Goat (2026)
Directed by: Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette
Premise: An animated film set a world of talking animals. A goat (voice of Caleb McLaughlin) dreams of playing professional basketball. He’s given a chance but must overcome his small size and the contempt of the team’s veteran player (voice of Gabrielle Union)
What Works: Goat generally succeeds as a fast paced, family-oriented sports film. The main attraction is the basketball action and Goat is kinetic and fun. This is a Sony Pictures Animation production and that studio has adopted a specific animation style seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters. That same style is employed in Goat and it gives the skin and fur of the animal characters a vivid visual texture. The version of basketball played in this imaginary world is very physical and the basketball sequences have furious energy. The outstanding quality of Goat is the world building. We’ve seen animal cities before but instead of the cutesy world of Zootopia, the urban spaces of Goat have a grit and worn imperfection that creates credibility. Goat is partly about the relationship between a community and their sports team and the way sports incite local pride. This idea gives the game some extra stakes and the visual conception of this world is key to making that idea work.
What Doesn’t: Goat is shown theatrically in 3-D. Stereoscopy requires a slower filmmaking pace so that the viewer’s eyes can adjust to each shot. The editing and action of Goat are very fast which spoils the effect. The story of Goat works through the standard sports film boiler plate. As in so many of these movies, a motley crew of misfits must come together against a well-heeled competitor. Every turn in the action feels obligatory and preordained. There’s no tension or surprise in Goat. The film doesn’t settle on a clear protagonist. The story unfolds from Will’s point of view but despite being an underdog he’s not an interesting character. Will has no character flaws and he’s a star player from the start; Will doesn’t grow at all as a character. Goat is really the story of Jett, the veteran player who must learn to let go of controlling the team. Her story is interesting but Jett comes across as a supporting character and the film feels caught between Will and Jett. Goat is very much a movie of 2026 especially in its slang and cultural references. That’s not necessarily bad but it’s so specific to this moment that it will age very quickly.
Bottom Line: Goat is a routine sports film distinguished by a unique visual style. There are no surprises here. The story is predictable but there is enough humor and action to satisfy its intended audience.
Episode: #1089 (March 1, 2026)