"Ali G: Who Iz I?" sparks protests in the UK, while Polish cinemas will show it for only two days

The return of Ali G, one of Sacha Baron Cohen's best-known characters, has caused a row in the UK before the film's release. The British platform NewsCord is running a campaign urging cinemas not to show "Ali G: Who Iz I?".

The campaign against the film

Organisers accuse Cohen of using Black British culture as a source of jokes and of using satire as cover for racist stereotypes. In September, The Guardian reported that the petition had more than 46,000 signatures. In mid-October, The Daily Beast reported more than 55,000 supporters.

According to Filmweb, citing Metro, the campaign targets the biggest chains: Odeon, Cineworld, Vue, Everyman and Showcase. Picturehouse Cinemas has confirmed that it currently has no plans to show the film.

The film has not, however, been formally banned. Phil Clapp, head of the UK Cinema Association, told Variety that cinemas should not censor their programmes or decide what should amuse audiences. In his view, decisions on what to show belong to the cinemas themselves.

Critics' views

The criticism does not come only from campaigners. Writing in The Guardian, Jason Okundaye said Ali G was created in a very different social climate and that jokes meant to expose cultural stereotypes in the late 1990s may not work the same way today. The Financial Times, for its part, judged that Cohen's satire did not always hit the people whose prejudices it was meant to expose.

Cohen's response

The actor defends his creation. In an essay for Time magazine he wrote: "The fact that Ali G is outdated and problematic is exactly why I decided to resurrect him." Cohen argues that the character is not meant to mock Black culture, but a white man who unthinkingly imitates it, and members of the establishment who take him seriously. In his view, the prejudices he fought through satire have not disappeared but have intensified, partly because of social media and artificial intelligence.

About the film and the Polish release

Ali G, or Alistair Graham, is a white lad from Staines near London who imitates the language, dress and behaviour associated with hip-hop and Britain's Jamaican community. The character debuted in 1998 on "The 11 O'Clock Show". The new film is Cohen's feature-length directorial debut. In it, Ali G learns that his partner Julie, played by Morgana Robinson, is heavily pregnant, and he sets off for the US to regain his fame and make money. The world premiere took place on 14 October 2026 in Los Angeles.

In Poland the film will reach cinemas as "Ali G: Kto ja jezdem?" on 23 October 2026. The Polish distributor, Forum Film, has scheduled screenings only until 24 October.

What this means for viewers in the UK

For UK audiences, the film's availability may depend on the policy of individual cinema chains. It is worth checking your local cinema's listings before going. In Poland, for example during a visit, the film can be seen only on 23–24 October.