Penguins of Madagascar#Video game

In Antarctica, penguin chicks Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski, upon seeing a runaway egg roll away from their colony, rescue it from leopard seals on an abandoned whaling ship and are set adrift on an iceberg. When the egg hatches, the trio adopt the chick as their brother, Private.

Ten years later, after defeating Captain Chantel DuBois,{{efn|As depicted at the end of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)}} the penguins temporary leave Circus Zaragoza to celebrate Private's birthday by breaking into Fort Knox to get Cheesy Dibbles from a vending machine, despite Private's real wish of being recognized as an official team member. The penguins are subsequently kidnapped and taken to a submarine, where they are confronted by Dave, a Giant Pacific octopus who was once a star attraction at Central Park Zoo until the penguins upstaged him with their cuteness. After being repeatedly passed between numerous zoos and aquariums, each time being upstaged by penguins, a bitter Dave disguised himself as a human scientist named Dr. Octavius Brine to enact his revenge. Rico swallows a vial of Dave's special sauce – the Medusa Serum – and his snow globe collection before the penguins escape.

Fleeing through Venice while pursued by Dave's octopi henchmen, the penguins are rescued by the North Wind, an inter-species intelligence agency consisting of Eurasian wolf leader whose name is classified (Skipper calls him "Classified"), polar bear muscle Corporal, harp seal demolitionist Short Fuse, and snowy owl intelligence analyst Eva. After the penguins shows the North Wind the Medusa Serum, Dave hacks into the North Wind's computers to reveal he has made more of it. Deeming Skipper's team a liability to the mission, Classified darts them and puts them on a plane bound for Madagascar.

The penguins escape the plane, and, using Dave's snow globes, realize Dave targets every zoo and aquarium he was kicked out of and kidnaps their penguins, with the Shanghai Zoo as his next target. Skipper's team forms a plan to stop Dave, and Private reluctantly agrees to be the bait. The other penguins manage to trap Dave with a dinosaur skeleton just as the North Wind shows up. Dave escapes via a drain and captures the Shanghai penguins along with Private. Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski hijack the North Wind's jet to pursue him. At Dave's lair, Private learns that Dave plans to use the Medusa Serum to turn penguins into mindless and disfigured monsters for the public to hate and exterminate.

Upon reaching Dave's hideout, the penguins and the North Wind clash over their different plans to infiltrate the submarine, before Skipper relents and goes with the North Wind's plan. The penguins distract the octopus guards while the North Wind sneak inside, but both teams are captured. Dave tests the Medusa Serum on Private, but he escapes using a paper clip he swallowed earlier, unbeknownst to everyone present, who believe Private has been vaporized. Private finds and frees the North Wind, but they refuse to help without their equipment, so Private goes alone.

As Dr. Brine, Dave unleashes the mutated penguins on New York City. Private obtains Dave's ray, finds Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski, and restores their sanity. As the penguins and the North Wind battle Dave and his henchmen, Private inserts himself into Dave's ray, using the power of his cuteness to restore the other penguins. This leaves Private mutated, and Dave shrunk and trapped inside one of his snow globes. Private earns his place as a qualified member of the team, to the approval of the North Wind. The North Wind gives the penguins jetpacks; the penguins fly back to Circus Zaragoza.

In a post-credits scene, the penguins return to the circus and turn Private back to normal with Dave’s machine.

{{See also|List of Madagascar (franchise) characters}}

File:John Malkovich & Benedict Cumberbatch, Penguins of Madagascar, SDCC 2014.jpg and Benedict Cumberbatch talking at the Penguins of Madagascar panel at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con]]

