---
title: "Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom"
fi1m_id: "shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom"
imdb_id: "tt36841161"
tmdb_id: 1477104
wikidata_id: "Q134694705"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-09-21"
updated: "2026-10-01T06:01:31.739644+00:00"
region: "NO"
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: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (2026)

Directed by Steve Cox, Matthew Walker · 1h 21m · Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure, Horror

## Identity

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom
- **IMDb ID:** tt36841161
- **TMDB ID:** 1477104
- **Wikidata ID:** Q134694705
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36841161/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1477104, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134694705

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 77 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* A monster film with no dialogue in which the real horror is the Farmer’s hairline

> Aardman’s third Shaun the Sheep feature drops the flock into an old monster film and gets steady laughs out of it for 81 minutes. It is a long episode of the television programme, which is no bad thing, and it is not more than that.

## Synopsis

Autumn has come to Mossy Bottom Farm. The leaves are down, the pumpkins are swelling, and Shaun (Justin Fletcher) is bored enough to start a prank. The Farmer (John Sparkes) has his own preoccupation, which is his hairline, and a bottle of hair-growth tonic ends up somewhere it should not. By nightfall something large and shaggy is loose on the hill above the farm, and a rumour of a beast spreads to the village. Bitzer (John Sparkes), the sheepdog, is supposed to keep order. Timmy (Justin Fletcher), the smallest lamb, is supposed to stay where he is put and does not. There is a vet (Nina Sosanya) to be kept away from the barn. Shaun, who started all this, has to work out what the beast is, keep the flock calm and stop the humans finding out, without anyone saying a word.

## Review

This is the third time Shaun has been let out of the television programme and into a cinema, and the first time for his directors. Steve Cox and Matthew Walker make their feature debuts, working from a script by Giles Pilbrow and Mark Burton. The idea is simple and good: put the flock inside a monster film. It is 81 minutes long, it carries a U certificate, and it made us laugh more often than most comedies that use words. It is also a long episode, and we would not tell anyone who has never warmed to Shaun that this will change their mind.

Nobody speaks. Nobody ever has: the Farmer (John Sparkes) grumbles in syllables that are not quite English, Bitzer barks and sighs, and the sheep get everything across with their eyebrows. A horror spoof suits this. The old Universal pictures, [*Frankenstein*](https://film.one/film/frankenstein) and *The Wolf Man* above all, were half silent anyway: a shadow on a wall, a hand on a doorknob, a face at a window. Cox and Walker borrow those pictures and let the audience supply the scream.

Charles Copping lights the farm at night the way those films were lit, with hard, angled shadows, mist held low over the field and a single torch beam wobbling across the yard. It is handsome work, and it is also a joke, because the thing casting the shadow is usually a sheep standing on another sheep. Natalie Holt’s score uses shivering strings and an organ for the beast, builds each entrance as if it were the real thing, and cuts the music dead the moment the joke lands. Her timing is as good as the animators’.

The gags come fast and most of them land. There are signs in the village with terrible puns on them, which we still read to the end every time. The best material is the smallest. Bitzer’s ears drop a beat after the rest of him has understood bad news, and that beat is funnier than anything in the film with a chase in it. Timmy (Justin Fletcher) is exactly where he has been told not to be, and Timmy’s Mum (Kate Harbour) wears a look of coming doom we recognised from our own kitchen. We laughed out loud four or five times, and each time it was a face rather than an event that did it.

What does not work is the shape. The plot exists to carry the gags, and by the middle it has settled into a loop: the beast is seen, the humans panic, the flock covers it up, repeat. The third pass is less funny than the first. The humans beyond the farm are single jokes with famous voices attached. Dani Dyer grunts as an influencer, Roman Kemp grunts as a pizza boy, Paul Whitehouse grunts as a shopkeeper, and the casting is the joke. The pace sags for a stretch before the finale, which we will not describe, and which is loud, inventive and longer than it needs to be.

