Ice Age: Collision Course

The fifth outing for the prehistoric herd kicks off with Scrat, the acorn-obsessed saber-toothed squirrel, whose relentless pursuit sends him spiraling into space. There, a series of slapstick mishaps trigger a cosmic chain reaction, hurling a massive asteroid straight toward Earth. It's up to Manny, Sid, Diego, and the rest of the gang to save the planet from extinction. Director Michael Thurmeier returns to the helm, bringing back the core voice cast, Ray Romano as the overprotective mammoth Manny, John Leguizamo as the lovably dim sloth Sid, and Denis Leary as the gruff saber-toothed tiger Diego. Newcomers Adam Devine voices Julian, Peaches' clumsy fiancé, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson lends his flamboyant energy to Shangri Llama, a yoga-instructing guardian of a mystical valley.

Produced by Blue Sky Studios for $105 million, the film grossed over $408 million worldwide, making it a commercial success despite being the lowest-grossing entry since 2006's The Meltdown. The plot weaves together three parallel storylines: Manny's struggle to accept his daughter's marriage, Sid's unexpected engagement after a meteorite mishap, and Diego and Shira's contemplation of parenthood. Buck, the one-eyed weasel from the third film, returns with dire warnings about the asteroid, leading the herd on a journey to Geotopia, a hidden valley where magnetic crystals might just alter the rock's trajectory. Along the way, they encounter a vengeful dinosaur family led by Gavin (Nick Offerman) and a community of eternally youthful animals.

The animation, while polished, feels less inventive than earlier installments, and the humor leans heavily on slapstick and pop culture references that don't always land. Critics panned the film for its formulaic plot and lack of heart, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it an 18% approval rating. Still, for younger viewers weaned on the franchise, the familiar characters and high-energy set pieces offer mindless entertainment. The score by John Debney incorporates playful motifs for each character, and Jessie J contributes two original songs, including the end-credits track "My Superhero." This would be the last theatrical Ice Age film produced by Blue Sky Studios before Disney shuttered the studio in 2021.[edit]

Scrat's endless pursuit of his acorn takes him on a wild ride through a dormant volcano, launching him into outer space. Orbiting Earth, he accidentally triggers a cascade of cosmic collisions that sends a massive asteroid hurtling toward the planet. Back on the ground, Manny is dealing with a different kind of crisis: his teenage daughter Peaches is engaged to Julian, a sweet but clumsy mammoth who can't seem to do anything right in Manny's eyes. The woolly mammoth patriarch struggles to let go, creating tension within the herd.

Sid, the ever-optimistic sloth, finds himself accidentally engaged after a fiery meteorite fragment lands near him, causing a misunderstanding with a female sloth named Francine. Meanwhile, Diego and Shira discuss starting a family, adding another layer to the herd's evolving dynamics. Their personal dramas are interrupted when Buck, the one-eyed weasel, bursts out of the ground with urgent news: the asteroid is coming, and only Geotopia, a mythical valley where the laws of physics bend, holds the key to survival. Buck claims that magnetic crystals there can alter the asteroid's course.

The herd sets off across treacherous terrain, navigating a lava-filled canyon and a field of giant magnetic rocks that toss them around like toys. They encounter Gavin, a vengeful dromaeosaur who blames Buck for the loss of one of his eggs years earlier. Gavin's sons, Roger and Gertie, bicker constantly but prove to be formidable obstacles. After escaping the dinosaurs, the herd reaches a mountain pass guarded by Shangri Llama, a flamboyant llama who speaks in yoga platitudes and puts them through a series of physical challenges to prove their worthiness.

Inside Geotopia, they discover a lush valley where animals live in eternal youth, sustained by a diet of "magnetic nectar." The community is led by Brooke, a confident sloth who immediately takes a liking to Sid. While the herd gathers the magnetic crystals, they learn that the crystals alone are too small to deflect the asteroid. Buck realizes the entire valley of Geotopia is a massive magnetic formation, but using it will require precise timing and teamwork. As the asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere, the herd races to put their plan into action, unaware that Gavin and his sons are closing in for revenge.[edit]