Sacha Baron Cohen Is Bringing Ali G Back — 'Who Iz I?' Hits Theaters This October

Sacha Baron Cohen Is Bringing Ali G Back — 'Who Iz I?' Hits Theaters This October

Respek is back on the menu. Sacha Baron Cohen has officially unveiled his secret Ali G movie — titled Ali G: Who Iz I? — and it’s hitting theaters on October 23, 2026, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios. If you missed the chaos the first time around, prepare yourself: the Staines-born wannabe gangster is returning for one more round of bewildering interviews and cringe-inducing man-on-the-street encounters.

The announcement came in the most Ali G way possible. Cohen posted a video on Instagram in full character, complete with yellow-tinted glasses and that unmistakable tracksuit, writing: “Dey haz finally made a documentary about me. And it ain’t dat crap one about da penguins, dis one haz got at least twice as much animal sex.” Classic. The teaser confirmed the release date and sent the internet into a nostalgia-fueled meltdown.

A Secret Movie Years in the Making

Like Borat before it, Ali G: Who Iz I? was filmed entirely in secret over several years across multiple cities. Cohen reportedly shot pranks and interviews on and off, ambushing unsuspecting public figures and everyday people who had no idea they were talking to a fictional character. This marks Cohen’s feature directorial debut, making it an even bigger milestone for the three-time Oscar nominee.

Word of the project started leaking in early July 2026 when Cohen showed up at Wimbledon in full Ali G regalia, casually explaining to bewildered tennis fans that the sport is “like a crap version of ping-pong.” The clip went viral, and it didn’t take long for fans to connect the dots.

The film will face some serious competition at the box office. It’s releasing the same weekend as DC’s Clayface from Warner Bros. and Sony’s Klara and the Sun, the Taika Waititi-directed adaptation starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. Bold move, but if anyone can crash a blockbuster party with a fake British rapper, it’s Cohen.

From Channel 4 to Hollywood: The Ali G Legacy

For millennials who grew up in the early 2000s, Ali G is pure nostalgia gold. Cohen debuted the character on Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show back in 1998, and the satirical hip-hop journalist quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Da Ali G Show — which also introduced Borat and Brüno — moved to HBO and earned Cohen international fame.

• Ali G Indahouse (2002) – Directed by Mark Mylod, the first feature film earned over $23 million abroad despite no U.S. theatrical release.
• Borat (2006) – Grossed $262.5 million globally and earned Cohen an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) – Released on Prime Video during COVID, scoring two Oscar nods including Best Supporting Actress for Maria Bakalova.
• Brüno (2009) – Directed by Larry Charles, pushing boundaries even further.

Cohen hasn’t exactly been quiet lately either. He recently appeared as the demon Mephisto in Marvel’s Ironheart on Disney+, and starred in Netflix’s comedy Ladies First and the raunchy Balls Up earlier this year.

Why This Actually Matters

Let’s be real: the world could use some Ali G energy right now. In an era of hyper-polished celebrity PR and sanitized interviews, watching Cohen demolish social norms while his victims try desperately to stay polite is still pure comedy gold. The fact that he managed to keep this entire production under wraps — in 2026, no less — is borderline miraculous.

Amazon MGM is clearly betting big on this. Their last partnership with Cohen on Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was a massive success, and bringing Ali G back to theaters — not streaming — signals real confidence. Ali G: Who Iz I? opens everywhere October 23. Booyakasha.