• Tom McGrath as Skipper, the leader of the Adélie penguins.{{cite news|last1=Truitt|first1=Brian|title=Sneak Peek: 'Penguins of Madagascar'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/06/08/penguins-of-madagascar-first-look/9727597/|access-date=June 9, 2014|work=USA Today|date=June 8, 2014|archive-date=June 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609111440/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/06/08/penguins-of-madagascar-first-look/9727597/|url-status=live}}
• Conrad Vernon as Rico,{{cite news|last1=Berkshire|first1=Geoff|title=Film Review: 'Penguins of Madagascar'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-penguins-of-madagascar-1201353894/|access-date=November 12, 2014|work=Variety|date=November 12, 2014|archive-date=November 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115160414/http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-penguins-of-madagascar-1201353894/|url-status=live}} the "special" penguin in the group that is creepily obsessed with big booms. Vernon replaces John DiMaggio as the voice of Rico in the film.
• Chris Miller as Kowalski, the dedicated status reporter.
• Christopher Knights as Private, the mild-mannered eager rookie of the Adélie penguins.
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Agent Classified, a Eurasian wolf. He is the North Wind's team leader.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jun/11/benedict-cumberbatch-penguins-of-madagascar |title=Benedict Cumberbatch had to voice a Eurasian wolf named Classified in a brand-new Madagascar spin-off film featuring the penguins |first=Ben |last=Beaumont-Thomas |date=June 11, 2014 |work=The Guardian |via=www.theguardian.com |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126030836/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jun/11/benedict-cumberbatch-penguins-of-madagascar |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/2014/11/26/7290373/benedict-cumberbatch-penguins |title=Here are some of Benedict Cumberbatch's most oddly sexy lines from Penguins of Madagascar |first=Emily Todd |last=VanDerWerff |date=November 26, 2014 |website=Vox |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624133012/https://www.vox.com/2014/11/26/7290373/benedict-cumberbatch-penguins |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/penguins-of-madagascar-actor-benedict-cumberbatch-thinks-he-worked-on-a-disney-film-105013.html |title=Benedict Cumberbatch Thinks 'Penguins of Madagascar' is A Disney-Made Film |date=October 24, 2014 |website=Cartoon Brew |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624133014/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/penguins-of-madagascar-actor-benedict-cumberbatch-thinks-he-worked-on-a-disney-film-105013.html |url-status=live }} Classified is not his actual name, but a nickname Skipper gives him after the latter told the former that his name was classified information.
• Ken Jeong as Short Fuse, a Belgian white-furred harp seal and a member of the North Wind who serves as their expert in pyrotechnics and demolitions.{{cite web|last=Cunningham|first=Todd|title=DreamWorks Animation Switches Release Dates on 'Penguins of Madagascar' and 'Home'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/dreamworks-animation-switches-release-dates-on-penguins-of-madagascar-and-home/|publisher=The Wrap|access-date=May 21, 2014|date=May 20, 2014|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118183743/https://www.thewrap.com/dreamworks-animation-switches-release-dates-on-penguins-of-madagascar-and-home/|url-status=live}}
• Annet Mahendru as Eva, a Russian snowy owl with a matching accent, Kowalski's love interest/girlfriend, and the North Wind's intelligence analyst.
• Peter Stormare as Corporal, a Norwegian polar bear and a member of the North Wind who serves as the muscle.
• John Malkovich as Dave / Dr. Octavius Brine, a villainous and disgruntled Giant Pacific octopus who has a human scientist disguise and has a one-sided grudge against Adélie penguins. He wants revenge on all Adélie penguins across the Earth for being upstaged by them at international zoos.{{cite magazine|last1=McHenry|first1=Jackson|title='The Penguins of Madagascar' trailer: Spies and Benedict Cumberbatch -- VIDEO|url=https://ew.com/article/2014/06/11/penguins-madagascar-benedict-cumberbatch/|access-date=June 13, 2014|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808112833/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/06/11/penguins-madagascar-benedict-cumberbatch|url-status=live}}
• Werner Herzog as Himself (credited as the "Documentary Filmmaker").{{cite web|last1=Han|first1=Angie|title=Penguins of Madagascar' Footage Recap and Panel Highlights [Comic Con 2014]|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/penguins-of-madagascar-footage-comic-con/|publisher=/Film|access-date=July 25, 2014|date=July 25, 2014|archive-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728194031/http://www.slashfilm.com/penguins-of-madagascar-footage-comic-con/|url-status=live}}
• Billy Eichner as the New York Reporter.
• Jim Pirri as an Italian gondolier.
• Danny Jacobs as King Julien XIII, a ring-tailed lemur who is the king of the lemurs in Madagascar. Jacobs replaces Sacha Baron Cohen from the previous three films.
• Andy Richter as Mort, a Goodman's mouse lemur and King Julien XIII's biggest fan.
• Ben Stiller as Alex (via audio from the previous film)
• Chris Rock as Marty (via audio from the previous film)

