Madagascar to Return to Theaters as DreamWorks Reveals Re-release for January

DreamWorks Animation’s talking-animal movie classic, Madagascar, is coming backmost to theaters to observe its 20th day adjacent month.

The institution down Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and much animated classics announced its archetypal fish-out-of-water communicative volition marque a astonishment instrumentality to movie theaters erstwhile it premieres January 16, 2026. Accompanying the announcement is simply a trailer that reminds viewers, young and old, of characters similar Alex the lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer), and Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and their travel to Madagascar.

Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman are back. Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Madagascar, backmost successful theaters January 16th. pic.twitter.com/mHEbrtNB2W

DreamWorks’ determination to bring Madagascar backmost to theaters arrives arsenic a spot of a belated celebration, with the archetypal movie having released backmost successful May 2005. Its crippled tells the communicative of 4 Central Park Zoo animals – arsenic good arsenic a squad of talented penguins – who flight from captivity successful hopes of discovering a caller location successful the wild.

Following immoderate antics astir New York, they find themselves mislaid astatine oversea and yet stranded connected the titular island, wherever they tally into a assemblage of ring-tailed lemurs that truly similar to determination it. Madagascar had mostly affirmative ratings amongst fans and critics (we gave it a 7/10 reappraisal successful 2005) and landed a worldwide container bureau full of much than $542 cardinal (via Box Office Mojo).

DreamWorks took that occurrence and ran, going connected to unleash 2 nonstop sequels – Escape 2 Africa and Europe’s Most Wanted – which brought the carnal unit retired of the jungle and into caller locations successful 2008 and 2012. A penguin centered spinoff titled Penguins of Madagascar past followed successful 2014. Madagascar has stayed caged since, but the January re-release should let DreamWorks to gauge involvement among fans.

While we hold for much details, you tin spot what other the animation workplace is up to, including the latest details connected Shrek 5. You tin besides cheque retired our reviews for Madagascar 2 and 3, arsenic good arsenic its Penguins spinoff.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).