Sheep in the Box
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda Run Time: 126 min. Release Year: 2026 Language: Japanese
Starring: Daigo Yamamoto, Haruka Ayase, Kanichiro, Kuwaki Rimu, Nana Seino
Set in the near future, Otone Komoto works as an architect. She is married to Kensuke Komoto, who runs a construction company. The married couple decide to welcome a humanoid robot into their home as their son.
“A beautiful yet simple story about using AI to manage grief, ‘Sheep in the Box’ hits all the right emotional notes. The script glides through all stages with realism and curiosity in a way that never judges its characters, no matter which side of the AI argument they sit on. While it doesn’t break any barriers regarding films about sorrow, it opens up an interesting conversation about the ethics of using AI as grief counselor.” ~ Patrice Witherspoon, ScreenRant