A direct-to-video spin-off feature film featuring the Madagascar penguin characters had been in the works since 2005, when the first film was released, with a release date initially planned for 2009.{{cite news|last=Fritz|first=Ben|title=D'Works will rely on animal instinct|url=https://variety.com/2005/digital/features/d-works-will-rely-on-animal-instinct-1117929100/|access-date=October 27, 2011|newspaper=Variety|date=September 14, 2005|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109022420/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117929100|url-status=live}} Years later, DreamWorks Animation announced in March 2011 that the penguins would be given their own theatrical film, directed by Simon J. Smith (the co-director of DreamWorks' Bee Movie) produced by Lara Breay, and written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons (the writers of DreamWorks' Megamind).{{cite news | last=Kit | first=Borys | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/madagascar-spin-be-helmed-by-222257 | title='Madagascar' Spin-Off to Be Helmed by 'Bee Movie' Co-Director (Exclusive) | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=August 11, 2011 | access-date=August 12, 2011 | archive-date=April 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402173418/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/madagascar-spin-be-helmed-by-222257 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-developing-madagascar-penguins-spinoff-172353 |title=DreamWorks Developing 'Madagascar' Penguins Spinoff Movie (Exclusive) |last=Kit |first=Borys |work=HollywoodReporter.com |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429160225/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-developing-madagascar-penguins-spinoff-172353 |url-status=live }}

At the July 2012 Comic-Con, DreamWorks Animation announced that the film, then titled The Penguins of Madagascar, would be released in 2015.{{cite news|last=B. Vary|first=Adam|title=DreamWorks Animation Comic-Con panel: Caveman families and penguin movies!|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/07/12/dreamworks-animation-comic-con-panel/|access-date=July 13, 2012|newspaper=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 12, 2012|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715045729/http://www.ew.com/article/2012/07/12/dreamworks-animation-comic-con-panel|url-status=live}} Bob Schooley, one of the developers of The Penguins of Madagascar series on Nickelodeon, said that the film would be unrelated to the TV series of the same name, but added that could always change.{{cite news|title=Email Interview With Robert Schooley|url=http://www.totalmediabridge.com/email-interview-with-robert-schooley/|access-date=August 4, 2012|newspaper=Total Media Bridge|date=July 19, 2012|archive-date=March 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323074815/http://www.totalmediabridge.com/email-interview-with-robert-schooley/|url-status=live}} In early September 2012, 20th Century Fox - the studio's then new distributor - and DreamWorks Animation announced the film's release date of March 27, 2015 and a new team of screenwriters for the film, Michael Colton and John Aboud.{{cite press release|author1=DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.|title=New Distributor Twentieth Century Fox Unveils DreamWorks Animation's Release Slate Through 2016|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-distributor-twentieth-century-fox-unveils-dreamworks-animations-release-slate-through-2016-169123176.html|publisher=PR Newswire|access-date=December 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006094204/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-distributor-twentieth-century-fox-unveils-dreamworks-animations-release-slate-through-2016-169123176.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014|date=September 9, 2012|url-status=live}} Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich joined the cast in August 2013.{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich Join 'Penguins of Madagascar' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/benedict-cumberbatch-john-malkovich-join-penguins-madagascar-exclusive-108591|access-date=August 6, 2013|newspaper=The Wrap|date=August 5, 2013|archive-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220121242/http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/benedict-cumberbatch-john-malkovich-join-penguins-madagascar-exclusive-108591|url-status=live}} Malkovich, who had been offered the role of Dr. Octavius Brine three and a half years before the film's release, told an audience at the July 2014 Comic-Con that he thought that it "was a funny idea" to use his voice for an octopus.{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Matt|date=July 24, 2014|title=PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR Comic-Con Panel Recap: A Great DreamWorks Animated Film Might Be on the Way|url=https://collider.com/penguins-of-madagascar-comic-con-panel-recap/|access-date=July 25, 2014|publisher=Collider.com|archive-date=July 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729210155/http://collider.com/penguins-of-madagascar-comic-con-panel-recap/|url-status=live}}

