- Studio: Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation
- Voice Cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nicola Coughlan, Nick Kroll, David Harbour, Jenifer Lewis, Aaron Pierre, Patton Oswalt, Andrew Santino, Bobby Lee, Eduardo Franco, Sherry Cola, Jelly Roll, Jennifer Hudson
- Music: Kris Bowers
- Cinematography: John Clark
- Producers: Michelle Raimo Kouyate, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Adam Rosenberg, Rodney Rothman
- Screenplay: Aaron Buchsbaum & Teddy Riley
- Director: Tyree Dillihay
- Duration: 100 minutes
Goat (2026) tells the story of Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin) — a young goat with a big dream of becoming a professional “roarball” player, a high-intensity sport inspired by basketball and contested entirely by animals. As a child, Will idolized Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), one of the greatest roarball players in history, and vowed to play alongside her someday. A decade later, however, Will’s life hasn’t gone according to plan: he’s struggling financially, living in a cramped garage, and falling behind on rent.
Despite hardship, Will continues training obsessively whenever he can. When Mane (Aaron Pierre), a top player, shows up looking for easy competition at a local court, Will unexpectedly outplays him — a moment caught on video that goes viral. This leads to a surprising opportunity: the owner of Jett’s team, the Thorns, sees potential in Will and offers him a spot on the roster.
There’s nothing particularly new about this narrative — it’s the classic tale of the underdog with a special gift fighting for a chance to belong and succeed. What matters here is how the story is told, and director Tyree Dillihay leans heavily on vibrant animation and dynamic world-building to bring it to life. The settings mix urban environments with wild, jungle-like spaces, giving the film a rougher, more energetic feel than some other animal-based animated features such as “Zootopia.”
Predictability permeates Goat, from the opening scenes to the tension inside the Thorns’ locker room. Will faces resistance, the team experiences setbacks, and their championship hopes are threatened. Alongside this familiar structure, the film balances themes of teamwork, self-confidence, and embracing individual strengths with genuine warmth — especially for younger viewers — and includes plenty of playful references that NBA fans will enjoy.
For some, the movie may feel reminiscent of classics like “Space Jam,” combining familiar elements of sports, humor, and talking animals for pure entertainment. And given that audiences often seek fun and excitement from animated films, Goat delivers plenty of that.
Rating
Overall: Good
There’s no Oscar buzz for this film, but Sony Pictures Animation should enjoy its release and build momentum — especially if they follow it up creatively after successes like *KPop Demon Hunters* (2025).
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