From iconic mutant to musical star—and everywhere in between
Hugh Jackman has long been a household name, largely thanks to his portrayal of Wolverine/Logan. He first took on the role in X-Men and most recently reprised it in Deadpool & Wolverine. But Jackman’s skills go well beyond the superhero genre. He’s played a magician in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, a former boxer in Shawn Levy’s science-fiction film Real Steel, and displayed his musical talents in movies like Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman, and Song Sung Blue.
The Sheep Detectives: Another critical and audience favorite
Jackman’s latest project, The Sheep Detectives, is a comedic mystery that’s winning over both audiences and critics. The movie currently holds a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it his third straight film to crack at least 94% with viewers—following Deadpool & Wolverine at 94% and Song Sung Blue at 97%. Critics have also shown strong support, with a “Certified Fresh” 93% Tomatometer rating based on 130 reviews at time of writing.
In The Sheep Detectives, adapted from Leonie Swann’s novel Three Bags Full, Jackman plays George Hardy, a shepherd whose sudden death prompts a murder investigation led by his resourceful flock of sheep. The animated sheep are voiced by an impressive cast, including Bryan Cranston, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Bella Ramsey, Rhys Darby, and Brett Goldstein. Key adult roles feature Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson. The film is directed by Kyle Balda and written by Craig Mazin, known for his work on The Last of Us.
Brandon Zachary’s review for ScreenRant notes, “While there are other murder mystery stories that play better with the conventions of the genre or deliver more intriguing casts of characters, this family-friendly cozy mystery aims for a comfy tone and nails it.” Zachary also praises Mazin for “having a lot of fun with the herd, giving their arc a surprisingly effective emotional throughline thanks to the discoveries they make about the world as a natural result of their murder investigation.”
A rare winning streak—commercial and critical
Jackman’s ability to connect with audiences across genres—whether in an R-rated action comedy, a PG-13 musical drama, or a PG-rated mystery—has been underlined by the success of his last three films. Notably, The Sheep Detectives delivered his biggest non-Marvel opening weekend at the domestic box office in over a decade, according to available figures. Meanwhile, Deadpool & Wolverine grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide during its theatrical run.
The real test arrives: Will the streak hold?
While The Sheep Detectives has extended Jackman’s Rotten Tomatoes streak, it faced its next major test in June 2026 with the release of The Death of Robin Hood. In this A24 film, written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, Jackman takes on the role of an older, weathered Robin Hood grappling with his violent history. The movie’s R-rated, dark thriller tone was a clear departure from the cozy, family-oriented storytelling of The Sheep Detectives. Even before its release, early buzz compared Jackman’s turn as Robin Hood to his celebrated performance in Logan, which was thought to be the end of his era as Wolverine until his return in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Shifting from a family mystery to the grim landscape of medieval legend is no small leap, and The Death of Robin Hood offered a new kind of challenge to Jackman’s audience appeal. But based on the momentum from Deadpool & Wolverine, Song Sung Blue, and the crowd-pleasing The Sheep Detectives, Jackman fans had every reason to hope his hot streak could continue through any new challenge. If there’s a safe bet in Hollywood these days, it’s that Hugh Jackman will keep audiences coming back for more.