This is the final DreamWorks Animation film to be produced by PDI/DreamWorks before its closure on January 22, 2015, with DreamWorks Animation (DWA) Glendale taking over until 2024, when the studio decided to shift away from fully animating its film in-house and rely more on outsourcing from outside studios.{{cite web|last1=Wolfe|first1=Jennifer|title=DreamWorks Animation Shuttering PDI|url=https://www.awn.com/news/dreamworks-animation-shuttering-pdi|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=March 20, 2015|date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930151256/https://www.awn.com/news/dreamworks-animation-shuttering-pdi|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Penguins of Madagascar (soundtrack)}}

On January 8, 2014, Lorne Balfe was announced to compose the film's musical score, making it his first solo debut in a DreamWorks Animation film.{{cite news |title=Lorne Balfe to Score 'The Penguins of Madagascar'|newspaper=Film Music Reporter |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/01/08/lorne-balfe-to-score-the-penguins-of-madagascar/|access-date=January 19, 2014 |date=January 8, 2014|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206211948/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/01/08/lorne-balfe-to-score-the-penguins-of-madagascar/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://new.pitchengine.com/pitches/54e137a7-f032-4b04-bd98-f2dcc2fae21d |title=Dreamworks Animation : High-Fives All Around: The Penguins Of Madagascar Recruited For Top-Secret Assignment This Fall |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=June 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612231756/https://new.pitchengine.com/pitches/54e137a7-f032-4b04-bd98-f2dcc2fae21d}} Balfe wrote the additional music for the previous two Madagascar films and helped Madagascar composer Hans Zimmer with the score for Megamind. The soundtrack album was released digitally on November 21, 2014, and through CDs on December 5, by Relativity Music Group. Relativity also released an extended play, Penguins of Madagascar: Black & White Christmas Album, which featured five holiday songs.{{cite web |date=November 13, 2014 |title='Penguins of Madagascar' Soundtrack Announced |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/11/13/penguins-of-madagascar-soundtrack-announced/ |access-date=2014-11-15 |publisher=Film Music Reporter |archive-date=2014-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116040919/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2014/11/13/penguins-of-madagascar-soundtrack-announced|url-status=live}} Pitbull performed a non-album single titled "Celebrate" for the film, which was played during the film's end credits and released as a part of his eighth studio album Globalization.{{Cite web |title=Pitbull Explains Why He's Just Like The Penguins Of Madagascar |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/4yyjs4/pitbull-penguins-of-madagascar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113170238/https://www.mtv.com/news/4yyjs4/pitbull-penguins-of-madagascar |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=MTV |language=en}}

Penguins of Madagascar was originally scheduled to be released on March 27, 2015. On May 20, 2014, the film's release date was moved up to November 26, 2014 from its initial March 27, 2015 date, switching places with DreamWorks Animation's other film Home.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/05/the-penguins-of-madagascar-release-date-home-dreamworks-animation-733688/ |title=DreamWorks Animation Moves Up 'Penguins Of Madagascar' Bow, Bumps 'Home' To 2015 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2014 |archive-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612073306/http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/the-penguins-of-madagascar-release-date-home-dreamworks-animation/ |url-status=live }} Jeffrey Katzenberg, DreamWorks Animation's CEO, explained that the film, coming from one of DWA's most successful franchises, would have an easier task to stand out around the Thanksgiving holiday season while Home was to try taking advantage of a less competitive spring release window and repeat successful spring launches of some of DWA's original films, such as The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon.{{cite news|title=DreamWorks Animation SKG's (DWA) CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg on Q2 2014 Results - Earnings Call Transcript|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/2355535-dreamworks-animation-skgs-dwa-ceo-jeffrey-katzenberg-on-q2-2014-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single|newspaper=Seeking Alpha|access-date=July 30, 2014|date=July 29, 2014|archive-date=August 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060400/http://seekingalpha.com/article/2355535-dreamworks-animation-skgs-dwa-ceo-jeffrey-katzenberg-on-q2-2014-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=single|url-status=live | last1=Transcripts | first1=SA }} The film was released two weeks earlier in China on November 14, 2014, where it was released by Oriental DreamWorks.{{cite web|last=Robb|first=David|url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/penguins-of-madagascar-will-hit-china-before-opening-stateside-857265/|title='Penguins Of Madagascar' Will Hit China Before Opening Stateside|date=October 21, 2014|work=Deadline|access-date=October 22, 2014|archive-date=October 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023235948/http://deadline.com/2014/10/penguins-of-madagascar-will-hit-china-before-opening-stateside-857265/|url-status=live}}

