GOAT (2026)

GOAT (2026) opens to the chanting of a crowd: "Roots run deep!" The rest of the film goes on to echo that sentiment, offering gorgeous animation and a heartfelt story along the way.

At the beginning of the movie we're introduced to Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin), a young goat who dreams of one day playing roarball (an in-universe equivalent to basketball) alongside the Vineland Thorns, led by the star player Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union). He idolizes the black panther and wants to someday be just like her - a dream Will's mother supports, even as others around him say he'll always be "too small to ball". Years later, down on his luck and being evicted, Will catches a break when the lead player for rival team Lava Coast Magma, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), comes to Vineland to play against any challengers. Betting the last of his money on the match, Will faces off against Mane Attraction, and though he ultimately loses he becomes an online viral sensation for managing to trip up the horse during the game. This catches the attention of Florence Everson (Jenifer Lewis), the Thorns' greedy warthog owner. Looking for someone to save the team from a losing streak, she signs Will on as their newest player. It becomes increasingly clear that Will was originally only signed on as a publicity stunt, to boost sales as he sits on the bench. But when Jett finally gives Will a chance, he proves that he has what it takes by scoring the winning points of his first game.