One of animation’s most beloved franchises is officially heading back to theaters.
Disney and 20th Century Studios have unveiled Ice Age: Boiling Point, the sixth main installment in the long-running animated series, while also releasing the film’s first teaser trailer. Scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 5, 2027, the movie marks the franchise’s first theatrical outing in more than a decade and reunites audiences with Manny, Sid, Diego, Scrat, and several other fan-favorite characters.
Many moviegoers who grew up with the franchise during the 2000s, the announcement represents the return of one of animation’s defining brands. More importantly, it signals Disney’s latest attempt to revive a dormant theatrical property that once ranked among the biggest animated franchises in the world.
The film arrives nearly 11 years after Ice Age: Collision Course, which was released in 2016. Since then, the franchise’s only major project was the Disney+ spin-off The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild in 2022. While that streaming release kept the brand alive, Boiling Point marks the true return of the main series and the first time audiences will see the original herd together on the big screen in over a decade.
That lengthy gap is a significant part of the film’s appeal. Few animated franchises have remained recognizable after such a long absence from theaters, and Disney appears determined to capitalize on the nostalgia surrounding characters that helped define a generation of family entertainment.
The newly released teaser focuses heavily on that nostalgia factor. Rather than revealing major story details, the footage reintroduces viewers to the franchise’s familiar characters, particularly Scrat, whose endless pursuit of an acorn became one of animation’s most enduring running gags.
The teaser’s primary objective appears to be reminding audiences why they fell in love with the series in the first place. Familiar faces, familiar humor, and the promise of another large-scale prehistoric adventure take center stage, while plot specifics remain largely under wraps.
Although Disney has not revealed extensive story details, the studio has confirmed that the herd will embark on a new adventure through unexplored regions of the Lost World. Early descriptions suggest the film will blend dinosaurs, volcanic landscapes, and large-scale action set pieces, potentially revisiting elements first introduced in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
The subtitle Boiling Point appears to be connected to volcanic activity. Footage reportedly showcased at CinemaCon featured Scrat and Baby Scrat attempting to escape a volcanic eruption, hinting that lava-filled environments may play a major role in the story.
One of the biggest reasons for fan excitement is the return of the franchise’s original voice cast.
Ray Romano returns as Manny the woolly mammoth, while John Leguizamo reprises his role as the lovable sloth Sid. Denis Leary is back as Diego, Queen Latifah returns as Ellie, and Simon Pegg once again voices Buck Wild, the eccentric dinosaur hunter who became one of the franchise’s most popular additions.
Scrat and Baby Scrat have also been confirmed to appear, ensuring that one of the series’ most recognizable characters remains part of the adventure.
The return of the original cast gives Boiling Point a sense of continuity that many longtime fans have been hoping for. Rather than rebooting the property or introducing an entirely new generation of characters, Disney appears focused on reuniting the core herd that helped build the franchise’s global popularity.
That popularity remains substantial even after years away from theaters.
The original Ice Age debuted in 2002 and quickly became a worldwide success, spawning multiple sequels and transforming the property into one of animation’s most valuable franchises. Across its theatrical run, the series generated billions of dollars worldwide and stood alongside Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda as one of the defining family entertainment brands of the 2000s and early 2010s.
Characters such as Scrat achieved global recognition, helping the franchise maintain cultural relevance long after its theatrical peak.
Ice Age: Boiling Point also represents a major milestone behind the scenes. It will be the first theatrical Ice Age film released following the closure of Blue Sky Studios in 2021. The studio was responsible for creating the franchise and producing every previous theatrical installment before Disney shut it down following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
As a result, Boiling Point effectively begins a new era for the franchise under Disney’s direct stewardship. That makes the film an important test not only for the future of Ice Age but also for Disney’s broader strategy of reviving established family brands. The company has increasingly relied on recognizable intellectual property to drive theatrical attendance, and Ice Age remains one of the strongest inherited franchises in its animation library.
The success of Boiling Point could determine whether the series becomes an active theatrical franchise once again or remains an occasional nostalgia-driven event. After 11 years away from theaters, Manny, Sid, Diego, Scrat, and the rest of the herd are officially back. With the original cast returning, a new adventure on the horizon, and nostalgia working firmly in its favor, Ice Age: Boiling Point is already positioning itself as one of the most anticipated family films of 2027.
First poster for ‘ICE AGE 6: BOILING POINT’.
In theaters on February 5, 2027. pic.twitter.com/ZZaKaIMiki
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 4, 2026
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