The film was released in RealD 3D, 4DX and Digital 3D formats.{{cite web|author1=Moviefone|title=Penguins of Madagascar Trailer (2014): Benedict Cumberbatch, John Malkovich|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-SElhktQF0|publisher=YouTube|access-date=June 13, 2014|date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612203944/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-SElhktQF0|url-status=live}} It was digitally remastered into the IMAX format, and released in select theaters across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.{{cite news|last1=Vlessing|first1=Etan|title=Imax Signs Four-Picture Deal With 20th Century Fox|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-signs-four-picture-deal-745177|access-date=October 31, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 30, 2014|archive-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103042020/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/imax-signs-four-picture-deal-745177|url-status=live}} A four-issue comic book series based on the film was published by Titan Comics, written by Alex Matthews and drawn by Lucas Fereyra.{{cite press release|title=Titan Announces New DreamWorks Animation "Penguin of Madagascar" Comic|url=https://www.cbr.com/titan-announces-new-dreamworks-animation-penguins-of-madagascar-comic/|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=September 16, 2014|date=September 15, 2014|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034129/https://www.cbr.com/titan-announces-new-dreamworks-animation-penguins-of-madagascar-comic/|url-status=live}}

Penguins of Madagascar was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D on March 17, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/401391-dreamworks-penguins-of-madagascar-waddles-onto-blu-ray-and-dvd#/slide/1|title=DreamWorks' Penguins of Madagascar Waddles Onto Blu-ray and DVD - ComingSoon.net|work=ComingSoon.net|date=January 20, 2015|access-date=January 21, 2015|archive-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121173046/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/401391-dreamworks-penguins-of-madagascar-waddles-onto-blu-ray-and-dvd#/slide/1|url-status=live}} It topped the home video sales chart in its first week.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/penguins-of-madagascar-debuts-at-no-1-on-home-video-sales-chart-1201460321/|title='Penguins of Madagascar' Debuts at No. 1 on Home Video Sales Chart|author=Alex Stedman|magazine=Variety|date=March 25, 2015|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326221212/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/penguins-of-madagascar-debuts-at-no-1-on-home-video-sales-chart-1201460321/|url-status=live}}

Penguins of Madagascar grossed $83.4 million in North America and $290.2 million in foreign countries for a worldwide total of $373.6 million. The film's production budget was $132 million, which, according to DreamWorks Animation's president Ann Dally, excluded "incentive-based compensation." By the end of 2014, the studio had to take a $57.1 million write-down, primarily related to the performances of Penguins of Madagascar and another DreamWorks Animation film, Mr. Peabody & Sherman.{{cite news|last1=Bond|first1=Paul|title=DreamWorks Animation Takes $57M Write-Down on 'Penguins of Madagascar'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-takes-57m-write-777474|access-date=November 4, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 24, 2015|archive-date=November 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129225649/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dreamworks-animation-takes-57m-write-777474|url-status=live}}

