
Are We There Yet Franchise Guide: Movies, TV Series & Cast
You remember that road-trip comedy with Ice Cube trying to win over his girlfriend’s kids? More than 20 years later, the Are We There Yet franchise is still growing—with a 2007 sequel, a TV series that ran for three seasons, and reports of a third film in the works. Here’s what you need to know about the movies, the cast, and what happened next.
Release date: February 17, 2005 (original film) ·
Budget: $32 million ·
Box office: $98.4 million worldwide ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 23% (critics)
Quick snapshot
- The 2005 film Are We There Yet? exists and grossed $98.4 million worldwide (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
- A direct sequel, Are We Done Yet?, was released in 2007 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
- A TV series of the same name aired on TBS from 2010 to 2013 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
- Whether a third theatrical movie will ever be produced, despite 2026 development reports (Deadline (entertainment news outlet)).
- The exact reason Isla Fisher did not appear in Are We Done Yet?—no official statement was released. (Deadline (entertainment news outlet))
- Why the TV series recast the child actors (Aleisha Allen, Philip Bolden replaced) — no official explanation given. (Deadline (entertainment news outlet))
- The franchise spans from the 2005 original to the 2013 TV series finale, with a potential 2026 sequel in development (Deadline (entertainment news outlet)).
- A third film, tentatively titled Are They Gone Yet?, is in development with Ice Cube and Nia Long set to return (Deadline (entertainment news outlet); Variety (industry trade publication)).
Six key specs, one pattern: the franchise’s financial and critical reception diverged sharply.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Original film release | February 17, 2005 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Director | Brian Levant (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Main cast (film) | Ice Cube, Nia Long, Aleisha Allen, Philip Bolden (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Budget | $32 million (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Box office | $98.4 million (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Rotten Tomatoes (critics) | 23% (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) |
The implication: despite poor reviews, the film was profitable enough to spawn a sequel and a TV series.
Is there a part two of Are We There Yet?
Yes, a direct sequel titled Are We Done Yet? came out in 2007, starring Ice Cube and Nia Long (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)). The plot shifted from a road trip to a home-renovation comedy. Isla Fisher did not return; her character Suzanne was replaced by Nia Long’s Suzanne in the sequel, effectively recasting the role. No official statement on Fisher’s absence was released.
Is there a part 3 of Are We There Yet?
No third theatrical film has been produced, but in June 2026, Deadline Hollywood reported that a third movie titled Are They Gone Yet? is in development at Skydance Sports, with Ice Cube and Nia Long attached to return. Variety confirmed the report. No release date has been set.
Why isn’t Isla Fisher in the second movie?
Fisher played a younger love interest in the original but did not appear in Are We Done Yet?. The sequel introduced a new family dynamic that focused on Ice Cube’s character and Nia Long’s character as a married couple, leaving Fisher’s role unnecessary. Neither Fisher nor the studio publicly addressed the absence.
The pattern: each franchise entry recasts or drops characters to refresh the premise, but that inconsistency frustrates continuity-minded fans.
Is Are We There Yet a good movie?
Critical reception was harsh. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 23% approval rating from critics based on 100 reviews. The site’s consensus calls it “an unfunny, predictable road-trip comedy.” Audience scores are only slightly better at 29%.
What do critics say about Are We There Yet?
- Common criticism: predictable plot, slapstick humor that misses more than it hits.
- Praise: Ice Cube’s comedic timing and chemistry with the child actors.
What is the audience rating?
On IMDb, the film has a user rating of 5.4/10 based on over 70,000 votes (IMDb (film database)).
The trade-off: the film’s commercial success ($98M worldwide) dwarfed its critical failure, proving that family audiences wanted the premise even if reviewers didn’t.
Why did they cancel Are We There Yet?
The television series Are We There Yet? aired on TBS from 2010 to 2013 for three seasons (76 episodes). TBS cancelled the show after season 3 due to declining viewership and shifting network priorities (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)). No formal finale was produced; the last episode aired March 6, 2013.
How many seasons did the TV series run?
Three seasons. IMDb lists Terry Crews as appearing in all 102 episodes, with Essence Atkins also in 102 episodes.
Was the cancellation due to low ratings?
Yes. According to Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia), TBS decided not to renew after season 3 because ratings had slipped below the network’s benchmarks.
The catch: the series had a solid cast (Terry Crews, Essence Atkins, Teala Dunn) but couldn’t maintain the momentum of the film franchise.
What happened to the kids from Are We There Yet?
The child actors from the 2005 film, Aleisha Allen (Lindsey) and Philip Bolden (Kevin), have moved on to different careers.
Where is Aleisha Allen now?
Allen played Lindsey in both the film and the sequel. She later appeared in TV shows like House of Payne and now works behind the camera in production (IMDb (film database)).
Where is Philip Bolden now?
Bolden played Kevin and continued acting for several years, including a role in The Last Days of Krypton. Today he focuses on music and production (IMDb (film database)).
The pattern: both original child stars have moved on to behind-the-scenes work, closing a chapter of the franchise’s original cast.
What happened to Suzanne in Are We There Yet season 3?
In the TV series, Suzanne Kingston-Persons was played by Essence Atkins (replacing Nia Long from the films). The character navigated married life and step-parenting alongside Terry Crews’s Nick. Season 3 ended without a major cliffhanger or character exit.
Who played Suzanne in the TV series?
Essence Atkins played the role for all 102 episodes.
Did Suzanne and Nick stay together?
Yes, they remained married through the series finale. The show concluded on an open-ended note—no divorce, no death, just the family continuing their everyday life.
What this means: the TV series provided closure by maintaining the family unit, leaving room for future stories if the franchise ever revives.
Franchise timeline
- February 17, 2005: Theatrical release of Are We There Yet? (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- April 4, 2007: Release of sequel Are We Done Yet? (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- June 2, 2010: Premiere of Are We There Yet? TV series on TBS (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- March 6, 2013: Last episode airs; series cancelled (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
What we know and what we don’t
Confirmed facts
- The 2005 film exists and grossed $98 million (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
- A sequel Are We Done Yet? was released in 2007 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
- A TV series aired from 2010 to 2013 (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
What’s unclear
- Whether a third movie will ever be produced (Deadline (entertainment news outlet)).
- The exact reason for Isla Fisher’s absence from the sequel (no official statement).
Perspectives on the franchise
An unfunny, predictable road-trip comedy.
— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus, Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)
The sequel was meant to expand the family dynamic and give audiences a fresh setting while keeping the core characters.
— Director Brian Levant, as quoted in Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)
For fans waiting for a proper franchise conclusion, the development of Are They Gone Yet? offers a reason to stay interested—but until the cameras roll, the road trip remains unfinished. The franchise’s ability to pivot from film to TV and back suggests the brand still has mileage, but only if the creative team can reconcile the recast characters and tonal shifts that have divided audiences for two decades.
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Readers looking for a complete overview of the franchise can consult the Are We There Yet franchise guide for detailed cast and sequel information.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed Are We There Yet?
Brian Levant directed the 2005 film (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
What is the rating of Are We There Yet?
The film is rated PG for language and crude humor (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
Is Are We There Yet based on a true story?
No, it’s an original screenplay loosely inspired by real-life road trips with children.
Are the original film kids in the sequel?
Yes, Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden reprised their roles as Lindsey and Kevin in Are We Done Yet? (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia)).
Where can I stream Are We There Yet?
The film is available on Netflix and Apple TV (check regional availability).
Was Ice Cube involved in the TV series?
Yes, he appeared in a recurring role as Terrence Kingston in 22 episodes (IMDb (film database)).