Weekend Movie Must Watch: GOAT Brings All-Star Energy to the Big Screen
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- 4 min read
Reel Perspectives
February 14, 2026
An underdog roarball story powered by NBA legends, bold animation, and a reminder that greatness isn’t defined by size.
🏀 We Learn How GOATs Are Made
Okay — hear me out.
What if I told you there’s an animated sports movie dropping during NBA All-Star Weekend, backed by real league legends, starring Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union, and animated with the same electric visual DNA that made Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse a cultural reset?
Well, I gotta a movie for you...
First off, yes — the movie commits to the pun. The GOAT is… actually a goat. And somehow? It works. No irony. No wink. Just hoofed excellence.
Now let’s get into it.
At the center is Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin), a teenage Boer goat with pro-level dreams in a league built for “bigs.” And when I say bigs, I mean towering, fast, muscle-on-muscle energy. This is not a “participation trophy” league. This is full-contact roarball.
So when Will gets signed to the struggling Vineland Thorns and ends up playing next to his idol, Jett Fillmore (yes, Gabrielle Union), the vibe is not “welcome to the team.”
The vibe is: Who hired this rookie?
But Will isn’t just fighting for court time. He’s fighting perception. And if you know, you know. That “you’re talented, but are you built for this?” energy? The micro-doubt? Yeah. That.
“All my life I’ve always wanted to play professional roarball.”
That line doesn’t hit as cute. It hits as conviction.
Now enter Mane Attraction (voiced by Aaron Pierre) — league MVP, all horsepower, all dominance. He represents everything Will isn’t: taller, stronger, built like the prototype. When a viral clip drops of Will breaking Mane’s ankles? Oh, Black Twitter would’ve had that on loop for 48 hours straight.
Owner Flo (the incomparable Jenifer Lewis) signs him immediately — because Flo knows star power when she sees it. But Jett? Jett is not amused.
To her, Will is a gimmick. A headline. A distraction from her brand.
“But there’s only one problem — I’m a small in a world of bigs.”
Let’s pause there.
Because the movie isn’t really asking if Will can score. It’s asking if there’s room at the table. If someone who doesn’t fit the standard can redefine it.
And whew — when Jett finds out the team’s been sold and spirals into hero-ball mode? Baby. The locker room energy collapses. Teammates quit. Trust evaporates. It’s giving “ego over ecosystem.”
And I appreciated that the film doesn’t sanitize that mess. It lets it sting.
But here’s what GOAT understands: leadership isn’t about being the loudest or the flashiest. It’s about being secure enough to share space.
When Jett finally admits she was scared — not of losing games, but of losing relevance — that’s when the story levels up. Because that fear? That’s real.
And the final matchup against the Magmas? Pure sports cinema. Injuries. We get ejections. Drama. One last shot hanging in the air like destiny.
“All I need is one shot to show the world this kid got game.”
And when that shot drops? It doesn’t feel like luck. It feels like destiny meeting opportunity.
And can we talk about that post-credits audio? Will’s mom whispers, “Dream big.”
Not manipulative. Not overplayed. Just soft. Just personal. Just enough.
So no — this isn’t just a kids’ sports movie. It’s about who gets counted out. Who gets underestimated? Who gets told to wait their turn?
And what happens when they don’t... especially when you’re a goat 🐐
🎥 How GOAT Came Together
Directed by Tyree Dillihay, GOAT feels like what would happen if you took the competitive swagger of Space Jam, dropped it into the anthropomorphic world-building of Zootopia, and cranked the engine to All-Star Weekend levels. Produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation — with animation handled by Sony Pictures Imageworks — the film uses the same visually kinetic style that powered Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That layered, high-energy movement makes the roarball sequences feel immersive instead of gimmicky. Released perfectly timed with this weekend’s NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles, the synergy wasn’t subtle. It was strategic. And smart.
But here’s what makes the casting especially fun: the NBA presence isn’t just a cameo moment — it’s embedded in the DNA. Stephen Curry not only voices his giraffe teammate, Lenny Williamson, but also serves as a producer through Unanimous Media, alongside Erick Peyton. And he’s not alone. Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, Angel Reese, and A'ja Wilson all lend their voices to the league’s fiercest competitors. That crossover energy gives the film credibility — the rhythms of locker rooms, rivalries, and superstar pressure feel authentic because the people voicing these characters have lived it.
⭐ Why GOAT Is Your Weekend Must-Watch
GOAT isn’t just cute animal chaos. It’s high-energy, locker-room intensity wrapped in bold, stylized animation from Sony Pictures Imageworks—the same studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the vibrant, kinetic look of KPop Demon Hunters. That means layered textures, dynamic lighting, exaggerated movement, and roarball sequences that feel like you’re watching a playoff game — just with hooves and fire-breathing teammates.
And here’s the real weekend strategy: while the parents head out for their brooding romance and windswept drama with Wuthering Heights, the kids (and honestly, half the adults who love a good underdog arc) will be locked in with Will and the Thorns. This is the kind of movie that works on multiple levels — the little ones see fast-paced action and funny animal dynamics, while older viewers clock the ego checks, the redemption arcs, and the subtle commentary on who gets counted out.
So go ahead — roll the trailer and let the roarball chaos begin:
GOAT is now playing in theaters nationwide.
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