Sony’s new animated film is turning into the best of all time for a Stranger Issues star.
Following the huge success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix, the studio set its eyes on its subsequent huge launch with GOAT, starring Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, and David Harbour. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and primarily based on Chris Tougas’ Funky Dunks, the sports activities film follows a goat named Will who desires of turning into a roarball participant come true, however the underdog should overcome the challenges and show that “smalls can ball!”
Forward of its launch, GOAT obtained largely optimistic evaluations from critics, which in the end led to a strong 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences not solely agree, however they’re additionally reacting overwhelmingly to the brand new Sony film, which now has a robust 93% Popcornmeter on the positioning.
The GOAT’s viewers rating breaks a number of Rotten Tomatoes information for the forged, because it simply turns into the highest-rated film for Union (tied with One thing the Lord Made) and McLaughlin. Basically, the brand new film can be the highest-rated undertaking for McLaughlin, even surpassing viewers’ reception for Stranger Issues, which has an 83% Popcornmeter.
McLaughlin is greatest identified for starring as Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Issues and featured in all 5 seasons. This marks the star’s first undertaking to launch in simply two months after the hit Netflix present ended this previous December. GOAT additionally marks a Stranger Issues reunion between him and David Harbour, who performed Hopper. The younger actor has featured in six motion pictures since his publicity on the sequence.
Earlier than GOAT’s launch, his best-rated film with audiences was The Guide of Clarence, which holds an 80%. The Sony film obtained optimistic evaluations from critics and audiences alike, with reward for the feel-good underdog story, colourful visible results, and the voice performances from McLaughlin.
|
Each Caleb McLaughlin Film |
Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Rating |
Rotten Tomatoes Viewers Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Excessive Flying Fowl (2019) |
91% |
49% |
|
Concrete Cowboy (2020) |
80% |
70% |
|
Capturing Stars (2023) |
54% |
69% |
|
The Guide of Clarence (2023) |
65% |
80% |
|
The Deliverance (2024) |
34% |
39% |
|
GOAT (2026) |
80% |
93% |
The optimistic evaluations could have performed a think about GOAT’s field workplace consequence, particularly since that is Sony Photos Animation’s first film to get a theatrical launch in three years. Their final film to go to theaters was the acclaimed Spider-Man: Throughout the Spider-Verse, which turned a $690.8 million hit.
Nonetheless, the next animations, KPop Demon Hunters and Mounted, went straight to streaming on Netflix. KPop Demon Hunters turned a shock sensation for Netflix and Sony, breaking a number of streaming information and presently holding the title because the streamer’s Most Fashionable undertaking ever with 325,100,000.
GOAT marks Sony’s first film to return to theaters, and it’s already seeing promising outcomes. Regardless of a number of new releases in the identical week, the animated movie managed to debut in second place, with $32 million on the home field workplace.
It got here simply behind Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s Wuthering Heights, which made $40 million, whereas beating out Amazon’s star-studded crime thriller Crime 101, which got here in third. For the reason that two releases have been R-rated, GOAT’s PG ranking could have helped with its robust debut by providing a family-friendly possibility.
It’s exhausting to find out if GOAT will breakeven, nevertheless, as a result of excessive $80–90 million funds. Nonetheless, it’s clear that the film is successful over audiences, and word-of-mouth is essential in an enormous solution to increase the Sony film’s field workplace.
GOAT is now taking part in in theaters.
- Launch Date
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February 13, 2026
- Runtime
-
93 minutes
- Director
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Tyree Dillihay
- Writers
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Aaron Buchsbaum, Teddy Riley, Nicolas Curcio
- Producers
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Rodney Rothman, Stephen Curry, Michelle Raimo Kouyate, Erick Peyton, Adam Rosenberg