Nearly 25 years later, the Ice Age series is still ongoing. Ice Age: Boiling Point is set to hit theaters on February 5, 2027. We will see the return of fan-favorite cast members Ray Romano as Manny, John Leguizamo as Sid, Denis Leary as Diego, Queen Latifah as Ellie, and Simon Pegg as Buck.
The teaser shows Diego, Manny, Ellie, Sid, Buck, Scrat, and Baby Scrat plummeting through the sky. As dramatic music plays in the background, the characters tumble in slow motion while being struck by flying chunks of ice and fiery rocks.
A Franchise That Grew up With Its Audience
When the original Ice Age premiered in 2002, it introduced us to an unlikely herd, consisting of a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a sloth. The first film and those that followed mixed humor and adventure with a touch of love, becoming a family favorite for years.
Many of us who watched the first movie are now adults. For older Gen Z audiences and millennials, the return of the franchise serves as a reminder of childhood movie nights and family trips to the theater. The release of this new film taps into that nostalgia, bringing us back to characters that may have slipped from our minds over the years.
The Power of Nostalgia
Recently, Hollywood has been relying on familiar franchises to create sequels and reboots. This is evident in Toy Story’s newest film, coming out on June 19. Studios tend to revisit past films because they already have a built-in audience connected to the movies and characters. Plus, this increases the chances of Gen A seeing the films as well.
Fans, both old and new, are thrilled and hyped for the new Ice Age film. The excitement surrounding the teaser proves how these old movies help us tap into our inner child. Although younger viewers may be discovering the franchise for the first time, we older audiences are returning because of our familiarity with the plot line, characters, and the nostalgic feelings we itch to scratch. Nostalgia is powerful and creates interest in releases from films grew with us.
Scrat’s Lasting Legacy
The teaser shows the original cast making a return, but Scrat has become an iconic and memorable character for many. The acorn-obsessed prehistoric saber-toothed squirrel has spent more than two decades chasing after his prized possession, a scrumptious acorn, even in chaotic situations. He did end up getting his acorn in 2022. A short animated clip showed him savoring the long-awaited snack.
Scrat’s character is comedic and somewhat quiet as he doesn’t have any dialogue, but it’s what makes him recognizable across generations and cultures. His screen time has made him a fan favorite, and clips of his acorn adventures circulate online through memes and social media throwback posts. Even years after the last film’s release, Scrat remains one of animation’s most memorable characters.
Why “Ice Age” Still Matters
Few animated franchises have managed to stick around quite like Ice Age. Part of the franchise’s appeal is that it has offered more than just laughs and heartfelt moments. The stories were fictional, but they introduced young audiences to prehistoric animals and the Ice Age. The films were an entertaining yet educational glimpse into a period of history that would later be taught in school.
The excitement surrounding Ice Age: Boiling Point shows that audiences still have a soft spot for the prehistoric herd. While the franchise will likely introduce a new generation to Manny, Sid, and Diego, it also taps into something powerful: nostalgia. Fans who grew up watching the original films are now adults, and many are eager to revisit the characters that were a staple of their childhoods.
Ice Age proves that some franchises never really go extinct.
