Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)

Detailed Summary

Scrat’s Cosmic Adventure

The movie begins, as always, with Scrat and his eternal pursuit of the acorn. This time, his chase takes him to outer space after he accidentally activates a buried alien spaceship. His antics end up launching the acorn into space, causing a chain reaction that sets a giant asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Yes, Scrat is officially responsible for mass extinction-level events.

Manny and Ellie’s Family Drama

Back on Earth, Manny is struggling with his daughter Peaches preparing to marry Julian, a happy-go-lucky mammoth. Manny isn’t thrilled about his future son-in-law, fearing that Peaches will move away and he’ll lose his family dynamic. Meanwhile, Ellie tries to keep peace between them, highlighting the theme of parental anxiety and change.

Sid’s Love Life (or Lack Thereof)

Poor Sid is still unlucky in love. After another failed attempt at romance, he resigns himself to a lonely future. However, his storyline gets a payoff later when he unexpectedly finds someone who actually appreciates him for who he is.

Buck Returns with a Plan

Fan-favorite character Buck, the one-eyed weasel, makes his comeback from Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. He discovers an ancient prophecy tied to the asteroid. Convinced the asteroid is about to wipe out all life, Buck leads the herd on a journey to divert it. His manic energy injects much of the film’s humor and chaos.

The Geode Magnet Idea

The group eventually discovers that the asteroid is made of magnetic crystal. Using this knowledge, they hatch a plan to lure the asteroid away by gathering smaller pieces of the same material at “Geotopia,” a hidden community of crystals populated by eccentric creatures. Sid even finds love here with Brooke, a sloth who instantly falls for him.

Movie Ending

In the climax, Buck, Manny, Sid, Diego, and the gang execute their plan to stop the asteroid. They gather the crystals in Geotopia and create a massive magnetic pull, drawing the asteroid off its deadly course. Naturally, Scrat, still meddling in space, contributes to the chaos but inadvertently helps the plan succeed.

With Earth saved, Manny accepts Julian into the family, realizing he won’t lose Peaches but instead gains a son-in-law. Sid and Brooke declare their love, giving Sid the happy ending he’s been searching for since the first movie. Diego and Shira talk about starting a family of their own, while the herd celebrates their survival and the bonds that hold them together.

Scrat, on the other hand, gets ejected into deep space and continues chasing his acorn with no end in sight—a fitting, eternal gag for the series’ mascot.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. During the credits, Scrat is shown continuing his misadventures in space, bumbling around the alien ship and once again causing unintended chaos. However, there is no major teaser or setup for another Ice Age installment—just more Scrat slapstick.

Type of Movie

Ice Age: Collision Course is a family-friendly animated comedy-adventure with strong elements of sci-fi parody thanks to its asteroid plotline.

Cast

• Ray Romano as Manny
• John Leguizamo as Sid
• Denis Leary as Diego
• Queen Latifah as Ellie
• Keke Palmer as Peaches
• Adam Devine as Julian
• Wanda Sykes as Granny
• Simon Pegg as Buck
• Jennifer Lopez as Shira
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Shangri Llama

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by John Debney, who blended orchestral arrangements with playful, comedic tones to match the film’s lighthearted mood.

Filming Locations

As a fully animated movie, there are no physical filming locations. Production was handled by Blue Sky Studios, with extensive use of CGI animation.

Awards and Nominations

The film received several nominations at children and family-focused award shows, such as the Kids’ Choice Awards and Teen Choice Awards, but it did not win major accolades.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Blue Sky Studios animators studied asteroid physics and space visuals for accuracy, though applied them with cartoon exaggeration.
• Scrat’s space sequences were storyboarded separately from the main film, almost like a mini spin-off.
• Simon Pegg improvised much of Buck’s dialogue, giving his character manic unpredictability.
• The decision to introduce Sid’s love interest Brooke was made to finally give closure to his long-running gag of failed romances.

Inspirations and References

The asteroid plot is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the real asteroid event that wiped out the dinosaurs. Geotopia parodies New Age wellness retreats, poking fun at themes like eternal youth and crystal healing.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Some deleted sequences involved extended gags with Scrat in space and additional interactions between Manny and Julian. These were trimmed to keep the pacing tighter.

Book Adaptations and Differences

A children’s storybook adaptation of the movie was released, simplifying the asteroid crisis into a more straightforward narrative. It removes much of Buck’s eccentric dialogue and focuses on Manny’s family issues.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Scrat activating the spaceship and launching into space.
• Manny’s awkward bonding attempts with Julian.
• The reveal of Geotopia and its eccentric crystal-powered inhabitants.
• The climax where the asteroid is diverted at the last moment.

Iconic Quotes

• Manny: “You’re not losing a daughter—you’re gaining a son-in-law.”
• Sid: “At last! True love, and she’s not running away!”
• Buck: “The universe has a plan. And that plan involves me… and probably a lot of explosions!”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Geotopia’s crystal-powered wellness theme is a sly jab at 2010s wellness culture.
• The alien ship Scrat pilots has visual nods to classic Star Trek designs.
• The film includes several callbacks to earlier Ice Age films, including cameos by secondary characters.

Trivia

• This is the fifth film in the Ice Age series.
• It was the last Ice Age film produced by Blue Sky Studios before Disney acquired the studio.
• Buck’s character was originally supposed to have a bigger role in Dawn of the Dinosaurs, but his popularity ensured his return here.

Why Watch?

If you enjoy lighthearted, slapstick-driven family comedies with colorful visuals and familiar characters, Ice Age: Collision Course is worth it. It’s especially fun for kids, and longtime fans of the series will appreciate seeing closure for Sid’s love life and Manny’s family arc.

Director’s Other Movies

Directed by Mike Thurmeier, who also worked on:

• Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) – co-director

Recommended Films for Fans

• Madagascar (2005)
• The Croods (2013)
• Rio (2011)
• Zootopia (2016)
• Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)