Back to the Playa del Carmen

Back to the Playa del Carmen (Spanish: De regreso a Playa del Carmen) is an upcoming Mexican-American computer-animated musical comedy film written, produced and directed by Zack Isaac, who co-wrote the screenplay with Isaac and Elliott DiGuiseppi. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and the Mexican co-produced by Little Witch Pictures is owned by Amblin Partners, the film features the voices of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Ramos, and Demi Lovato.
It was set to be released in January 9, 2026, by Universal Pictures.
==Premise==
A community of land crabs underneath Playa del Carmen beach boardwalk often play host to a community of sea crabs that come to the land for vacation and both species of crabs can't stand each other. Matías, a timid hermitt crab, is reluctant to go out and socialize due to how his mother and father died in a storm when he was younger and his rotting shell, inhabited by a fun-living organism named Roberto.
—DreamWorks Animation and Little Witch Pictures
==Voice cast==
* Demi Lovato as Sofía
* Anthony Ramos as Matías
* Lin-Manuel Miranda as Roberto
* Michael Peña as Mario
* Eugenio Derbez as Danny
* Zack Isaac as Agustín
* Omar Chaparro as Félix
* Sofía Vergara as Paulina
* Salma Hayek as Conchita
* Harvey Guillén as Amado
* Benjamin Bratt as Señor Vagabundo
* Aislinn Derbez as Daniela
* Penélope Cruz as Julieta
* Selena Gomez as Edna
* Becky G as Laura
* Polo Rojas as Cubeta
* Damián Alcázar as Señor Marinero
* Adriana Barraza as Señora Marinera
* Salvador Reyes as Salsa Picante
* Luis Valdez as Pepito
* Axel Kuschevatzky as Papa
* Eric Bauza as Rizado
* Alberto Mar and Alberto Rodríguez as Los Unicornios
==Production==
In October 2023, a film titled Cangrejos en la Playa was announced as part of DreamWorks Animation's upcoming slate, with Zack Isaac writing, producing and directing the screenplay and Elliott DiGuiseppi, Mark Swift and Kelly Cooney Cilella producing. It was reported that Isaac was hired to direct the film, which was retitled Back to the Playa del Carmen. Amblin Partners' Mexican co-financed the film.
The film was animated by DreamWorks Animation in Glendale, California, USA.
==Release==
Back to the Playa del Carmen is set to be released on January 9, 2026 by Universal Pictures.
Category:Upcoming films
Category:2026
Category:2026 films
Category:2026 animated films
Category:English-language films
Category:Spanish-language films
Category:American computer-animated films
Category:Mexican animated films
Category:Musical films
Category:Comedy
Category:Children's animated films
Category:Romance films
Category:Films scored by Hans Zimmer
Category:DreamWorks Animation
Category:DreamWorks Animation films
Category:Zack Isaac Sanchez Productions
Category:Universal Pictures animated films
Category:Universal Pictures films
Category:Universal Pictures
Category:Films set in Mexico
Category:Films set on beaches
Category:Films set in 2026