In the United States and Canada, Penguins of Madagascar was released alongside Horrible Bosses 2, and was projected to $45–47 million from 3,764 theatres over its five-day opening weekend.{{cite magazine | url = https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-horrible-bosses-2-scores-1-million-in-tuesday-night-launch-1201365370/ | title = Box Office: 'Horrible Bosses 2′ Scores $1 Million in Tuesday Night Launch | author = Dave McNary | magazine = Variety | date = November 26, 2014 | access-date = November 28, 2014}} It earned $6.25 million on its opening day and $3.95 million the next day on Thanksgiving Day.{{cite magazine | url = https://deadline.com/2014/11/mockingjay-penguins-of-madagascar-horrible-bosses-2-thanksgiving-box-office-1201299198/ | title = 'Mockingjay', 'Penguins' & 'Horrible Bosses 2′ Cook Up T-Giving Box Office | author = Nancy Tartaglione | magazine = Deadline Hollywood | date = November 27, 2014 | access-date = November 28, 2014 | archive-date = November 29, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129183935/https://deadline.com/2014/11/mockingjay-penguins-of-madagascar-horrible-bosses-2-thanksgiving-box-office-1201299198/ | url-status = live }} It earned $10.5 million on Black Friday.{{cite magazine | url = https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-mockingjay-rules-black-friday-with-24-1-million-as-horrible-bosses-2-stumbles-1201366810/ | title = Box Office: 'Mockingjay' Rules Black Friday With $24.1 Million as 'Horrible Bosses 2' Stumbles | author = Maane Khatchatourian | magazine = Variety | date = November 19, 2014 | access-date = November 30, 2014 | archive-date = November 30, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141130191106/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/box-office-mockingjay-rules-black-friday-with-24-1-million-as-horrible-bosses-2-stumbles-1201366810/ | url-status = live }}{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2014/12/hunger-games-box-office-thanksgiving-penguins-of-madgascar-horrible-bosses-2-1201301187/ | title='Mockingjay' Up In Actuals, 'Penguins', 'Bosses' A Bit Softer — Weekend B.O. |first= Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |website=Deadline Hollywood | date =December 1, 2014 | access-date = June 4, 2022}} The film underperformed during its opening weekend, earning $35.4 million and debuting at #2 at the box office behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, for which 3D accounted for 24% of its opening-weekend gross. The opening-weekend audience was nearly evenly split by age and gender, with 58% under the age of 25 and females accounting for 51%.{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed1736377348/ | title = Weekend Report: 'Hunger Games' Devours Undercooked Franchise Titles Over Thanksgiving | author = Ray Subers | website = Box Office Mojo | date = November 30, 2014 | access-date = December 29, 2014 | archive-date = August 30, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200830053359/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed1736377348/ | url-status = live }}

The film was released in China on November 14, 2014, two weeks ahead of its North American debut, and earned $11.3 million from 3,500 screens, debuting at number two at the Chinese box office behind Interstellar ($42 million).{{cite magazine | url = https://deadline.com/2014/11/international-box-office-interstellar-penguins-of-madagascar-china-dumb-and-dumber-to-big-hero-6-1201286020/ | title = 'Interstellar' Blasts Past $200M With $42M China Lift-Off: International Box Office | author = Nancy Tartaglione | magazine = Deadline Hollywood | date = November 16, 2014 | access-date = November 17, 2014 | archive-date = November 18, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141118012711/http://deadline.com/2014/11/international-box-office-interstellar-penguins-of-madagascar-china-dumb-and-dumber-to-big-hero-6-1201286020/ | url-status = live }} In its opening weekend, the film earned $36.5 million from 47 markets.{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed1719600132/ | title = Around-the-World Roundup: 'Mockingjay' Repeats, 'Interstellar' Nears $401 Million | author = Ray Subers | website = Box Office Mojo | date = November 30, 2014 | access-date = December 19, 2014 | archive-date = October 27, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211027123821/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed1719600132/ | url-status = live }} Overall, the top openings were in Russia ($8.2 million), Korea ($6 million), Italy ($4.63 million), Germany ($4.2 million), and Australia ($3.68 million).{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2014/12/international-box-office-hunger-games-mockingjay-penguins-madagascar-paddington-horrible-bosses-interstellar-weekend-results-1201302872/ | title = 'Mockingjay', 'Interstellar', 'Penguins' Lead Frame; 'Paddington' Charms UK: Int'l B.O. Update | author = Nancy Tartaglione | date = November 30, 2014 | access-date = December 1, 2014}}{{cite magazine | url = https://deadline.com/2015/01/international-box-office-hobbit-taken-3-american-sniper-pk-angel-of-death-1201340651/ | title = 'Hobbit' Passes $500M; 'American Sniper', 'Taken 3′ Skillful: Intl Box Office Update | author = Nancy Tartaglione | magazine = Deadline Hollywood | date = January 4, 2015 | access-date = January 5, 2015 | archive-date = January 5, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150105024956/https://deadline.com/2015/01/international-box-office-hobbit-taken-3-american-sniper-pk-angel-of-death-1201340651/ | url-status = live }} The film's opening in Germany was the second-highest for an animated film in 2014, behind How to Train Your Dragon 2.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Penguins of Madagascar holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "Penguins of Madagascar is fast and brightly colored enough to entertain small children, but too frantically silly to offer real filmgoing fun for the whole family."{{cite Rotten Tomatoes |id=penguins_of_madagascar/ | title=Penguins of Madagascar |type=m | access-date= {{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film achieved a score of 53 out of 100 based on reviews from 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite Metacritic |id=penguins-of-madagascar | title=Penguins of Madagascar |type=m |access-date=April 22, 2022}} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.

Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News gave the film three out of five stars, saying "Granted, it's no classic, but a sassy script and good-natured voice work from Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich should keep kids and grownups entertained over the holidays."{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/penguins-madagascar-movie-review-article-1.2022223|title='Penguins of Madagascar,' movie review|work=NY Daily News|date=November 24, 2014 |access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-date=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125115731/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/penguins-madagascar-movie-review-article-1.2022223|url-status=live}} Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club gave the film a B, saying "Frenetic and frequently funny, Penguins Of Madagascar represents the DreamWorks Animation franchise style—which boils down to self-aware, but naïve, talking animals who learn kid-friendly life lessons—at its most palatable."{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/penguins-madagascar-dreamworks-animation-its-most--212233|title=Review: Penguins Of Madagascar is DreamWorks Animation at its most amusingly energetic|newspaper=The A.V. Club|access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-date=November 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127170406/http://www.avclub.com/review/penguins-madagascar-dreamworks-animation-its-most--212233|url-status=live}} Ben Kenigsberg of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, saying "The lack of originality is offset by sheer silliness, including Classified and Skipper's Abbott and Costello-style argument over whether there's a long I in 'diversion.' The word fits the movie."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/26/movies/penguins-of-madagascar-with-voice-of-benedict-cumberbatch.html?partner=rss&emc=rss|title='Penguins of Madagascar,' With Voice of Benedict Cumberbatch|author=Ben Kenigsberg|work=The New York Times|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129235504/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/26/movies/penguins-of-madagascar-with-voice-of-benedict-cumberbatch.html?partner=rss&emc=rss|url-status=live}}

Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, saying "Once again the Madagascar team have come up with a winner – a nice way to kick off the Thanksgiving and holiday filmgoing experience for the whole family."{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies/penguins-madagascar-happy-feat-action-comedy/|title='Penguins of Madagascar': A happy feat of action, comedy|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=November 26, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208042813/http://entertainment.suntimes.com/movies/penguins-madagascar-happy-feat-action-comedy/|archive-date=December 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a negative review, saying "While there are plenty of madcap antics to fill a feature, all that manic energy ultimately proves to be more exhausting than exhilarating."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/penguins-madagascar-film-review-748219|title='Penguins of Madagascar': Film Review|author=Michael Rechtshaffen|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 12, 2014|access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-date=November 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126165654/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/penguins-madagascar-film-review-748219|url-status=live}} Jeff Labrecque of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a C−, saying "Penguins of Madagascar aims primarily for the kiddies, racing from one frenetic action sequence to another like some haywire Walter Lantz cartoon."{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20876861,00.html|title=Penguins of Madagascar Review - Movie Reviews and News - EW.com|work=EW.com|access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207073420/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20876861,00.html|url-status=dead}}

A video game based on the film, titled Penguins of Madagascar, and published by Little Orbit, was released on November 25, 2014, for Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and Wii U.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

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