Looking for something to watch at the movie theater this weekend that doesn’t involve Greek mythology or spider-themed superheroes? You might consider checking out the new Japanese sci-fi drama, Sheep in the Box, which is coming to U.S. theaters this weekend.
Written and directed by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda, stars Haruka Ayase and Daigo Yamamoto as a couple who are grieving the death of their son. They decide to adopt a new son in the form of an infant humanoid robot, played by child actor Rimu Kuwaki. It’s hardly a traditional family. Can a mother’s love transcend even the limits of human life? What does the advancement of artificial intelligence mean for humanity? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
Sheep in the Box first premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it was met with mixed reviews from critics. But fans of Kore-eda—known for his Oscar-nominated 2018 film Shoplifters, as well as the more recent films Broker (2022) and Monster (2023)—will likely want to check out the film for themselves.
Read on to find out when and where we expect to be able to watch the Sheep in the Box movie on streaming.
Where to watch the Sheep in the Box movie:
Sheep in the Box will only available to watch in a movie theater, when it opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, July 31. (The movie first opened in Japan on May 31.) You can find a showing near you via Fandango. Sheep in the Box is not yet available to watch online or on streaming in the U.S.
Is the Sheep in the Box horror movie streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video?
Sheep in the Box is not streaming on Netflix and likely will not be on Netflix any time soon, due to the fact that the film is a Neon release. In years past, Neon films eventually went to streaming on Hulu, thanks to the 2017 Neon and Hulu output deal. However, a recent 2026 Neon movie, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, went to streaming on Paramount+, instead of heading to Hulu. We’re not sure if this means the deal between Neon and Hulu is over.
Sheep in the Box will be available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime after the movie is released on digital, but it will not be available to stream for free with a Prime subscription any time soon, because it is not a Prime original. Based on previous Neon releases, we can guess that Sheep in the Box will be released on digital platforms in about one month, around late August or early September 2026.
If you want to watch Sheep in the Box movie at home, you’ll have to wait for the film to be available to buy or rent on digital platforms.
Will the Sheep in the Box 2026 movie be streaming on Hulu?
It’s not clear right now if Sheep in the Box will eventually stream on Hulu or not.
In years past, Neon films eventually went to streaming on Hulu, thanks to the 2017 Neon and Hulu output deal. However, a recent 2026 Neon movie, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, is coming to streaming on Paramount+ this week, and has not yet been streaming on Hulu. We’re not sure if this means the deal between Neon and Hulu is over.
Earlier this month, a new production studio, Department M—founded by producers Michael Schaefer (best known for producing The Martian) and Mike Larocca (best known for co-founding the Russo brothers’ AGBO Productions)—bought a significant stake in Neon. So, it’s possible a new streaming output deal is in the works under the new leadership.
A 2025 Neon movie, No Other Choice, began streaming on Hulu about four months after it opened in theaters. If Sheep in the Box follows a similar release pattern, you may see Sheep in the Box on Hulu around late November 2026.
But again, it’s not clear if the Neon and Hulu output deal is still on for the 2026 Neon films. If you live in the U.S. want to see the Japanese movie Sheep in the Box ASAP, your best bet is to see it in theaters.