Picture Credit: Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation is back on the court. While the studio has sent several major hits directly to Netflix in recent years, GOAT—the new sports comedy produced by NBA legend Stephen Curry—made a break for theaters first earlier this year. Landing in cinemas for Presidents’ weekend, the film has proven to be another massive hit for one of the hottest animation studios in the world. Now, if you’re waiting to catch the action from your couch, we officially know when the movie will hit Netflix in the United States.
“Greatness isn’t born, it’s bleated,” suggests the promotional campaign for the film. The story centers on a literal goat named Hapi who discovers he has a supernatural talent for basketball. In a world where animals and humans coexist but rarely compete, Hapi must navigate the underground streetball circuit to prove that an underdog (or under-goat) can become the Greatest of All Time.
Directed by Tyree Dillihay (Bob’s Burgers) and written by Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley, the film is a passion project for producer Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media banner. It marks another visual stylistic pivot for Sony Pictures Animation, blending 2D and 3D elements to capture the kinetic energy of street basketball.
Stranger Things fans will feel at home with the voice cast, with Hopper and Lucas both appearing (David Harbour and Caleb McLaughlin), plus other well-known stars like Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, and Nick Kroll also amongst the fray.
Sony Pictures Animation is the studio behind the film, and they share a tighter bond with Netflix than most. In the past few years, Netflix has served as the exclusive global home for major SPA titles like the Academy Award-nominated The Mitchells vs. The Machines, the musical Vivo, and Wish Dragon, skipping theaters entirely. Plus, Netflix was the exclusive home of KPop Demon Hunters.
However, GOAT is different. Unlike those titles, this was a full theatrical release, falling under the standard Sony Pictures Pay-1 window deal. This deal is limited to the US and a few other regions in 2026 (it expands globally in 2027), rather than being an “Original” produced directly for the streamer. So in effect, its release strategy is akin to the Spider-Verse movies.
A Slam Dunk at the Box Office
Proving that original animated films can still draw a massive crowd without relying on sequel branding, GOAT enjoyed a highly successful theatrical run following its February release. Made on a reported production budget of $80 million, the film easily sailed past profitability and notably became the highest-grossing basketball film of all time, dethroning the original Space Jam.
- Domestic Box Office: $103.3 Million
- International Box Office: $87.1 Million
- Worldwide Box Office: $190.4 Million
It scored the biggest opening weekend for an original animated film since 2023’s Elemental and showed incredibly strong legs, becoming one of the very first 2026 releases to clear the $100 million milestone domestically.
When will GOAT be on Netflix US?
While the standard Sony Pay-1 window typically opens approximately 120 days after a cinema release (which would have placed the premiere in mid-June), GOAT is hitting the court a whole month earlier than initially expected. 90 days to be exact.
The official US Netflix release date for GOAT is Thursday, May 14, 2026. Once it drops, it will stream on Netflix for 18 months before heading over to Disney/Hulu properties. You can find Netflix’s full May 2026 lineup here.
For Netflix India users: This May 14th date usually applies to your region as well.
For the UK and Canada, the wait is often much longer. In the UK, Sony movies typically arrive on Sky/Now TV first, meaning Netflix subscribers may have to wait approximately two years after the initial theatrical release.
Are you looking forward to watching GOAT on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
