More than two decades after his last feature film appearance, the West Staines rude boy has proven his enduring appeal to audiences, even as critics remain largely unconvinced. Released on Prime Video on October 28, 2026, "Ali G: Who Iz I?" quickly secured the number one movie spot in the United States, the United Kingdom, and nine other countries, including Ireland, Canada, and Australia. Its performance is so robust that it also ranks among the top overall titles (movies and TV shows combined) in the UK and Ireland, and sits at number three in the US, signaling a significant win for Amazon MGM Studios on the streaming front.

This streaming triumph comes after a notably subdued theatrical debut. The film, which also marks Cohen's feature directorial debut, initially premiered in only 125 theaters for a mere two days, with distributor Amazon MGM Studios opting not to release any box office figures. This limited run suggested a lack of confidence in its big-screen prospects, leading many to believe it was destined for a straight-to-streaming fate, a strategy that now appears to have paid off handsomely.

The critical consensus, however, paints a different picture. "Ali G: Who Iz I?" currently holds a 41% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a predominantly negative reception. Renowned film critic Mark Kermode, on Kermode and Mayo's Take, expressed a strong disinterest, stating, "I didn't laugh once in the whole film." Similarly, Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail lamented the film as a "deeply depressing full-circle moment for an artist who was once one of modern comedy's sharpest satirists."

Yet, not all reviews were scathing. Ed Potton from The Times acknowledged the plot as "shamelessly flimsy" but found that the gags which did land were "hilarious." Nick Schager of The Daily Beast also managed to overlook the film's "inherent limitations" to enjoy some "legitimately laugh-out-loud funny" jokes.

Cohen's decision to revive Ali G, a character first seen in 1998 on Channel 4's "The 11 O'Clock Show," was met with initial skepticism, with many questioning the character's relevance in 2026. "Ali G: Who Iz I?" notably returns to the mockumentary and prank-style format that made Cohen's "Da Ali G Show" and "Borat" films so popular, a departure from the fully scripted narrative of his 2002 film, "Ali G Indahouse." This strategic pivot aimed to unleash Ali G's subversive humor into contemporary culture, and while critics debated its success, audiences have clearly embraced the return of the controversial persona.