Madagascar (2005)

55% of critics liked it
(185 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(906,963 ratings)

A pack of not-so-wild animals experience some serious culture shock when they move from the Big Apple to the Mighty Jungle in this computer-animated comedy. Alex (voice of Ben Stiller) is a lion who enjoys a charmed life as one of the leading attractions at a zoo in New York City's Central Park.… More A pack of not-so-wild animals experience some serious culture shock when they move from the Big Apple to the Mighty Jungle in this computer-animated comedy. Alex (voice of Ben Stiller) is a lion who enjoys a charmed life as one of the leading attractions at a zoo in New York City's Central Park. While Alex and his pals Marty the Zebra (voice of Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (voice of Jada Pinkett Smith), and Melman the Giraffe (voice of David Schwimmer) are happy with their lot in life, they occasionally have a certain curiosity about the outside world, and when the zoo's penguins decide to make a break for it, Marty follows them into the city. Alex, Gloria, and Melman set out to find Marty before he gets into trouble, but they're a bit too late, and soon the zookeepers have decided that the animals are restless and need to be returned to the wild. Soon the critters find themselves living on the coast of Madagascar, where they quickly discover they aren't quite suited for living in the wild. Madagascar also features the voice talents of Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, and Sacha Baron Cohen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Conrad Vernon, Andy Richter
Written By: Mark Burton, Tom McGrath, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: May 27, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Nov 15, 2005
Studio: Dreamworks

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It paints itself into a very bizarre corner because at first, they are all friends and then all of a sudden they revert to being more like real animals. How do you do that and make it funny? Well, you don't.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Madagascar is great good fun, not only because the filmmakers have enlisted some wonderful voice talent but also because the visuals truly are marvelous.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
The fact is, apart from certain superficial visual distinctions, virtually all of the recent studio-produced, star-voiced computer-animated movies feel like they could have been produced on different assembly lines in the same factory.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
What makes it good is that the story is a kind of parable that suggests some seriousness beneath the surface, even sadness.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Take the kids. Find a globe. Do some teaching.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
This doesn't signify progress for the computer-animated medium. If anything, it's regression.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Very much in the tradition of Looney Tunes and Termite Terrace.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
A foursome of digitally animated zoo animals escape the inner city confines of Manhattan's Central Park Zoo in search of freedom that's not be all it's cracked up to be in this well-defined children's comedy.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The character design is ugly; the main characters are often annoying; the humor is generally weak; and the computer-generated animation is often soulless.
, Bullz-Eye.com
A shallow attempt at filmmaking and humor.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a pleasant picture, with excellent voice characterizations and charming graphics. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...an engaging little diversion that maintains its charm with repeat viewing.
Erin Clements, Time Out
Lame scatalogical gags and worn pop-culture parodies abound, but the CGI animation romp is somewhat redeemed by the scene-stealing appearances of several supporting characters.
Daniel Etherington, Film4
Amiably entertaining.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
A group of animal friends escape from the Central Park Zoo.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
A promising premise, a top voice cast and a studio with an impressive track record sets up expectations that Madagascar just can't fulfill.
Kevin Lally, Film Journal International
A likeable and loose-limbed addition to the ever-growing CGI family.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
Too kiddie-oriented to keep the parents coming back like they have for the likes of the vastly superior Shrek, Nemo and Incredibles films.
Camerin Courtney, Christianity Today
I wanted a moral to the story. In Finding Nemo: Don't let fear rule your life. Shrek: True beauty is on the inside. Madagascar: Don't eat your friends?

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Funny animation about zoo animals who escape and get shipwrecked on a desert island. I love the penguins.
Sophie B

Brilliantly formed characters with a narrative that's family safe yet has a good few adult aimed jokes to keep the parents happy!
Directors C

This i a beautifully animated and colourful film visually but the comedic side depends on your sense of humour. Potentially, the film made me laugh because I enjoyed its humour and i've always loved the penguins. It is certain to entertain children though thats for sure.
Unknown H

I have to admit I wasn't too psyched about this movie when it first came out but it is without a doubt a movie that grew on me. At first it seemed like a poor mans interpretation of a thousand other movies but once I was subjected to it a couple of times (courtesy of my daughter… More
I have to admit I wasn't too psyched about this movie when it first came out but it is without a doubt a movie that grew on me. At first it seemed like a poor mans interpretation of a thousand other movies but once I was subjected to it a couple of times (courtesy of my daughter who loves it) I count it as one of my faves now with the sequel and spin offs equally as hilarious and entertaining. Two words. King Julian. Nuff said.
Matt G

It has it's moments... very few though. This film had enough charm to give it a passing grade.
Bethany M

