Ice Age 5: Collision Course has progressively made it’s way around the world in theatres and has finally arrived in North American cinemas. Reception-wise however, things are not looking good for the fifth instalment… In fact, like the meteor in the movie, it’s pretty disastrous when you think about it.

While the previous sequels have received mixed reactions from critics, the fifth movie set a new low for the ageing franchise where most critics and even Ice Age fans disliked the movie. At time of writing, Ice Age 5 has toxic scores of 12% on Rotten Tomatoes and 34 on Metacritic, a reception that can be said to be worse than something like Alpha and Omega. The film has been lambasted for it’s obnoxious comedy, broken story with too many subplots, an excessive cast of annoying characters old and new, and superb animation that is wasted a lousy Ice Age sequel.

Box office results took the toll with the negative reviews and competition with Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets. Opening in fifth place behind Pets, Ice Age 5 ended up bombing with the lowest domestic opening weekend of the franchise. With $21.4 million, this was only half of what was earned in Ice Age 3’s $41.7 million opening weekend. Outside of North America where the franchise is strong and popular, things have been brighter with $212 million (83.3% of the total box office) at time of writing. The movie’s co-director Mike Thurmeier hopes the international box office will help compensate the poor domestic run.

Whether or not Ice Age 5 will make enough money overseas to warrant a sixth movie, that is something we’ll have to wait and see on. But the thing we’re guaranteed is that the movie’s terrible reception will put a huge dent in Blue Sky’s reputation. We do hope that the upcoming Ferdinand and Anubis will help redeem the studio after this mess.

Sources: Cartoon Brew, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Box Office Mojo