The Sheep Detectives
NZ release: 07 May 2026
Violence and coarse language Rated on: 14 April 2026
Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie
What’s it about?
In the small English village of Denbrook, a shepherd dies under mysterious circumstances. His flock of sheep work together to solve his murder in this part-comedy, part-whodunnit film.
The facts
- Directed by Kyle Balda (Despicable Me 3)
- Starring Hugh Jackman (Deadpool & Wolverine), Nicholas Braun (Zola), Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You), Molly Gordon (The Bear), Emma Thompson (Bridget Jones’s Baby), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Thunderbolts*)
- English language
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Based on the novel Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann
Why did it get this rating?
This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.
Violence and scariness
The film's plot revolves around solving a murder, so you can expect classic murder mystery themes that may be scary for younger tamariki, including:
- Suspicious and unsettling characters
- Ominous and tense situations
- Reckless driving
Two characters engage in a physical altercation, a character is poisoned, and a dead human body lies on the ground.
The film contains fight scenes between animals. Dogs and sheep fight each other with deadly consequences. Two sheep enter a mysterious building and are chased off the premises; after realising it was a slaughterhouse.
Themes of mortality and loss are also central to the narrative. Sheep mourn the death of their shepherd and other characters. The film explores the impacts of grief and the importance of remembering the ones you love even when it hurts.
Coarse language
Coarse language is used infrequently as mild insults, including “shut up”, “damn”, “crap”, “stupid”, and “idiot”.
When content stays with you:
We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.
Further information
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