--- title: "Madagascar" year: 2005 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/madagascar" fi1m_id: "madagascar" imdb_id: "tt0351283" tmdb_id: 953 wikidata_id: "Q174555" fi1m_score: 60 critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 10 published: "2026-10-05T03:46:32.842923+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T03:46:32.948765+00:00" region: "IE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Madagascar (2005) Directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath · 1h 26m · IFCO G · Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family ## Identity Madagascar - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/madagascar - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** madagascar - **IMDb ID:** tt0351283 - **TMDB ID:** 953 - **Wikidata ID:** Q174555 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0351283/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/953, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174555 **Fi1m score: 60** · Critics 55 from 10 reviews *In a sentence:* A zoo full of famous voices, and the penguins get the laughs > Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath’s *Madagascar* offers enough visual mischief for an undemanding family evening. The penguins are worth waiting for, though the thin story makes even 86 minutes feel longer than necessary. ## Synopsis New York’s zoo is home to Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith). The wild is somewhere else, far from the city and the surroundings they know. A departure from the zoo brings the animals into New York, where a tranquilliser dart adds to the disruption. Before long, the four residents are being shipped away from home. These are animals raised in a zoo, not born in the wild, and the journey puts them up against a life for which their familiar routines have offered little preparation. ## Review Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath build *Madagascar* around zoo animals being shipped into the wild, a situation that ought to keep a comedy well supplied. There is plenty to enjoy in its exaggerated movement and the supporting animals’ antics. The main story, however, is surprisingly short of things worth following, and the central quartet rarely gets the funniest material. At 86 minutes, it is a decent family diversion that still finds time to dawdle. The early New York zoo scenes have a bustle that the rest of the film struggles to sustain. Production designer Kendal Cronkhite gives the film a bright, angular look, with characters whose shapes are funny before they do anything. These computer-animated animals look pleasingly drawn, and their exaggerated proportions suit the physical comedy. There is something to enjoy in the way they move even when the joke itself is weak, which happens often enough for that to matter. Ben Stiller voices Alex, Chris Rock voices Marty, David Schwimmer voices Melman and Jada Pinkett Smith voices Gloria. They give the central quartet plenty of vocal energy, but too often a recognisable delivery has to do the job of a properly shaped joke. We wanted more for these characters than a succession of mishaps, especially when the film asks us to take their predicament seriously. The performers keep things companionable; the writing seldom gives them anything particularly surprising to say. We laughed at the tranquilliser-dart sequence, where the effects of the drug become an excuse to distort the image. It is a more inventive joke than much of the slapstick surrounding it, and a welcome opportunity for the animators to take charge. The penguins and lemurs also benefit from being allowed to get on with being ridiculous, without carrying the central story. Sacha Baron Cohen voices King Julien, and his performance supplies some of the comic oddity missing from the principal quartet. Editors H. Lee Peterson, Mark A. Hester and Clare Knight keep the individual comic bursts reasonably nimble, although the later stretches drag. The film can be busy without seeming to get anywhere, and its short running time does not prevent that from becoming tiring. Hans Zimmer’s score helps keep the mood buoyant without making the thinly written relationships much more engaging. The musical passages provide welcome changes of pace, and we would happily have traded some of the less inspired slapstick for more of them. The screenplay is credited to Tom McGrath, Eric Darnell, Billy Frolick and Mark Burton, and its chief weakness is how little the central situation develops. A family comedy need not teach anybody a lesson, but it does need fresh things for its characters to do. The early zoo business benefits from having a particular place and way of life to play against. Later, too many of the jokes feel as though they could be moved into another cartoon without much alteration. There is enough visual invention here to keep the evening agreeable, provided expectations remain modest. The broad shapes and loose comic movement offer pleasures that the dialogue does not always supply. Children who enjoy animal slapstick have a better chance of getting their evening’s worth than adults hoping for equally sharp verbal comedy. Choose it for that audience, and accept that the penguins will be missed whenever they leave the screen. *Fi1m score 60, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Madagascar serviceable family entertainment, with more enthusiasm for its animation and supporting animals than for its story. Praise centres on the bright, angular look, visual inventiveness and lively early scenes in New York. The penguins and lemurs repeatedly emerge as comic assets, while several reviews suggest children are better served than adults looking for sharper humour. Screen Daily is more warmly disposed, finding enough amusement for parents alongside the slapstick aimed at children. Reservations cluster around a premise that promises more than the film delivers, muddled plotting and momentum that falters as it goes along. The humour divides critics: some enjoy the mishaps and musical moments, while others find the jokes tired or insufficiently distinctive. Most verdicts sit in mixed territory, though the harsher responses expose a meaningful spread. Eye for Film particularly faults the lead characters, finding relief chiefly in the animation and the lemurs. ## Straight answers **Is Madagascar worth watching?** *Madagascar* is a decent choice for children who enjoy animal slapstick, though its thin story limits our score to 60 out of 100. We find enough pleasure in the angular animation, penguins and lemurs for an undemanding family evening, but adults hoping for sharp dialogue may find even its 86 minutes drag. **How long is Madagascar, and what is it rated?