One of the highest-grossing animated film franchises of all time spawned from Blue Sky Studios’ first-ever feature, the 2002 worldwide mega-hit Ice Age. Much like Pixar’s 1995 gem Toy Story, it took the world by storm and caused many to once again consider the benefits of computer animation. Blue Sky, a studio once known for their incredibly photorealistic commercials, suddenly realized they had a multi-billion-dollar cash cow on their hands, and went on to milk it thoroughly, making four sequels to their unbelievably successful debut film.
We’ve assembled some information on each entry in the Ice Age saga below, including plot details, a basic analysis of critical reception, information on box office results, and, of course, where the film can be watched online – enjoy!
Ice Age (2002)
Blue Sky Studios’ feature film debut, Ice Age, came out in 2002, at a time when the animation market was largely dominated by the trifecta of Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks. It follows three Pleistocene-era characters – Sid, a sloth; Manny, a woolly mammoth; and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger – who come across a Neanderthal baby (known as Roshan), as they embark on a journey to return it to its tribal family. The film became an instant hit with parents, kids, and critics alike, as the refreshing humor and revolutionary animation won over even the coldest (pun intended) hearts; Scrat, a character from the film, would go on to become one of the most recognizable animated characters of the 21st century, as well as Blue Sky’s mascot.
The film’s final box office taking of more than $383 million established Blue Sky as an animation powerhouse and more than guaranteed that the already well-known characters would return for a sequel in the coming years.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
While Manny, Sid, and Diego did, in fact, return for a second outing in 2006’s Ice Age: The Meltdown, this time they were joined by an expanded cast of side characters, including Ellie, Crash, and Eddie, all of whom would go on to appear in the franchise’s later installments. The film follows the aforementioned cast as they fight to survive after global warming causes widespread flooding, leaving them with significantly less icy terrain to trek.
While critics were concerned that, in comparison to the original Ice Age, the plot of the second wasn’t as convincing and the characters weren’t as fleshed out, many still praised the humor, animation, and directing. At the box office, The Meltdown finished its healthy run with more than $660 million, becoming Blue Sky’s biggest release – by far – and enabling them to prolong the adventures of their prehistoric pantheon.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
2009 was a big year for theatrical animation, with such groundbreaking releases as Pixar’s Up, Laika’s Coraline, and Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. A less-remembered – though still important – addition to this list is Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which follows the main cast of the original as they attempt to save Sid from a forgotten, subterranean dwelling housing a vengeful herd of dinosaurs. Fans of the originals were delighted by this lighthearted continuation to the franchise, although critics panned the film (with one notable exception being the late Roger Ebert).
Whatever negative reviews this installment may have gotten certainly didn’t deter it from becoming a box office hit, with final takings estimated at more than $886 million worldwide. This represented a high point for the Ice Age franchise and Blue Sky Studios as a whole; never again would they have such a profitable release.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
With Blue Sky finally stealing the spotlight from such titanic studios as Pixar and Dreamworks in regards to animated releases, they weren’t about to pass up an opportunity to continue their massive success. 2012’s Ice Age: Continental Drift follows the gang as they attempt to survive numerous encounters with treacherous pirates while trapped on an adrift ice block after the acorn-minded Scrat causes the break-up of a supercontinent.
The film’s box office results clearly showed even the most vehement critics of the franchise that Blue Sky was still able to run with the big dogs, as an unprecedentedly large gross of more than $877 million made the film’s relatively meager budget of $95 million all the more impressive. While some review outlets pointed to a perceived lack of originality in this entry as proof that the franchise (argued to be slowly growing in dormancy) had indeed run its course, there were many who were still awed by the same charming shtick that made the original such a hit ten years before.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
Armed with some fresh animation (as well as, most likely, the desire to turn a profit), Blue Sky gave the Ice Age franchise a record-breaking fifth installment with 2016’s Ice Age: Collision Course. The same beloved characters employed by the previous four films return, this time to stop their – very possible – extinction at the hands of a series of deadly meteors the ever-oblivious Scrat has sent hurtling towards Earth.
For the most part, both critics and audiences consider Collision Course to be the Ice Agefranchise’s low point, with the film earning an embarrassingly low 18% from review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. However, unlike the most tedious of animated releases, it’s still very watchable – in fact, it can even make for an enjoyable hour-and-a-half if the viewer is willing to put aside any qualms they may have towards it and just enjoy the ride.
Available on: Amazon, DirecTV, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube
