Sacha Baron Cohen's revival of the character Ali G has sparked backlash from some who consider the character "outdated" and an "enforcing racist stereotype". A campaign is calling on major UK cinemas to refuse to screen the film, citing concerns over Baron Cohen's portrayal of Black-British culture. Picturehouse Cinemas, a chain with 25 locations in the UK, has stated that it "has no current plans" to show the new film. The criticism and controversy surrounding Ali G is not new, as a group of Black comedians accused Baron Cohen of racist behavior when the character first appeared on Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show in 2000.
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A new film featuring Sacha Baron Cohen's character Ali G has been met with backlash, and as a result, a major UK cinema chain, Picturehouse Cinemas, has announced it has no current plans to show the film. The character, a white man from Staines who attempts to emulate Black-British mannerisms, was first played by Baron Cohen in 1998 and was last revived in 2007. However, some critics have deemed Ali G "outdated" and claim that the character enforces racist stereotypes under the guise of satire. A campaign has arisen calling on major UK cinemas to refuse to screen the film, citing concerns over its portrayal of Black culture. Despite this, Baron Cohen's representatives and Amazon MGM Studios have not yet commented on the backlash or Picturehouse Cinemas' decision. The trailer for the new film was released recently, with some fans expressing delight at Ali G's return, while others were critical of his character.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 3009 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
UK cinema chain ‘has no current plans’ to show new Ali G film amid backlash
Sacha Baron Cohen might be reviving Ali G on film for the first time in more than two decades, but not everyone is so thrilled to see him return as a major UK cinema chain has said that it has “no plans” to show the film.
uncertain
it → have → film
First played by Baron Cohen, 54, in 1998, Ali G is a white man from Staines who attempts to emulate Black-British mannerisms in the way he dresses and speaks.
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he → play → way
He was the subject of his own Channel 4 series and 2002 film Ali G Indahouse, and has been retired on and off since 2007.
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He → retire → 2007
But fans hoping to see the film at Picturehouse Cinemas will be disappointed, as the UK chain – which has operates 25 cinemas in the UK, 11 of which are in London – has said that it is unlikely to be showing the film.
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it → hop → film
The Standard has contacted Baron Cohen’s representatives and Amazon MGM Studios for comment.
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Standard → contact → comment
While many fans were delighted to see Ali G return, the trailer also earned criticism from people who deemed the character “outdated”.
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character → delight → people
A campaign swiftly arose calling on the major UK cinemas to refuse to screen the film, claiming that it was “enforcing racist stereotypes” under the guise of satire.
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it → call → satire
This criticism has been made of Ali G since Baron Cohen first created the character for Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show.
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Cohen → make → Show
Back in 2000, a group of the UK’s most successful Black comedians accused Baron Cohen of offensive racist behaviour, with The Real McCoy’s Felix Dexter saying: “I feel that a lot of the humour is laughing at black street culture and it is being celebrated because it allows the liberal middle classes to laugh at that culture in a safe context where they can retain their sense of political correctness.”
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they → accuse → correctness
When it comes to Who Iz I?, which is released in cinemas on 23 October, Baron Cohen pre-empted the backlash, writing on X as the trailer was released: “In an age where a comedian’s career can be ended by a single un-PC (politically correct) joke, I thought I’d play it safe and bring this guy back.”
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I → come → guy
