Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Madagascar

Madagascar is a 2005 American computer-animated comedy film directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Madagascar is a 2005 animated comedy from DreamWorks. It follows four zoo animals stranded on a wild island.

What it is

Madagascar is a computer-animated film directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath. It stars Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith as four pampered animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo who end up shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar. The film was released on May 27, 2005, and runs 86 minutes.

Why it matters

The film was a major commercial success, grossing $558 million worldwide on a $75 million budget. It launched a franchise that includes two sequels and a spin-off, making it a key part of DreamWorks Animation’s 2000s lineup. In Canada, it remains a staple on streaming and broadcast platforms.

Key details

Produced by DreamWorks Animation and PDI/DreamWorks, the film was distributed by DreamWorks Pictures. Its story focuses on adaptation and friendship as the animals encounter wild lemurs and other creatures. The voice cast also includes Sacha Baron Cohen and Cedric the Entertainer.

In short

  • Released May 27, 2005, in the U.S.
  • Grossed $558 million worldwide.
  • First film in the Madagascar franchise.
  • Voiced by Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Canadian angle

Madagascar was widely distributed in Canada as a major Hollywood animated release and is part of the DreamWorks family-film catalogue commonly shown on Canadian streaming and broadcast platforms.

Quick questions

What is Madagascar about?
It follows four Central Park Zoo animals who become stranded on Madagascar and must adapt to the wild.
Who directed Madagascar?
Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath directed the film.
Was Madagascar successful?
Yes, it earned $558 million worldwide against a $75 million budget.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_(2005_film)
    Supports: Release date, directors, cast, production companies, plot summary, box office, franchise status
  2. DreamWorks — https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/madagascar
    Supports: Official synopsis and cast overview
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/madagascar
    Supports: Directors, screenwriters, runtime, rating, release date, synopsis
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_(franchise)
    Supports: Franchise context and subsequent films
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70021636
    Supports: Synopsis and main cast