibe:

'It’s like Knives Out met Babe in a field, called up a bunch of Hollywood A-listers, and decided to solve a murder.'

If the first round of reviews keep up, The Sheep Detectives may actually pull off the improbable—making sheep the must-see stars of summer. Or at least, more memorable than the next Mortal Kombat fatality.