GOAT has finally released in theatres. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the action-packed animated sports fable stars Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, and Stephen Curry, among many others. Released on the big screens on February 20, 2026, the movie is directed by Tyree Dillihay and written by Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley. With a runtime of 99-minutes and 43-seconds, the movie focuses on the story of a goat, who dreams of joining the Roarball team and playing with his role model a with his role model, a black panther.
Based in the world of anthropomorphic animals, the movie starts with a young Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin), a goat, going to a Roarball game (basketball) along with his mother. Smitten by the gameplay of his role model and Vineland Thorns’ star player Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), a blank pather, he decides he wants to be just like her. As a decade passes, we get to know that Will’s mother has sadly passed away, and he lives paycheck-to-paycheck, working in a diner his mother used to work at as a delivery boy. He continues to practice for Roarball when he faces off against Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), an Andalusian horse who is the lead player of a rival team, Lava Coast Magma. While he loses, the video of their fight goes viral, making Will a neighbourhood favourite.
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On the other hand, it is seen that Jett approaches Florence Everson, aka Flo (Jenifer Lewis), a warthog who is the owner of the Vineland Thorns, and asks her to hire a sixth player for the team, which consists of Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan), an ostrich, Archie Everhardt (David Harbour), an Indian rhinoceros, Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll), a Komodo dragon, and Lenny Williamson (Stephen Curry), a giraffe.
Getting to know about his fame, Flo hires Will to be Vineland Thorns’ sixth player, much to Jett’s chagrin. The movie goes on to focus on how Will forms a bond with the entire team, bringing them together, so that they can win the Claw.
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Frankly speaking, I loved the film. It was entertaining, kept me hooked to the plot and invested in the bond formed by the Vineland Thorns after Will’s arrival, and was wholeheartedly pure. While it’s not easy to get the mannerisms of certain animals correctly, it shows how the makers of the film put effort into building each character. From the mannerisms of the animals to the background score and how the film was designed, the movie is a pleasant watch.
While the movie is just like any other underdog success film, what makes it stand apart is the music, the concept of roarball, played on courts which depict seasons. Each court offers its own challenges, forcing the players to coordinate with each other, reminding them that it is a team game.
GOAT is not only a film made for the kids, but also for the adults. There are so many instances in the film which you can relate to. Be it keeping your hobbies and aspirations close to you, or missing the glorious past where you once used to succeed, not to mention when one loses sight of people who always support them as time goes by.
However, one thing that irked me was the climax bit; it seemed too easy for Jett to get back together with the rest of the team, who were stuck doing things they didn’t like as much.
All in all, the movie is an entertaining watch. There won’t be even a moment when you feel bored. Go watch it with your friends, kids, or even your special someone in theatres near you.
