Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015)

Movie · 2015 · Family, Animation, Comedy, Adventure · 1h 25m · PG · English

Curator score: 6.7/10 (135.3K ratings)

Catch them if ewe can!

Overview

When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.

Ratings

Director

Mark Burton, Richard Starzak

Production

StudioCanal, Aardman, Anton Capital Entertainment

Cast

Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Rich Webber, Kate Harbour, Tim Hands, Simon Greenall, Andy Nyman, Emma Tate, Jack Paulson, Sean Connolly, Henry Burton, Dhimant Vyas, Sophie Laughton, Nia Medi James, Stanley Unwin, Nick Park

Where to watch

Max

Curator Review

Verdict

A charming, near-wordless stop-motion adventure with precise visual comedy, warm heart, and exceptional craft. It’s especially rewarding for viewers who like family films that play like elaborate silent-era farce rather than broad kid-only entertainment.

Best for

  • families looking for a genuinely funny all-ages movie
  • fans of stop-motion animation and tactile handmade craft
  • viewers who enjoy visual comedy and minimal dialogue
  • people who like gentle, upbeat adventure stories

Skip if

  • you need fast-paced dialogue-driven jokes
  • you dislike slapstick and physical comedy
  • you want high-stakes action over cozy escapism
  • you prefer glossy CGI over handcrafted animation

Overview

Shaun the Sheep Movie is a small miracle of comic staging. With almost no dialogue, it turns sheep, a farmer, and a city full of chaos into a chain of perfectly timed gags that feel both old-school and fresh. The movie trusts gesture, rhythm, and expression, and that confidence pays off in scene after scene of inventive visual storytelling.

Worth noting

What makes it especially satisfying is how much warmth sits underneath the silliness. The film is playful, but it never feels disposable; it has real affection for its characters and a soft undercurrent about home, work, and the absurdity of routine. The big-city detour gives the story enough momentum without losing the pastoral charm that defines the series.

Bottom line

This is one of those family films that adults can admire as craft while kids simply enjoy the mayhem. If you respond to handmade animation, silent-comedy timing, and a movie that can be both sweet and sharply funny, it’s an easy recommendation.

Top Letterboxd reviews

Alex IHE (5★) · 5755 likes

This is my Black Panther. This movie empowered me. It helped me get over my rejection from the female known as Wendolene who’d rather date a Chad instead of a true gentleman who would treat her well. Amazing cinematography and a great performance by Shaun, who has fortunately moved on from artsy-fartsy hipster trash like Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave. Films like Shaun the Sheep Movie are true art that often get misunderstood by filthy normies who watch WGCU kiddie movies instead of challenging, thought provoking kino like Southland Tales.

Paddington · 1816 likes

I know what it’s like to find oneself in a big city, far from home. Shaun handled it all rather well, though I do think things might have gone more smoothly if he’d written a polite note explaining himself.

maria (5★) · 1159 likes

i was going to call this the best movie i've seen this year, but honestly it might be the best movie i've ever seen in my entire life

DirkH (5★) · 755 likes

I watched this today with my four year old son. To say that this film entertained us both is an understatement. We were captivated throughout. The simplicity of the thing is key, the total dedication to the craft involved is paramount and the innocence it conveys is magical. It is a truly inventive film in how it finds its humour and relates its story without dialogue. I asked my son on the bus ride home what he thought about the… more

russman (4★) · 492 likes

A shear delight

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Topics

stop-motion, family adventure, silent comedy, slapstick, heartwarming, handmade animation, fish-out-of-water, all-ages, British animation, feel-good

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