‘GOAT’ assessment: Stephen Curry, Jelly Roll amongst A-list forged in enjoyable animated movie

Move over “Zootopia 2,” there is a new king of the jungle — and it is a goat.

“GOAT” is the most recent movie from Sony Pictures Animation starring an precise goat named Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin of “Stranger Things” fame) who goals of being a “roarball” participant — basketball however with way more depth— and desires to play within the large leagues regardless of being a small animal (he considers himself “medium”).

Since he was a younger child (pun supposed), Will has idolized Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), an all-star black panther who performs on Vineland’s hometown workforce the Thorns, besides they’ve had a dismal shedding streak in recent times.

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Will (Caleb McLaughlin) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s “GOAT.” (© 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Hoping to maneuver on from his job as a supply goat for Whiskers Diner, Will steps as much as problem Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), a stallion MVP roarball participant on a rival workforce, for a recreation of one-on-one. Despite Mane’s final victory, Will’s valiant effort was sufficient to make him go viral and be a magnet for the warthog Thorns proprietor Florence Everson (Jenifer Lewis), who desperately desires to generate buzz for her workforce. News of the brand new recruit doesn’t sit effectively with Jett, insisting Will is just too small to play whereas fearing the murmurs of her glory days being behind her are literally true.

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Florence (Jenifer Lewis) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ “GOAT.” (Sony Pictures Animation © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

It shortly turns into a conflict of personalities between Will and Jett, who’re among the many now-six gamers on the Thorns — the opposite 4 being the rapping giraffe Lenny Williamson (actual life NBA all-star Stephen Curry), the phone-obsessed ostrich Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan), the devoted rhino father of two daughters Archie Everhard (David Harbour) and the off-the-wall wacky Komodo dragon Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll). Also with them is their not-so-helpful long-nosed monkey coach Dennis (Patton Oswalt).

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From left, Modo (Nick Kroll), Lenny (Stephen Curry), Will (Caleb McLaughlin), Olivia (Nicola Coughlan), Jett (Gabrielle Union) and Archie (David Harbour) in “GOAT.” (Sony Pictures Animation © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Other notable members of the spectacular voice forged embody Jenifer Hudson, Sherry Cola, Andrew Santino, Wayne Knight, Adam Pally, music celebrity Jelly Roll, together with a handful of voice cameos from basketball giants like Dwyane Wade, Angel Reese, Kevin Love, A’ja Wilson and Andre Iguodala.

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Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Jett (Gabrielle Union) in “GOAT.” (Sony Pictures Animation © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Sony Pictures Animation continues to be licking its wounds for promoting its movie rights of “KPop Demon Hunters” to Netflix. Fortunately for the studio, they’ve one other high-quality franchise on its arms with “GOAT.” Not solely is it genuinely humorous, it is also obtained a variety of coronary heart.

Hats off to the comparatively contemporary expertise who lead “GOAT,” which was directed by Tyree Dillihay, co-directed by Adam Rosette with Nicolas Curcio and Peter Chiarelli, who’ve developed the story, in addition to Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley, who wrote the screenplay. Stephen Curry is notably among the many credited producers.

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Will (Caleb McLaughlin) goes for a dunk “GOAT.” (Sony Pictures Animation © 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

The Verdict

“GOAT” is probably not the best of all time, but it surely’s an early contender to be among the many stronger animated choices of 2026. With loads of laughs and a feel-good story, it is a enjoyable time for the entire household.

★★★ ½ — SEE IT NOW

“GOAT” is rated PG for some impolite humor and temporary delicate language. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes. In theaters now.

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