Is 'The Sheep Detectives' movie OK for kids? What parents need to know

Spoiler alert! We're discussing plot details about “The Sheep Detectives” (in theaters now). Stop reading if you haven’t seen the movie yet and don’t want to know what it’s about. 

You can’t pull the wool over their eyes. 

In the wonderfully peculiar new movie “The Sheep Detectives,” an inquisitive group of livestock search for clues in their shepherd’s untimely demise. The live-action comedy features a starry flock of celebrities voicing computer-generated sheep, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Patrick Stewart, Regina Hall and Bella Ramsey. 

Directed by Kyle Balda (“Minions”), “The Sheep Detectives” is much darker yet more emotional than you’d expect for a family film about talking farm animals. Before you take your youngest tykes to see it, here's what you need to know:

What is ‘The Sheep Detectives’ about? 

Set in the English countryside, “The Sheep Detectives” follows a kindly farmer named George (Hugh Jackman) who lives a quiet life with his flock. In his downtime, he enjoys reading mystery novels to the sheep − not knowing that they actually talk among themselves and fiercely debate the fictional crime stories. 

But when George turns up dead one day, the pragmatic ewe Lily (Louis-Dreyfus) takes charge in investigating his suspicious death. She sneakily aids an inept police detective (Nicholas Braun) as he probes local business owners, lawyers and George’s family members (played by Conleth Hill, Emma Thompson and Molly Gordon, to name a few). 

What is ‘The Sheep Detectives’ rated?

The film is rated PG for thematic material, some violent content and brief language.

What is the runtime of ‘The Sheep Detectives?’ 

“The Sheep Detectives” is 1 hour and 49 minutes long. The plot is easy to follow and the culprit isn’t revealed until the last 10 minutes of the film. So if your kids need a bathroom break during the movie, just about any time is fine to do so. 

What age is ‘The Sheep Detectives’ appropriate for? 

The film is recommended for kids ages 8 and older. There is some occasional rude language, but nothing worse than “damn,” “idiot,” “crap” and “shut up.” George has a bottle of whiskey in his trailer home, and some characters are shown drinking wine. A woman named Beth (Hong Chau) longs for George and steals his mail from an apparent lover. But this is a kids’ movie, after all, and the brief romantic subplot is entirely chaste. 

Like “Bambi,” “The Lion King” and any assortment of Pixar movies, “The Sheep Detectives” deals frankly with death. Lily struggles to understand the loss of George and another member of her flock, and the movie sensitively addresses how we can still hold onto our loved ones’ memories long after they’re gone. Grief is a poignant through line in the otherwise comedic film, and it may invite further conversation with your children afterward.  

Is ‘The Sheep Detectives’ violent? 

Despite being a murder mystery, there is very little mayhem to speak of. Lily and the other sheep encounter some scary dogs one night, and there are a few tussles between both human and animal characters. There is a flashback to the stormy evening when George is murdered, although you see nothing more than a shadowy figure on his farm. 

There are moments when Lily feels lost and anxious, and another scene where a panicked sheep knocks over furniture, although that is played for laughs. 

Potentially traumatic for young kids is a short scene where Lily discovers George’s dead body, and another where Lily’s sheep friend dies. There is brief discussion of poison, and at one point, a fearsome butcher holds a knife. But ultimately, there is no visible blood or gore in the film. 

What is the release date for ‘The Sheep Detectives?’

‘The Sheep Detectives’ will be released in theaters nationwide May 8. There is no streaming date yet.