Following its worldwide success Spider-Verse movies and KPop: Demon Hunters, Sony Pictures Animation continues to rewrite the ‘tons of rules and deliver another imaginative and game-changing winner with GOAT, a fun and visually appealing animated feature about a goat with an impossible dream of joining the big teams in Roarball, an interactive game where giant animals of all kinds wipe out the competition in every way imaginable. Considering four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry is one of the producers here it doesn’t take long to see this basketball-inspired comedy even though it features all-animal characters instead of hoops superstars. Space Jam. It comes on the heels of the world record breaking game of zootopia 2, The timing couldn’t be better for another creature feature that should have audiences of all ages leading the way.
Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin), since he was a baby goat is full of big ambitions but lives in a world of animals that separates “big” and “small” according to football players and those who wish to be accepted in the game that makes stars with tigers, white bears, giraffes, komonosfer dragons, komonosfer dragon. These animals use their unique talents and bodies to excel in the sport of Roarball. Will’s mother always encouraged him to follow his heart, but he can’t get enough attention as the story jumps 10 years and we see that he has the talent given by the goat to succeed in the game, not just the odds. But no one in charge takes him seriously, most of all the star of the Vineland Thorns team he hopes to make. That would be a queen bee, actually tiger named Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union) who has won everything but actual championships in his storied career, the highly coveted CLAW (think championship ring) but turns his nose up at the thought of playing with this lowly goat.
Will is determined to prove his worth and actually takes Jett on a personal trial to prove that he can do anything – and better. Called to show his stuff in Roarball programs involving foreign talents, he really proves that he has what it takes, an unexpected addition to the list and as an underdog who can bring the crowd to his side and, in the eyes of the club’s double owner Flo Emerson (Jenifer Lewis) others. money. But how will he fit into this team that is not only led by the arrogant Jett, but also the unknown Komodo Dragon named Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll), the girls’ father Rhino named Archie Everheart (David Harbour), MVP Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), the Ostrich Olivia Tallgiraugh Olivia Tallgiraugh (portrayed by Curry) and the hapless ignored coach Cooper (Patton Oswalt)?
All of this is set in a fictional Roarball league built around the fastest, most impressive, largest animals in the world that use 2 paws, 4 paws, long tongues, tails, claws, hooves, and everything else in between in this brutal contact game that goes beyond the field to dripping vines, sheets of snow and other forms of nature placed in their path to score three points. It’s also the usual world of fancy sneakers, hip hop music, lots of singing and other colorful additions to this universe.
Director Tyree Dillihay, and director Adam Rosette have made sure that the visual style is there to match the swag and there are hints of CGI, 2D animation, Anime influences during the big game sequences that are really fun, and all kinds of innovation to feel like we are there on the field with this ragtag group aiming to win one Jett at last. The script credited to Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley (with a story by Nicolas Curcio and Peter Chiarelli) is full of wit and heart, and an authenticity basketball fans will recognize, animated or not. The McLaughlin-led cast is also stellar, and includes cameos from Jennifer Hudson to Jelly Roll.
Producers are Curry, Michelle Raimo Kouyate, Erick Peyton, Adam Rosenberg, and Rodney Rothman
Title: GOAT
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Release date: February 13, 2026
Director: Tyree Dillihay
Screenplay: Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley; Story by Nicolas Curcio and Peter Chiarelli
Actors: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Nicola, Coughlan, Nick Kroll, David Harbour, Stephen Curry, Aaron Pierre, Patton Oswalt, Jenifer Lewis, Jennifer Hudson, Jelly Roll, Ayesha Curry, Andrew Santino, Bobby Lee, Sherry Cola and Eduardo Franco
Rating: PG
Working time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
