Sacha Baron Cohen Brings Ali G Back in New Film

Sacha Baron Cohen has brought Ali G back to the screen in Ali G Who Iz I?, a new comedy that returns the character to his prank-interview format while taking aim at political extremism, prejudice and public figures’ willingness to engage with his persona. The film opened in UK cinemas on October 23, 2026, and was scheduled for a one-weekend theatrical run in the United States beginning the same day. The return comes about 20 years after Ali G’s previous screen appearances. In the film, the character tries to revive his interviewing career and encounters people in political and media settings. Cohen also plays Dr. Nira Cain-N-Degeocello, a white academic who seeks to expose Ali as a cultural appropriator, and Erran Morad, an Israeli antiterrorism expert from Cohen’s earlier work. Cohen has described Ali G as a way to expose prejudice and stupidity. He said the character’s absurd questions lead powerful people to underestimate him and answer earnestly, revealing their own biases. Those remarks express Cohen’s stated intent; they do not establish how audiences interpret the character or the film’s impact. The comedy revisits longstanding criticism that Ali G’s performance draws...