From the very start, “Ice Age” transported audiences to a world of enchantment and hilarity. It has since become one of the most beloved and top-grossing animated franchises in cinematic history.
It’s easy to see why due to its thrilling adventures, lighthearted humor, meaningful messages, and iconic characters like Sid (John Leguizamo), Manny (Ray Romano), Ellie (Queen Latifah), Diego (Denis Leary), Shira (Jennifer Lopez) and Scrat(Chris Wedge).
The 2002 blockbuster hit “Ice Age” marked the pioneering, feature-length debut of Blue Sky Studios. This success spawned a series of Ice Age films and short animations that extended beyond the original story while introducing lovable new characters to viewers worldwide.
Unfortunately, Blue Sky Studios was forced to close its doors in 2021 after Disney acquired their former distribution partner 20th Century Fox. The good news is that Disney remains committed to continuing the beloved “Ice Age” saga, so fans can expect more thrilling adventures and nut-cracking catastrophes just around the corner!
In early 2022, the much-anticipated sixth Ice Age movie “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild” premiered with its main focus on Buck (Simon Pegg) as he embarks on a thrilling journey in Dinosaur World alongside Crash (Seann William Scott) and Eddie (Josh Peck).
If you’re yearning for the next installment of “Ice Age,” why not take a nostalgic journey through all the previous movies and short films? Here is an easy-to-follow guide on watching them in chronological or release date order, so your experience will be complete!
Ice Age Movies in Order of Release Date
- Ice Age – March 15, 2002
- Ice Age: The Meltdown – March 31, 2006
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs – July 1, 2009
- Ice Age: Continental Drift – July 13, 2012
- Ice Age: Collision Course – July 22, 2016
- The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild – January 28, 2022
Ice Age Short Films in Order of Release Date
- Gone Nutty – November 26, 2002
- No Time for Nuts – November 21, 2006
- Surviving Sid – December 9, 2008
- Scrat’s Continental Crack-Up – December 25, 2010
- Scrat’s Continental Crack-Up: Part 2 – December 16, 2011
- Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe – November 6, 2015
- Scrat: Spaced Out – October 11, 2016
Ice Age Animated Series in Order of Release Date
- Ice Age: Scrat Tales – April 13, 2022
Ice Age TV Specials in Order of Release Date
- Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas – November 24, 2011
- Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade – March 20, 2016
Ice Age Movies and Short Films in Chronological Order
If you are looking to maximize your “Ice Age” movie-watching experience, the optimal order is by release date. You don’t need to watch the short films in between for understanding; however, watching them will bring greater depth and appreciation of the storyline.
Here’s our recommended viewing order:
Ice Age (2002)
Kickstarting the iconic Ice Age franchise, Sid – a comedic and sympathetic sloth – who was abandoned by his species embarks on an expedition with Manny, a solitary mammoth. Their mission? To return a human child to his father’s side. Diego, the leader of the saber-toothed tiger pride is tasked with tracking down this lost boy. Hailed as one of Hollywood’s greatest hits that year; it grossed over $383 million and was nominated at the 75th Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.
Gone Nutty (2002)
After the events of “Ice Age,” Scrat is featured in an Academy Award-nominated short film, entitled “Gone Nutty.” The story follows his persistent pursuit to hoard acorns while navigating a world that tries to stop him. His antics are both amusing and educational as he learns how much strength lies within perseverance.
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
After finding each other at the tail-end of the Ice Age, Manny, Sid, and Diego are about to confront a crisis with potentially catastrophic results. As if that wasn’t enough for Manny, who is already struggling with his worries of being the last mammoth alive – he falls in love with Ellie; a female mammoth convinced she’s an opossum! Not only was it widely acclaimed by critics but its commercial success was spectacular too as it generated more than $660 million in box office sales worldwide.
No Time for Nuts (2006)
In “No Time for Nuts,” Scrat continues his journey as he searches for a safe home to keep his acorn. Unfortunately, when digging in the ground, he discovers a buried time machine and unintentionally activates it! This launches him on an unforgettable adventure through different periods of history – what will happen next?