The obvious comparison is [*Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit), which put a monster in an English village and gave it a vegetable competition, a romance and a rival. This has the vegetables, a small love story on the side, and less else. Shaun wants the beast dealt with and the Farmer none the wiser, which is enough for 81 minutes and would not have been for a hundred. Most critics have been warmer than we are; we agree about the craft and notice the ceiling.

Take a child if you have one and go anyway if you do not. It is short, it is kind, it frightens nobody for longer than a second, and it makes a good case for turning the lights off early and pretending it is already October.

*Fi1m score 77, published 21 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, and the reviews are close to unanimous: twelve of thirteen are positive and none is negative. The praise clusters on the gags. Reviewers return to the sight gags, the horror-film references and the wordless, silent-comedy storytelling, and several find Aardman’s stop-motion craft as sharp as ever. Time Out calls it the funniest of the three Shaun features, and Digital Spy finds its mix of silliness for children and horror nods for adults close to perfect.

The reservations are mild and cluster on story. Slant Magazine feels the plot is mostly a hook for parodies and plays like a stretched television episode; RogerEbert.com finds the pace occasionally off and thinks it falls short of the first two films; The AV Club calls it too mild to reach beyond its young audience. The Observer, the one mixed review, grants the crisp timing but finds the formula showing. The spread is narrow: nobody dislikes it, and the argument is only over how much it adds.

## Straight answers

**Is Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom worth watching?**

*Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom* is worth watching for families and for anyone already fond of the flock, and we scored it 77. It puts the sheep inside an old monster film and gets steady laughs for 81 minutes without a word of dialogue. It is a long episode of the television programme, and it will not convert anyone who has never warmed to Shaun.

**How long is Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, and what is it rated?**

*Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom* runs 1h 21m. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom in Norway?**

*Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom* is not on any streaming or rental service in Norway at the moment. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, and is it suitable for children?**

*Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom* carries a U certificate in the UK and frightens nobody for longer than a second. The horror is a spoof: shadows on walls, mist over the field and shivering strings, with the joke landing before any scare can. Small children should be fine, and the squeamish have nothing to fear.

**How does Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom compare to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit?**

*Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom* is the slighter of the two, and [*Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit) is the better film. Both put a monster in an English village, but the earlier film gives it a vegetable competition, a romance and a rival, while Shaun's plot settles into a loop of sightings and cover-ups. Choose Shaun for younger children and shorter attention spans.

