“Are we there yet?” is a question road-trip parents know all too well—and it’s also the title of a 2005 comedy that launched a modest little franchise. The Ice Cube vehicle spawned a sequel, Are We Done Yet?, and eventually became a family sitcom on TBS, running three seasons with a different lead actor in the driver’s seat. Here’s what you need to know about how the film franchise evolved.

Release Year: 2005 ·
Director: Brian Levant ·
Lead Actor: Ice Cube ·
Sequel: Are We Done Yet? (2007) ·
TV Series Seasons: 3

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether a third film is officially in development
  • Future of the franchise beyond the original run
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

The table below shows key details for the original 2005 film, including its cast, director, and where it fits in the franchise timeline.

Detail Value
Original Release January 21, 2005
Director Brian Levant
Starring Ice Cube, Nia Long
Runtime 101 minutes
Sequel Are We Done Yet? (2007)

Is there a part 2 to Are We There Yet?

Yes—and it’s called Are We Done Yet?. The sequel arrived in 2007, picking up with the characters in a new domestic setting as they settle into family life together.

Are We Done Yet details

The sequel maintained the same core cast, with Ice Cube and Nia Long returning as Nick and Suzanne Kingston (Rotten Tomatoes 2005 film). However, the box office story shifted dramatically: Are We Done Yet? reportedly earned less than half the worldwide gross of the original 2005 film (Wikipedia franchise data). Critical reception also dipped further, landing at just 7% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original’s already-low 11% (Wikipedia franchise data).

The implication: the theatrical franchise peaked with the first installment, and the numbers reflect a familiar pattern in comedy sequels—they tend to front-load their audience.

Is there a part 3 of Are We There Yet?

No part 3 film has been officially confirmed. The franchise’s next chapter came via television rather than theatrical release.

Franchise status

Rather than a third movie, the Are We There Yet? brand transitioned to a sitcom spin-off on TBS. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the TV series premiered June 2, 2010, running for three seasons until March 1, 2013 (Rotten Tomatoes TV). Ice Cube remained involved as an executive producer and made occasional appearances as Terrence, Suzanne’s protective brother.

What this means: the franchise solved its “what’s next” question by reinventing itself for the small screen, trading theatrical audiences for sitcom watchers.

Is Are We There Yet a good movie?

The 2005 film divided critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes logged just 11% from critics, while Metacritic recorded a 27/100 score (Wikipedia franchise data). Yet audience polling told a different story—CinemaScore gave it a B+, suggesting general viewers found it entertaining (Wikipedia franchise data).

Reviews and ratings

The film achieved something curious: it made money despite the criticism. Wikipedia reports it grossed $98,114,471 worldwide against a reported $20–32 million budget (Wikipedia franchise data). Dove.org, a family-focused review outlet, praised it for “tender moments and message of friendship and love,” noting its appropriateness for family viewing (Dove.org family review).

Pros and cons

Upsides

  • Turned a profit despite poor critical reception
  • Family-friendly content rated TV-PG
  • Solid audience score (CinemaScore B+)

Downsides

  • Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 11%
  • Metacritic score of 27/100
  • Sequel performed significantly worse

The pattern: even critics who dismissed the film acknowledged it found its audience, making it a modest commercial success despite the reviews.

Who is in the Are We There Yet cast?

The franchise features two different main casts: one for the films, another for the television adaptation.

Main actors

Ice Cube plays Nick Persons in the 2005 film, opposite Nia Long as Suzanne Kingston. Jay Mohr co-stars as Marty, and Aleisha Allen appears as Lindsey Kingston (Rotten Tomatoes 2005 film).

Supporting roles

The TV series made notable casting changes. Terry Crews took over the Nick character (now Nick Kingston-Persons) while Essence Atkins replaced Nia Long as Suzanne (Rotten Tomatoes TV). Teala Dunn and Coy Stewart portray the children Lindsey and Kevin, with Telma Hopkins playing Marilyn, Nick’s mother (Rotten Tomatoes TV).

The catch: the TV series operates in a different continuity, set six months after the characters’ marriage in Seattle (Wikipedia TV series data). This means fans of the films should view the sitcom as an alternate telling rather than a direct continuation.

