Directed by Tyree Dillihay, GOAT is an energetic and entertaining ride that has some serious game. With a passionate spirit, frenzied animation and some wild humour, Dillihay creates a world that overcomes some familiarity to become an absolute slam dunk.

In GOAT, we’re introduced to Will (Caleb McLaughlin), a small goat who has big dreams to play Roarball, a brutal basketball hybrid that believes only the biggest get the ball. When a viral video gives Will his big break, he’s drafted to the Thorns, a local team that’s known primarily for losing. Despite having one of the best players in the league in Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), an all-star black panther, the Thorns simply can’t get themselves together – and tensions get even higher once a little goat is added to their roster. But Will isn’t deterred. Instead, it fuels him to prove to the league once and for all that ‘smalls can ball’.

What makes GOAT a genuine slam dunk is its stunning animation. After the success of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters, Sony really seems to have perfected their unique style of visual fury. Part anime and part graphic novel, there’s simply something about this world that feels almost tactile. Characters have great detail in their physical features like their hair and fur but animators aren’t going for realism. Instead, there’s an erratic chaos this style that fills these characters with an energy that translates beautifully onscreen.

Admittedly, it’s hard to argue that GOAT borrows from a lot of other sports and children’s films. This is a story that hits all the beats one might expect in a film about ‘the kid who makes the big leagues’. But the film is so enthusiastic that the story quickly becomes infectious, even if it feels familiar.

And most importantly, you can’t help but fall in love with Will and the Thorns.

As Will, McLaughlin carries himself with a sense of doe-eyed wonder. He’s undoggedly optimistic, trusting that, even with his deficiency in size, he can accomplish anything. Others may not believe in him but he believes in himself. It’s worth noting that Curry (who also produced) has suggested that the film is (very) loosely based on his own personal journey in the NBA. Viewed as ‘too small’ to be of value, Curry was a player who had to reinvent the way that the game is played in order to leave his mark on basketball history. This is sort of unbridled courage shown by McLaughlin’s Will and it makes him entirely endearing.

But, of course, Will isn’t alone. And this team of lovable misfits are furiously funny. From the monstrously manic Modo to Steph Curry’s insecure giraffe, every character feels like they have their own story to tell. Bringing their own brand of chaos, these beloved beasties are the epitome of dysfunction together. They bicker and fight, unable to function as a team.

At the same time, every member of the team has a fight all their own. From insecurities about their size to fears about their own usefulness, every character wrestles with their own issues. But, as expected, their fight within themselves creates more friction with each other on the court as well.

Even so, the most fascinating character of all may be Union’s Jett Fillmore. While Will may be the main character, it’s Jett’s struggles that drive the film. As the most successful player on a perennial team of losers, Jett is fighting for her legacy. She has always been believed to be one of the true greats of the sport yet she cannot seem to get her team across the proverbial goal line. Every individual achievement still results in team failure.

In short, individual greatness means nothing if you don’t have a championship.

It’s her insecurities that make Will an even greater threat. In her eyes, he has none of the tools to be a winner but, somehow, he seems to make everyone better on the court. This challenge to her legacy becomes the film’s emotional core, despite Will’s roarball success.

In the end, GOAT may not entirely live up to its name but it absolutely proves to be a winner. There’s so much fun to be had onscreen that there’s no doubt that families of all ages will become fans before the final buzzer.

GOAT is available in theatres on Friday, February 13th, 2026.