--- title: "Shaun the Sheep Movie: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 23 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Shaun the Sheep Movie (2015): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 23 reviews: 19 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics are won over. Nineteen of the twenty-three reviews are positive and none is negative, and the praise lands in the same two places: the handmade stop-motion animation, with its detailed sets and expressive, small-scale acting, and the decision to tell the whole story without dialogue. Several reviewers treat the wordless slapstick as the film’s chief virtue, arguing that it sharpens the comic timing and gives the quiet emotional beats more weight. Many add that adults will enjoy it at least as much as children. The reservations are mild and cluster around the story. A handful of critics find it thin, episodic or overlong, and some think it delivers fewer big laughs than Aardman’s earlier features. The Hollywood Reporter is the most doubtful, finding the plot woolly and questioning how far the film reaches beyond its existing fans, and Paste thinks it too pleasant for its own good. The spread is narrow: even the mixed reviews call it charming. ## IndieWire — Charles Solomon Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2015. Solomon praises the film as an original, engaging family feature and a welcome respite from talk-heavy Hollywood animation. He singles out the subtle, expressive stop-motion acting and its ability to tell the story without dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-shaun-the-sheep-movie-123193/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2015. Turan finds the film playful, absurd, and endearingly inventive, with appeal for adults as well as children. He especially praises its sustained visual comedy, including gags that continue through the end credits. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-shaun-sheep-review-20150805-column.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 August 2015. Ebiri calls the film a winning kids’ movie and a sly artistic manifesto, praising its wisdom and humanity. He singles out the dialogue-free storytelling for adding urgency and making small emotional moments resonate. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2015/08/movie-review-shaun-the-sheep.html) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 February 2015. O'Sullivan gives the film a warm, enthusiastic verdict, praising its ability to delight both adults and children. She singles out its dialogue-free storytelling and emotional warmth, comparing its exhilaration favorably with Babe: Pig In The City. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie-film-review-10028921.html) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2015. Festival review. Lodge finds the film a sweet-natured delight that should entertain children and adults alike. He especially praises its detailed stop-motion design and wordless physical comedy. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-shaun-the-sheep-movie-1201411394/) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2015. Thomas finds the film charming and tightly packed, with a smaller scale that suits its world. He particularly praises the stop-motion animation and its superb physical comedy. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shaun-sheep-movie-review/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 4/4/4. 6 February 2015. The review finds the film effortlessly charming and a strong showcase for Aardman. It praises the stop-motion craftsmanship, attention to detail and visual humour. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-movie) ## Radio Times — Jamie Healy Rating 4/5. The critic describes the film as a fun-packed Aardman adventure. They praise its lively mischief and comic escapades. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-amwcgh/shaun-the-sheep-movie/) ## The Guardian — Andrew Pulver Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2015. Pulver finds the film a charming, successful extension of the television series. He praises Aardman’s beautifully rendered stop-motion and its generous, inclusive vision of contemporary England. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/26/shaun-the-sheep-the-movie-review-aardman-have-woolly-mammoth-hit-as-on-the-lamb) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 2 February 2015. Calhoun gives the film a positive four-star assessment. He highlights Aardman's ability to turn industrial amounts of material into an irresistible movie. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shaun-the-sheep-the-movie) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B. 6 August 2015. Hassenger finds the film gentle and amusing, though a lesser effort than Aardman’s best work. He praises its quiet, dialogue-light slapstick and the playful farm-side characters. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/animation-fans-may-enjoy-the-relative-silence-of-aardma-1798184552) ## Slant Magazine — Elise Nakhnikian Rating 3/4. 3 August 2015. The critic finds the film warmly inventive but somewhat overlong and predictable. She praises its tactile, expressive Claymation and lively visual gags. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie/) ## Screen Daily — Mark Adams Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2015. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. No specific element of praise or complaint is available in the visible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/shaun-the-sheep-movie/5082138.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 5 August 2015. The review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible page. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/movies/review-in-shaun-the-sheep-movie-a-flock-heads-to-the-city-to-find-its-farmer.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 24 January 2015. Festival review. Felperin finds the film warm and amusing but somewhat woolly in its story and limited in crossover appeal. She praises the tactile animation and comic set pieces, while noting that the episodes do not always cohere into a satisfying narrative. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/shaun-sheep-movie-sundance-review-766037/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 August 2015. Hammond gives the film an exuberant, strongly positive verdict, calling it a comic gem for audiences of all ages. He especially praises its mostly silent humor and the laughs it draws without relying on celebrity voice performances. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2015/08/shaun-the-sheep-review-shear-animated-genius-from-the-oscar-winning-aardman-1201490247/) ## Consequence — Don R. Lewis Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2015. The critic strongly recommends the film as clever, funny family entertainment. They especially praise its near-silent storytelling and claymation gags, while criticizing a potentially discouraging message about improving one’s circumstances. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2015/08/film-review-shaun-the-sheep-movie/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2015. The critic finds the feature-length expansion charming, witty, and full of invention. They especially praise its carefully timed visual gags and the warmth that gives the modest-scale story heart. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a626731/shaun-the-sheep-the-movie-review-home-is-where-the-heart-is-for-aardman/) ## HeyUGuys — Aleyha Ahmed Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 February 2015. Ahmed gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it a timeless Aardman classic with plenty of heart. She praises its silent slapstick comedy and clever film references, while noting that some younger viewers may find the lack of dialogue challenging. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/shaun-the-sheep-movie-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 2015. The critic finds the film delightful, buoyant entertainment, though its story is not especially memorable. They praise its steady stream of inspired gags and the joy of its dialogue-free pantomime, while faulting the soundtrack’s songs. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/shaun-the-sheep-review-wallace-and-gromit-spin-off-aardman-richard-starzak-mark-burton/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4 out of 5. 30 January 2015. Brew finds the film charming, skillfully made family entertainment, even if it delivers fewer big laughs than some earlier Aardman films. He especially praises the painstakingly staged physical comedy and expressive animation. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/shaun-the-sheep-the-movie-review/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 February 2015. The critic finds the film charming and entertaining despite its slight story. They especially praise the lovely stop-motion animation and the detailed sets. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/shaun-the-sheep-the-movie-2015-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## Paste — Tim Grierson Rating 6.9/10. 3 August 2015. Grierson finds the film charming and witty, but overly pleasant and somewhat overlong. He praises Aardman’s handmade animation and deadpan visual humor, while faulting the thin narrative and repetitive pacing. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/shaun-the-sheep-movie) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie.md