We all have dreams. Often, it takes a lot of work and a lot of patience to realize those dreams. But if you stay locked in, you’re ready to take advantage when the opportunity arises. That’s certainly a thought that’s at the heart of the new animated film Goat, which is now playing nationwide.

The film is a sports movie of sorts. It’s set in a world populated by animals where the biggest sport is Roar Ball, a take off on basketball. The film comes from producer Stephen Curry, who voices a character in the film, and is focused on a young goat that dreams of starring on the court. But he’s deemed too small, and his dream dismissed—by everyone but him.

We begin with a young Will as his mother (Jennifer Hudson) takes him to see his favorite team, The Thorns, in person. His favorite player is Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), the league’s biggest star. He’s enraptured with what he sees and knows in his heart one day he’ll play with Jett for the Thorns.

Flash-forward 10 years and Will (Caleb McLaughlin) is still working hard every day to hone his game. But he’s often dismissed due to his small size. The league is for bigger, stronger creatures. So, Will, whose mother has passed, works delivering food for a local diner, waiting for his chance. His finances aren’t what he hopes and he’s teetering on the edge of seeing his dream slip away.

When a flashy league star, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), is battling all comers on a local court, Will risks his rent money for a shot at glory. He puts on a good show before ultimately coming up short. Out of a house, he’s ready to set his dream aside. But footage of him taking Mane Attraction to the limit goes viral, leading the owner of the Thorns (Jenifer Lewis) to give him a contract as a marketing stunt.

His addition to the roster doesn’t sit well with a veteran Jett, who is trying to capture her first title before her career ends. Can Will and his steely optimism defrost Jett enough to get her to let him help guide the Thorns to the top?

We have seen a lot of different takes on sports movies. Goat falls into some familiar sports movie tropes about young players, crusty veterans, a miserable owner, and trying to win the title against all odds. The twist here is the kind of characters, the world, and the format. All that works in its favor to make it feel like something a little fresh and different.

The film moves along at a good pace. I liked the story, and I liked the look of how the whole thing comes together. It’s visually fun, especially with the unique courts and the way they put the Roar Ball sequences together. I had a lot of fun watching it all play out, even if the story is somewhat predictable.

The film also has an amazing cast. In addition to Union and McLaughlin, who are a lot of fun, we get David Harbour, Curry, Ayesha Curry, Nick Croll, Nicola Coughlin, and Patton Oswalt, among others. It’s a loaded group that all seems to be having fun with the story.

Goat is the first big, animated film of 2026, and it should be a hit with audiences of all ages. It’s a fun story with a strong look and a decent message about never giving up on your dreams and learning to lean on your teammates. It’s worth checking out.

Goat is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.