# Madagascar (2005 film)

By [Honor](https://paragraph.com/@allweare) · 2023-01-21

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**_Madagascar_** is a 2005 American [computer-animated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_animation) [survival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_film) [comedy film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_film) produced by [DreamWorks Animation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DreamWorks_Animation) and [PDI/DreamWorks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDI/DreamWorks) and distributed by [DreamWorks Pictures](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DreamWorks_Pictures). The film was directed by [Eric Darnell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Darnell) and [Tom McGrath](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McGrath_\(animator\)) (in his feature directorial debut) and written by Darnell, McGrath, [Mark Burton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Burton_\(writer\)), and [Billy Frolick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Frolick). The film stars the voices of [Ben Stiller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Stiller), [Chris Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rock), [David Schwimmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Schwimmer), [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jada_Pinkett_Smith), [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacha_Baron_Cohen), [Cedric the Entertainer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedric_the_Entertainer), and [Andy Richter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Richter). It centers around a group of animals from the [Central Park Zoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_Zoo) who find themselves stranded on the island of [Madagascar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar).

Released on May 27, 2005, _Madagascar_ received mixed reviews from critics but was a success at the box office, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 2005. The film would go on to spawn a [franchise of the same name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_\(franchise\)), which includes the sequels [_Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar:_Escape_2_Africa) (2008) and [_Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_3:_Europe%27s_Most_Wanted) (2012), as well as an upcoming fourth film; the spin-off film [_Penguins of Madagascar_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguins_of_Madagascar) (2014); several short films, television series, and specials; and a number of video games, theme park attractions, and live stage shows.

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*Originally published on [Honor](https://paragraph.com/@allweare/madagascar-2005-film)*