** *Madagascar* runs 1h 26m and is rated G by the IFCO in Ireland. It is an adventure and animation film. **Where can I watch Madagascar in Ireland?** *Madagascar* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ in Ireland, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from €2.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Madagascar compare to Chicken Run?** *Madagascar* offers broad animal slapstick, but we recommend [*Chicken Run*](https://film.one/film/chicken-run) more warmly for its tighter jokes and characters worth caring about. Both involve animals leaving confinement, though *Chicken Run* makes more of its escape plans; *Madagascar* is better suited to children chiefly interested in exaggerated movement and silly supporting animals. **What should I watch after Madagascar?** After *Madagascar*, try [*Chicken Run*](https://film.one/film/chicken-run) (2000, Fi1m 84): More animal escape plans, with tighter jokes and a proper reason to care. Then [*The Emperor's New Groove*](https://film.one/film/the-emperors-new-groove) (2000, Fi1m 80): A vain animal lead gets sharper dialogue and far more disciplined comic timing; and [*The Jungle Book*](https://film.one/film/the-jungle-book) (1967, Fi1m 80): Animal personalities and musical comedy given more room to settle into a story. ### Reviews we read (10) - **Screen Daily**, John Hazelton (70/100, inferred): Hazelton finds the film entertaining for children and amusing enough for parents. He singles out its eye-catching look, drawing on Tex Avery slapstick and Henri Rousseau-inspired imagery. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/madagascar/4023251.article) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so the critic's verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/madagascar-2005) - **Slant Magazine**, Nick Schager (2.5/4): Schager finds the film a modest improvement over earlier DreamWorks animation but says it lacks Pixar’s blend of humor and poignancy. He praises its bright, angular aesthetic and lively depiction of New York City. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/madagascar/) - **Empire**, William Thomas (60/100, inferred): Thomas finds the film amiable and spirited but says it falls short of its premise and the standard set by Shrek. He praises its visual inventiveness, musical moments and memorable penguins, while faulting its slapstick and stalled storytelling. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/madagascar-review/) - **Radio Times**, Gareth Moses (3/5): The critic calls it serviceable family entertainment, though not on a par with Shrek. They praise its engaging mishaps but say the pace drags in the final third. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-425n8y/madagascar/) - **The Guardian**, Rob Mackie (C): Mackie finds the film colourful and enjoyable but muddled and not especially memorable. He praises the early zoo scenes and the imaginative effects of a tranquilliser dart, while criticizing the convoluted plot and a tired parody. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2005/dec/09/dvdreviews) - **The New York Times**, A. O. Scott (45/100, inferred): The review gives a mixed-to-negative verdict, finding the film less lively than its premise promises. It singles out its lack of distinctive humor compared with other animated comedies. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/02/movies/on-madagascar-hollywood-like-evolution-itself-barely-registers.html) - **Time Out**, DA (30/100, inferred): The review appears critical, suggesting the promising concept does not work in execution. It singles out the computer-generated setting and character concept, though the full review is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/madagascar) - **Digital Spy**, Daniel Saney (60/100, inferred): The critic finds it lightweight family fun that entertains children but may disappoint adults expecting sharper humour. They praise the impressive animation and single out the penguins and lemurs as especially enjoyable. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a22632/madagascar/) - **Eye for Film**, Max Blinkhorn (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film uneven and poorly served by its lead characters. They praise the animation and single out the lemurs and their comic antics as its saving graces. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/madagascar-film-review-by-max-blinkhorn) ## Details - **Director:** Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath - **Director:** Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath - **Writer:** Mark Burton, Billy Frolick, Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath - **Editor:** Clare Knight, Mark A. Hester, H. Lee Peterson - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Kendal Cronkhite - **Producer:** Mireille Soria - **Cast:** Ben Stiller as Alex (voice); Chris Rock as Marty (voice); David Schwimmer as Melman (voice); Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria (voice); Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien (voice); Cedric the Entertainer as Maurice (voice); Andy Richter as Mort (voice); Tom McGrath as Skipper / Fossa / Panicky Man on Subway (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 26m - **Certificate (IFCO):** G - **Release (Ireland):** 15 July 2005 - **Genres:** Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family - **Budget:** $75 million - **Box office:** $542 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq5zU9T_Hl4 ## Where to watch in Ireland - Amazon Prime Video: streaming, uhd - Disney+: streaming, hd - Amazon Prime Video: rent €2.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy €2.99, uhd *Checked 2026-10-05.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IN, IS, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2005: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated) - Critics' Choice Awards 2005: Best Animated Feature (nominated) ## If you liked this - *Chicken Run* (2000), Fi1m 84: More animal escape plans, with tighter jokes and a proper reason to care. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/chicken-run.md) - *A Town Called Panic* (2009): Plastic animals cause escalating trouble in a comedy with no interest in behaving. - *The Emperor's New Groove* (2000), Fi1m 80: A vain animal lead gets sharper dialogue and far more disciplined comic timing. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-emperors-new-groove.md) - *The Jungle Book* (1967), Fi1m 80: Animal personalities and musical comedy given more room to settle into a story. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-jungle-book.md) - *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: A gentler animal friendship, with expressive drawings and room for quieter feelings. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/madagascar