Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a 2009 animated film directed by Carlos Saldanha and is the third installment in the Ice Age franchise. The film continues the adventures of Manny the woolly mammoth, Sid the sloth, and Diego the saber-toothed tiger as they navigate new challenges in a prehistoric world.
The story begins with Manny (voiced by Ray Romano) and Ellie (voiced by Queen Latifah) preparing for the arrival of their first child. Manny's overprotectiveness towards Ellie leads to tension within their group, especially with Diego (voiced by Dennis Leary), who feels that he is losing his hunting instincts and contemplates leaving the herd. Meanwhile, Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) discovers three dinosaur eggs in an underground cavern and, despite Manny's warnings, decides to adopt them. When the eggs hatch into baby Tyrannosaurs, chaos ensues, prompting the arrival of their mother—a fierce Tyrannosaurus rex—who takes Sid and her babies underground.
The group follows Sid into a vast subterranean world populated by dinosaurs. Here, they encounter Buck (voiced by Simon Pegg), a one-eyed weasel who has been living in this hidden jungle and is on a quest to hunt down Rudy, a monstrous albino Baryonyx. Buck agrees to guide Manny and his friends through this dangerous environment to rescue Sid.
As they navigate through various threats, including territorial dinosaurs and lava falls, Ellie goes into labor, adding urgency to their mission. The climax features intense action as the group confronts Rudy while attempting to save Sid. Ultimately, they succeed in rescuing him, and Manny and Ellie welcome their newborn daughter, whom they name Peaches.
The film concludes with Buck deciding to stay in the dinosaur world to continue his hunt for Rudy, while the rest of the herd returns home. Meanwhile, Scrat, the beloved saber-toothed squirrel, has his own subplot involving a romantic interest named Scratte, leading to humorous antics that parallel the main storyline.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs received generally positive reviews for its animation quality and humor. It grossed over $886 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2009. The film explores themes of family, friendship, and adventure while expanding on the beloved characters from previous installments in the franchise.