A really great animated film!
Alexander D

Meh.
Chris W

This is fun, and entertaining, and all of that, but there's really not a whole lot to it. I'm trying not to bring up the debate about Disney/Pixar versus Dreamworks, but the Dreamwortks films just don't do for me like Disney/Pixar. These films (this included) go more… More
This is fun, and entertaining, and all of that, but there's really not a whole lot to it. I'm trying not to bring up the debate about Disney/Pixar versus Dreamworks, but the Dreamwortks films just don't do for me like Disney/Pixar. These films (this included) go more for jokes and fun instead of also trying to aspire to something greater. I love pop culture references, and movies that feature them out the wazoo (I am a huge Tarantino fan), but it helps if there's somehting else along with it instead of just jokes and witty references to entertain the adults. Some of the jokes here fall flat for me, and, while I liked that they referenced The Mission, the specific reference is a bit too heavy and ill-suited for the vibe of things. I did like the cast, and the film has decent animation, but overall, it is perhaps a bit too manic and rapid-cut edited. I say that, and I have ADHD. Hell, I must be getting really old or something. I dunno. This isn't a bad film (a tad above average), but I guess I just want (or was expecting) more.
Brad W

A flop, this movie may have some comedy but it doesn't take away from the boring story and bad animation.
Michael E

Again not one of dreamworks best movies but its till a great movie
Dean M

Good DreamWorks animation movie that is equal to <i>Shrek</i> as it's lots of fun. There was quite a few humorous scenes in Madagascar, but my favorite has to be the "distinguished" chimps who get offended that the thought of looking or smelling like a… More
Good DreamWorks animation movie that is equal to <i>Shrek</i> as it's lots of fun. There was quite a few humorous scenes in Madagascar, but my favorite has to be the "distinguished" chimps who get offended that the thought of looking or smelling like a monkey is bad. An honorable mention is the penguins who also got more than they bargained for in Antarctica. While some of the graphics are sub-par to other movies I've mentioned, like Alex the Lion (voiced by Ben Stiller) for instance. At times they look sort of like clay-motion or something, and other they look positively life-like. The scenery and the lemurs stand out as the most beautifully rendered parts of the movie. The voices are done well and they really match with the characters, but that's mostly it. There is not a lot of character development. I give it an average at best. It is watchable bot that is it for me. The story was handled too weakly. This movie really had potential.
Richard C

I saw this when it first came out and i was 8 and I liked it but seeing it now at 13 it wasnt as good but still wasn't horrible. C
Jeremy S

Forgettable, Madagascar 2 is only moments away. The story develops as the varied characters get lost on an island, but the real thing that gets lost is the plot.
Film C

Absolutely love the madagasca movies!! and the mini series!! Madagasca is a brillaint childrens animated movie, that is hilarious, entertaining and just the most fantastic character there is! The penguins and king julian are probably the funniest animated animals in the history of… More
Absolutely love the madagasca movies!! and the mini series!! Madagasca is a brillaint childrens animated movie, that is hilarious, entertaining and just the most fantastic character there is! The penguins and king julian are probably the funniest animated animals in the history of animated movies, its really an enjoyable light hearted movie thats just fun to watch!!
KJ P

It was funny! That's about it! It was a very average story!
Jennifer D

Pretty damn funny, not gonna lie.
Anthony L

Not particularly funny and not particularly clever. Not one of the great animations of resent times, Pixar still do it best.
Thomas B

compared to comedy animations like finding nemo, this doesn't stand a chance, but it's alright in it's own way
Kyle F

Even though the plot is very simple and the attitude of the lead character gets very annoying after a while, "Madagascar" is clever and often so aggressively funny that it works out pretty well. King Julien helps too.
Jani H

"The penguins are going, so why can't I? - Because the penguins are psychotic!" I've never really liked Madagascar that much. I know, that's a bad way to start a review, of a very succesful movie, without any further explanation.… More
"The penguins are going, so why can't I? - Because the penguins are psychotic!" I've never really liked Madagascar that much. I know, that's a bad way to start a review, of a very succesful movie, without any further explanation. "Madagascar's" biggest fault is that the lead characters, the not-so-fantastic four, are without that extra factor that has for example made almost every Pixar movie a success. They're just four different animals who have grown up in the NYC zoo and find themselves suddenly in the wild. The most hilarious aspect of this movie is the Special Forces type of penguins who seem to be related to MacGyver. They have got almost every funny scene to themselves so that isn't a good thing for the four leads. The animation is kinda angular and was some sort of a problem for me. The backgrounds etc are very beautiful but the animals seem to lack something. I could again write something about Pixar but I woun't... The voice acting is decent, featuring a lot of comedic talent. Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chris Rock... But everytime David Schwimmer opens his mouth, all I see is Ross Geller as a giraffe! "Madagascar" will surely entertain the whole family. It's got a lot of hyperactive action, music and dance scenes. The story is easy to follow even for the youngest ones. But for me, "Madagascar" just doesn't have the It factor. But in overall a decent effort by Dreamworks.