‘Ali G: Who Iz I?' Dumped on Prime Video October 28 After One-Weekend Theatrical Run

Well, that was fast. Sacha Baron Cohen's "Ali G: Who Iz I?" will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video this Wednesday, October 28, just five days after its so-called theatrical release.

Last week, I reported that Amazon/MGM had shrunk the rollout to a single weekend, with mostly one show a day, barely any screenings in Los Angeles and only a handful in Manhattan. The film ended up in just 23 theaters, after early reports had floated more than 1,000 screens. Amazon refused to divulge the box office numbers.

The reviews haven't helped. The film sits at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. Then again, it was barely screened for press (RT lists only 23 reviews), and by all accounts, Amazon has done a good job of hiding this film. Why? I don't get it. Did they realize only very late in the game that demand for this movie was too low?

Then there's the UK backlash, with haters calling the character an outdated and racist caricature, and exhibitors being pushed not to show the film. Amazon hasn't said whether any of that shaped its decision to limit the rollout.

According to people I know who've actually seen the damn thing, the last stretch of the film is absolutely wild and one of the most dangerous things Cohen has ever attempted in his career. That alone might make it worth a look.

It's a shame, because I'll go to bat for "Borat" (2006) as one of the best comedies of the century. This is also Cohen's feature directorial debut. He's been everywhere promoting it: "60 Minutes," Howard Stern, Fallon, Time. He even said he spent $3M of his own money on a single eight-hour scene, yet the resulting film has been dumped.

Maybe streaming is where Ali G belongs at this point. "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" went straight to Prime in 2020 and became a pandemic-era hit. I'm not sure lightning strikes twice in 2026, but Wednesday will tell us whether anyone still cares who Ali G iz.