**What should I watch after Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom?**

After *Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom*, try [*Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit*](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit) (2005, Fi1m 87): The same studio’s monster-in-a-village joke, with a plot to go with the puns. Then [*Shaun the Sheep Movie*](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie) (2015, Fi1m 80): The flock’s first outing, and the one that gives Shaun the most to want; and [*ParaNorman*](https://film.one/film/paranorman) (2012, Fi1m 76): American stop-motion horror for children, sharper-edged and a good deal sadder.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (90/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a drolly amusing delight, just as charming as its predecessors, with droll British humor and stop-motion animation. They single out the witty visual and sound gags and the understated style for praise. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-1236697667/)
- **Empire**, John Nugent (85/100, inferred): The critic praises the third Shaun the Sheep feature as a daft and delightful horror pastiche with admirable commitment to silliness, clever gags for all ages, and Aardman’s signature stop-motion craft remaining sharp. It highlights the warm, witty direction in the feature debuts of Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, confirming the studio’s enduring quality. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom/)
- **Radio Times**, Laura Rutkowski (4/5): The review calls it the biggest Flockload of fun for the franchise, commending the ambitious horror-themed story, technical artistry, plenty of gags, and Shaun’s character growth as a confident leader. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review/)
- **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The critic describes it as another delightful stop-motion family charmer packed with gags, pop culture references, loveable characters and a sweet love story, noting its warmth, solid construction and awards potential. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-aardmans-halloween-adventure-is-a-spooky-stop-motion-delight/5220502.article)
- **The Guardian** (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it an excellent family film full of top visual gags, throwaway references and clever writing. They single out the sharp, smart script and the sheep's expressive faces and ingenuity in the pumpkin and hair-growth mishap plot. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/13/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-aardman)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): The critic praises this as Aardman’s delightful and funniest Shaun the Sheep big-screen outing yet, highlighting the wordless storytelling, rapid-fire sight gags, movie references, and puns as the film’s great strengths. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-2026)
- **Variety**, Guy Lodge (80/100, inferred): The critic highlights the film's energetic, ingenuous slapstick, high joke hit rate, and consistent charm across the franchise, calling it an ebulliently daft autumnal escapade perfectly suited for young audiences. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-1236866749/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's clever visual gags, physical humor, and silent comedy roots but notes that the pace feels slightly off at times and it does not quite match the standards of the previous two features. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-movie-review-2026)
- **Slant Magazine** (70/100, inferred): The plot serves mainly as a vehicle for gags and parodies of horror films. The Aardman stop-motion remains marvelously detailed, with inventive sight gags and references, though the story feels like an extended TV episode. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review/)
- **The AV Club**, Jacob Oller (B-): The film is a charming, fun-sized Halloween trifle that introduces kids to classic horror through stop-motion comedy. The critic praises the silly Universal Monsters imagery and tactile stop-motion style but notes it's too mild for crossover appeal. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-aardman-stop-motion-halloween)
- **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint is available from the page text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/movies/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review.html)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/3/3): Jenkins finds it a charming but overly familiar sequel that does not justify its existence. He praises the slapstick invention and cheerful set-pieces, especially the village high-street scene. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom)
- **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (60/100, inferred): The critic describes it as a playfully genre-literate monster-movie pastiche with sly horror references and crisply timed visual humour. They note it is formulaic but fun. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-films-of-the-week-resident-evil-queen-at-sea-shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom)
- **Digital Spy**, Ian Sandwell (5/5): The critic calls it a perfect early Halloween treat for families, praising its blend of silly humor for younger viewers and clever horror nods for adults. They single out the expert visual storytelling and sight gags in the dialogue-free stop-motion animation. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a73653729/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review/)
- **Collider**, Charlie Ridgely (9/10): The critic calls the film an absolute delight and a future family Halloween classic that blends classic monster movie tropes with Aardman's signature silent comedy and charm. They single out the skillful stop-motion animation and well-crafted homages to films like Frankenstein and The Wolf Man for praise. [Read](https://collider.com/shaun-the-sheep-movie-beast-of-mossy-bottom-review-aardman-wallace-gromit/)

## Details

- **Director:** Steve Cox, Matthew Walker
- **Director:** Steve Cox, Matthew Walker
- **Writer:** Mark Burton, Giles Pilbrow
- **Cinematography:** Charles Copping
- **Music:** Natalie Holt
- **Producer:** Richard Beek
- **Cast:** Justin Fletcher as Shaun / Timmy (voice); John Sparkes as The Farmer / Bitzer (voice); Kate Harbour as Timmy's Mum (voice); Simon Greenall as Twins (voice); Nina Sosanya as Vet (voice); Paul Whitehouse as Shop Keeper (voice); Roman Kemp as Pizza Boy (voice); Dani Dyer as Influencer (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 21m
- **First release (Hungary):** 11 September 2026
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure, Horror
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daZMq0AyOMc

## Where to watch in Norway

Not streaming, renting or buying in Norway at the last check.

## If you liked this

- *Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* (2005), Fi1m 87: The same studio’s monster-in-a-village joke, with a plot to go with the puns — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/wallace-and-gromit-the-curse-of-the-were-rabbit.md)
- *Frankenstein* (1931): The shadows and torch-bearing villagers this film is quoting, played entirely straight
- *Shaun the Sheep Movie* (2015), Fi1m 80: The flock’s first outing, and the one that gives Shaun the most to want — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-movie.md)
- *ParaNorman* (2012), Fi1m 76: American stop-motion horror for children, sharper-edged and a good deal sadder — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/paranorman.md)
- *Monsieur Hulot's Holiday* (1953), Fi1m 86: Where wordless comedy of this kind comes from; every gag built on a face — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/monsieur-hulots-holiday.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/shaun-the-sheep-the-beast-of-mossy-bottom