Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (2026)

It’s a werewolf movie where the curse comes in a bottle of hair tonic, and the Farmer did it to himself. Shaun brews a potion to regrow the flock’s secret pumpkin patch, the Farmer mistakes it for a way to impress the town Vet, and suddenly he’s a shaggy Bigfoot lookalike with all of Mossingham chasing him into the woods. Even at a short 81 minutes, the story feels slim, and a couple of gags dip into lowbrow territory the rest of the film is too classy for. Everything else is a joy. Aardman’s handmade stop-motion is as sharp as it’s ever been, the jokes are quick and visual, and the whole thing is an affectionate spoof of old monster movies. Watching the flock try to snatch a crate off a cargo ship with a crane is pure silent comedy. An 8.4 because it’s clever and gentle and gets every age in the room laughing. $638 says you read the label on your shampoo bottle very carefully before your next shower.

What works: Aardman’s handmade stop-motion and quick visual gags are as sharp as ever, and the monster-movie spoof is full of affection.

What doesn’t: The story is slight, and a couple of lowbrow gags feel out of place in an otherwise clever, gentle film.

Who it’s for: Families who want a Halloween movie that’s spooky for a moment and funny the rest of the time.