Surviving Sid (2008)
In “Surviving Sid,” our beloved character is back with a brand-new adventure! Two weeks after the events of “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” Sid’s journey continues as he tries to take on his role as a camp counselor for some unruly kids. His attempts to win them over are nothing short of funny, reminding us all why Sid isn’t necessarily cut out for this kind of job.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
In “Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” Buck makes his first appearance as a wild and eccentric one-eyed weasel. His presence helps Manny and the herd during their mission to save Sid from an unexplored realm filled with dinosaurs – a subtle nod to hollow-earth theory. In addition, Manny and Ellie welcome their firstborn while Crash & Eddie find newfound admiration for Buck’s character throughout this thrilling adventure!
Scrat’s Continental Crack-Up (2010)
Join Scrat on an uproarious journey in “Scrat’s Continental Crack-Up,” a delightful short parody film illustrating the process of continental drift. From his tenacious pursuit of an acorn, watch as the landmass divides into distinct continents.
Scrat’s Continental Crack-Up: Part 2 (2011)
The second part of this short feature was released in 2011, offering an exciting trailer for the upcoming film, “Ice Age: Continental Drift”. It continues Scrat’s never-ending search for his perfect acorn. An ocean of adventure awaits him as he discovers a tiny islet with plenty of acorns– or so it seems. Will Scrat learn that all that glitters isn’t gold?
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
A sequel to “Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs”, sixteen years forward in time, follows a now teenage Peaches (Keke Palmer) as she navigates her way through the challenges that come with growing up. Scrat has caused some serious trouble for our favorite herd, who must battle against both external dangers from the earth-splitting disasters he created as well as their own inner turmoil. The Ice Age film was an unprecedented success, becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of 2012 with over $877 million worldwide!
Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe (2015)
The five-minute animated short film “Cosmic Scrat-tastrophe” is a comical yet captivating prequel to the fifth full feature movie in the Ice Age series, setting up an imminent disaster that will befall our beloved characters. Follow along with comic squirrel Scrat as his quest for acorns sends him on a wild ride through outer space, only to find himself stranded and facing cosmic consequences! Will he ever reunite with his furry friends or remain forever lost in the vastness of space?
Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
Reuniting the herd, “Ice Age: Collision Course” marks the highly-anticipated fifth movie of the beloved franchise. This time around, Scrat’s mischievous deeds have had unfathomable consequences – asteroids are now on a crash course with Earth! Despite some mixed reviews from critics, this heartwarming adventure captured audiences worldwide and earned an impressive total of $408 million.
Scrat: Spaced Out (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sntofTRFt6A
“Scrat: Spaced Out” is the continuation of “Collision Course” and follows Scrat’s ongoing mission to reclaim his acorn. This time, he faces three otherworldly adversaries known as Scratzons in a battle for supremacy – yet despite his valiant efforts, Scrats inevitably comes up short.
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022)
Join Crash and Eddie, the intrepid possum brothers on their quest to find an amazing place they can call home. With the help of Buck Wild, a one-eyed weasel with tons of heart, they’ll have to bravely face off against all kinds of dinosaurs in “The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild.”
This thrilling adventure is full of action, comedy and heartwarming moments as the trio embarks on a journey they’ll never forget. Buck must use all his courage and cunning to protect his new friends from the ancient beasts that inhabit the Lost World.
Ice Age Movies in Order Ranked [Sortable Table]
Table Key
Order – Chronological Order
Release – Official Release Date
Box Office – Worldwide Box Office Gross
RT Meter – Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer
RT Score – Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
IMDb – IMDb Rating
| Movies/Shows | Order | Release | Box Office | RT Meter | RT Score | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Age | 1 | 2002/3 | $383,257,136 | 77 | 82 | 7.5 |
| Ice Age: Meltdown | 2 | 2006/3 | $667,094,506 | 57 | 71 | 6.8 |
| Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | 3 | 2009/7 | $886,686,817 | 46 | 62 | 6.9 |
| Ice Age: Continental Drift | 4 | 2012/7 | $877,244,782 | 37 | 61 | 6.5 |
| Ice Age: Collision Course | 5 | 2016/7 | $408,754,975 | 18 | 39 | 5.6 |
| The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild | 6 | 2022/1 | 19 | 37 | 4.3 |
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