Penguins of Madagascar

Penguins of Madagascar is a 2014 American animated spy comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and PDI/DreamWorks and distributed by 20th Century Fox. A spinoff of the Madagascar film series, it was directed by Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith from a screenplay by Michael Colton, John Aboud, and Brandon Sawyer and a story by Colton, Aboud, Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons. The film stars the voices of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Conrad Vernon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare and John Malkovich. It takes place shortly after the events of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) and follows the Penguins as they join forces with the North Wind intelligence agency to stop the octopus Dave who seeks revenge on penguins for upstaging him at zoos and aquariums. The score was composed by Lorne Balfe.

Penguins of Madagascar was released theatrically in China on November 14, 2014, and in the United States on November 26, 2014. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with specific praise going to the vocal performances (particularly Cumberbatch and Malkovich), but despite grossing $373.5 million on a $132 million budget, the film underperformed by DreamWorks' standards. Along with Mr. Peabody & Sherman earlier that year, it lost the studio $57.1 million.