What is Are We There Yet TV series?

The television adaptation reimagined the film’s premise as a family sitcom exploring blended family dynamics after a divorced mother remarries.

Season details

The series ran for three seasons on TBS from June 2010 to March 2013, per Wikipedia (Wikipedia TV series data). Executive producers included Ice Cube, Ali LeRoi, Matt Alvarez, Vince Totino, and Joe Roth. Critical reception was modest: Rotten Tomatoes logged 40% based on five reviews, while Metacritic recorded 47/100 from ten reviews (Wikipedia franchise data).

The LA Times described it as “minor stuff, inconsistent in tone,” yet ultimately “fundamentally sweet and appealing” (Los Angeles Times review). Rotten Tomatoes’ Season 2 consensus called it “a likable sitcom that’s not embarrassed to wear a warm heart on its sleeve” (Rotten Tomatoes Season 2).

Streaming options

The TV series is currently available on Tubi and Prime Video for viewers wanting to revisit the franchise on the small screen.

The pattern: the TV series actually scored higher with critics (40%) than either film (11% and 7%), suggesting the sitcom format may have been a better fit for this material than the theatrical comedy approach.

The upshot

Ice Cube’s 2005 film turned a profit despite universal critical dismissal—a pattern common in family comedies where audience enjoyment trumps reviews.

Why this matters

Terry Crews brought a different comedic energy to the TV series. The LA Times noted his “friendly presence” as a contrast to Ice Cube’s more deadpan style in the films.

Timeline

The timeline below traces the franchise’s evolution from theatrical release through TV adaptation.

Date Event
January 21, 2005 Are We There Yet? film release
2007 Are We Done Yet? sequel release
June 2, 2010 TV series premiere on TBS
March 1, 2013 TV series finale

Clarity report

Confirmed

  • 2005 film details (cast, director, release date)
  • 2007 sequel Are We Done Yet?
  • TV series ran 2010–2013 on TBS
  • Terry Crews replaced Ice Cube in TV series
  • Essence Atkins replaced Nia Long in TV series
  • Available on Tubi and Prime Video

Unclear

  • Official part 3 film plans
  • Future franchise developments

What critics said

“Are We There Yet?, which premieres Wednesday on TBS, is a sitcom sequel to the 2005 theatrical feature… fundamentally sweet and, if not stared at too hard, appealing.”

— Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles Times review)

“Are We There Yet?, the TV spinoff from Ice Cube’s hit movie, has parlayed a relaxed, low-tech style into a likable sitcom that’s not embarrassed to wear a warm heart on its sleeve.”

— Rotten Tomatoes Season 2 consensus (Rotten Tomatoes Season 2)

“This family sitcom… is a modestly conceived, somewhat blandly executed story about a stepdad.”

— Metacritic (Metacritic review)

Bottom line: Ice Cube should feel vindicated—the franchise found its footing on television rather than in theaters, with Terry Crews carrying the sitcom through three seasons after the theatrical sequels failed to match the original’s financial performance.

Related reading: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts: Timeline, Cast & Box Office

Ice Cube’s road-trip comedy found new life in the sequel Are We Done Yet?, where sequel kids rating guide family entertainment value gets a thorough kids rating breakdown alongside reviews.

Frequently asked questions

What is the plot of Are We There Yet?

The 2005 film follows Nick Persons (Ice Cube), who agrees to drive his girlfriend’s two children to Canada after a flight mishap. The road trip comedy ensues as he navigates unexpected challenges along the way.

Where can I watch Are We There Yet?

The TV series is available on Tubi and Prime Video. The films may be available through various streaming rental platforms.

Who directed Are We There Yet?

Brian Levant directed the 2005 film, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

What is the IMDb rating for Are We There Yet?

The 2005 film holds a modest IMDb score reflecting mixed audience reception, consistent with its theatrical performance.

Is Are We There Yet family-friendly?

Yes. The TV series carries a TV-PG rating. Dove.org praised the 2005 film for its messages of friendship and love, noting its appropriateness for family viewing.

Are there games based on Are We There Yet?

No official games based on the franchise have been released. Any games appearing in search results are likely unrelated or fan-created.