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Sheep in the Box

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Sheep in the Box PG In Theaters Jul 24 2h 6m Drama Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
48% Tomatometer 31 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
In the near future, Otone and Kensuke, a grieving couple who have lost their son, take into their lives a humanoid identical to their late child.
Coming Soon In Theaters Jul 24 Buy Tickets
Sheep in the Box

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A rare disappointment from director Hirokazu Koreeda, Sheep in the Box is a muted domestic drama whose rumination on artificial intelligence could have used more of the filmmaker's characteristic humanity.

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Critics Reviews

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Justin Chang The New Yorker May 28
Kore-eda’s restraint has rarely felt more robotic. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian May 21
2/5
The story is misconceived and Kore-eda’s quietist, un-emphasised style doesn’t suit it. Go to Full Review
Owen Gleiberman Variety May 18
Kore-eda’s attitude toward what he’s showing us is so lackluster and noncommittal that it’s hard to know how to react to any of it. Go to Full Review
Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film Jun 9
2.5/5
Suffers from an underdeveloped subplot and over-indulged length. Go to Full Review
James Hadfield Japan Times May 29
2/5
“Sheep in the Box” is full of symbols and subplots that go nowhere, culminating in an improbably heartwarming ending that pours some Spielbergian syrup over the whole concoction. Go to Full Review
Vanessa Thorpe Observer (UK) May 28
[Kore-eda] conducts his own hi-tech thought experiment in grief at an alarmingly slow pace. The sensitivity of his approach eventually feels like being clubbed on the head with artistic restraint. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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bits T @RT68542931 Jun 29 It was tough sitting through the movie. Lengthy, boring and honestly going nowhere. See more Read all reviews

Movie Info

Synopsis In the near future, Otone and Kensuke, a grieving couple who have lost their son, take into their lives a humanoid identical to their late child.
Director
Hirokazu Koreeda
Producer
Kaoru Matsuzaki, Megumi Banse
Screenwriter
Hirokazu Koreeda
Distributor
NEON
Production Co
AOI Pro
Rating
PG (Thematic Material|A Brief Bloody Image|Some Language|Smoking)
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2026, Limited
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)