‘Ali G: Who Iz I?’ Splits Critics as Sacha Baron Cohen’s Comeback Struggles on Rotten Tomatoes
After more than 2 decades away from the big screen, one of comedy’s most divisive alter egos is back. ‘Ali G: Who Iz I?’ brings Sacha Baron Cohen’s wannabe gangsta into the age of TikTok, culture wars and cancel campaigns. It’s also Cohen’s feature directorial debut.
Expectations were high. The character launched on Channel 4’s ‘The 11 O’Clock Show’ in the late ’90s, got his own series in 2000 and starred in ‘Ali G Indahouse’ in 2002. Amazon MGM Studios released the R-rated follow-up in theaters on October 23, with Cohen joking on Instagram that someone had finally made a documentary about him.
Early reviews suggest the comeback hasn’t fully landed. The film currently holds a 42% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from 33 reviews, and there aren’t yet enough verified audience ratings for a Popcornmeter score.
The critical consensus has slipped over time. Box Office Watch earlier listed the film at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a Metacritic score of 36 that points to a more negative reception overall.
Some reviews were brutal. TheWrap’s Todd Gilchrist called it a “dispiriting and painfully humorless affair,” arguing that real-world culture has moved past Cohen’s brand of shock comedy. He also said that mocking reprehensible targets doesn’t produce the same laughs it once did.
The story picks up after 20 years of Ali G doing very little. He’s shocked to learn that his longtime girlfriend Julie, now played by Morgana Robinson, is 8 months pregnant. Broke and avoiding responsibility, he gets an outdated HBO offer for another season of his show and heads to Los Angeles to close a deal that expired long ago.
Sacha Baron Cohen arrives in character and performs as Ali G at the L.A. premiere of “Ali G: Who Iz I?” https://t.co/DzzFEEK2uI
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 15, 2026
From there, things get messy. He reinvents himself as a TikTok creator, becomes convinced A$AP Rocky is his father, and ends up drifting into the fringes of white nationalist culture. He’s then offered a talk show built around fighting “woke” politics, which forces him to choose between fame and fatherhood.
Cohen also brings back familiar faces from ‘Who Is America?’. He plays Nira Cain-N’Degeocello, a progressive gender studies professor determined to cancel Ali, and an ex-Mossad agent who trains a militia of pro-MAGA “patriots.”
Ali G: Who Iz I? now on Prime, home to de worlds best movies and cheapest bongs, so load one up and get so mashed watchin it, u’ll watch again straight after coz u wont remember nuffin about it. Westside https://t.co/dmk5valEwO
— Ali G (@OfficialAli_G) October 28, 2026
Not every critic came away disappointed. Chortle gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, calling some of the pranks genuinely jaw-dropping and comparing the way they expose uncomfortable truths about American society to Chris Morris at his best. The review singled out Robinson as a standout.
Time Out took the middle ground, awarding 3 stars to what it described as a hit-and-miss sequel. The review found it scattershot but sometimes very funny, while noting that the film often feels like it’s telling the same ‘Borat’ joke again.
Several reviewers also pointed to the unscripted cameos. Newt Gingrich, George Santos, Kari Lake, and Rachel Dolezal all reportedly appear as targets of the film’s hoaxes, and one participant is reportedly already planning to sue.
The criticisms are consistent across reviews. Critics describe the film as erratic rather than tightly structured, with some sketch-style stunts feeling disconnected from the main story. Others felt the crude humor was more gross than clever.
He iz back. We ain’t liable. Ali G: Who Iz I? only in dem cinemas October 23. #AliGWhoIzI https://t.co/u0OCOsgqgJ
— Sony Pictures UK 🎬 (@SonyPicturesUK) August 25, 2026
Several reviewers credited Cohen for one bold choice: the film directly confronts long-standing criticism that the character appropriates and mocks Black culture. Even skeptical critics acknowledged that this gives the sequel more self-awareness than expected.
The film arrived in a crowded weekend alongside ‘Clayface’ and ‘Klara and the Sun’. It’s expected to move to Prime Video after a limited theatrical run, which could give it a second chance with fans who grew up quoting the original.
Whether or not critics are on board, Cohen’s pranks have always thrived on word of mouth and viral clips. That may matter more to the film’s long-term success than its current Tomatometer score.
Do you think Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G: Who Iz I? can still work in today’s comedy landscape?
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