The Definitive Order Of Tyler Perry's Madea Movies (Updated For 2025)

Are you ready to binge the entire Madea universe but confused about where to start? As of December 2025, the Tyler Perry cinematic universe starring the iconic, tough-talking matriarch Mable "Madea" Simmons has expanded to a whopping 14 feature films, spanning two decades of unforgettable comedy and life lessons. The good news is that unlike many sprawling franchises, the Madea movies are generally best viewed in release order, which is the sequence we’ve laid out below, ensuring you catch every appearance, from her 2005 debut to her latest 2025 adventure.

The Madea franchise remains a powerhouse in American comedy, with each installment—including the recent Netflix additions—drawing massive audiences, proving that the character created and performed by Tyler Perry is a timeless cultural force. This definitive guide includes the full list, the latest 2025 release, and the best way to experience the saga of Madea, Joe, and the entire dysfunctional family.

The Complete List of Madea Movies in Release Order (2005–2025)

For the ultimate viewing experience, the release order is the simplest and most recommended way to watch the Madea movies. While a few films, like Meet the Browns and I Can Do Bad All by Myself, are technically part of the broader Tyler Perry universe and feature Madea in a supporting role, they are essential parts of her on-screen journey. This list is current with the latest announcements, including the highly anticipated 2025 film.

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1. Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

• Release Date: February 25, 2005
• Key Role: This film introduced Madea to the big screen, though it primarily focuses on the story of Helen McCarter. Madea’s role as the no-nonsense relative provides the first glimpse into her unique brand of wisdom.

2. Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

• Release Date: February 24, 2006
• Key Role: The first film to feature Madea's name in the title, it cemented her place as the central figure, dealing with a massive family reunion and serious domestic drama.

3. Meet the Browns (2008)

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• Release Date: March 21, 2008
• Key Role: While the film centers on Brenda Brown and her family, Madea appears to offer her signature advice and comic relief, tying this story into the wider Tyler Perry universe.

4. Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

• Release Date: February 20, 2009
• Key Role: A fan-favorite, this film famously places Madea in a prison setting, leading to some of the franchise’s most memorable and hilarious scenes.

5. I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009)

• Release Date: September 11, 2009
• Key Role: Based on Tyler Perry’s 2000 play, this movie features Madea in a supporting role as she helps a singer, April, deal with a troubled young family.

6. Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)

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• Release Date: April 22, 2011
• Key Role: Madea steps in to help her niece, Shirley, gather her dysfunctional children for a family meeting after receiving a life-changing diagnosis.

7. Madea's Witness Protection (2012)

• Release Date: June 29, 2012
• Key Role: This installment puts Madea in an unusual situation—hosting a white, wealthy family in witness protection at her home, leading to a culture clash comedy.

8. A Madea Christmas (2013)

• Release Date: December 13, 2013
• Key Role: Madea travels to a small, rural town in the South to visit a relative, bringing her unique holiday spirit and chaos to a Christmas pageant.

9. Madea's Tough Love (2015) - Animated

• Release Date: January 20, 2015 (Direct-to-video)
• Key Role: The franchise’s only animated feature, Madea is sentenced to community service at a youth center and uses her tough love approach to help the kids.

10. Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016)

• Release Date: October 21, 2016
• Key Role: Madea is forced to spend a Halloween night babysitting her great-niece, battling ghosts, killers, and mischievous teenagers.

11. Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017)

• Release Date: October 20, 2017
• Key Role: A direct sequel, Madea and her crew venture into a haunted campground to save her great-niece from a frightening Halloween party.

12. A Madea Family Funeral (2019)

• Release Date: March 1, 2019
• Key Role: Originally touted as the final installment, Madea and the gang travel to a small town for a family reunion that quickly turns into a chaotic funeral.

13. A Madea Homecoming (2022)

• Release Date: February 25, 2022 (Netflix)
• Key Role: After a brief retirement, Madea returned for this Netflix original, celebrating the college graduation of her great-grandson, complete with a chaotic family gathering. This film marked a new era for the franchise on the streaming platform.

14. Madea's Destination Wedding (2025) - UPCOMING

• Release Date: July 11, 2025 (Netflix)
• Key Role: The newest film in the franchise, this Netflix release sees Madea and her family heading to a destination wedding, promising a fresh set of hilarious mishaps and cultural clashes in a new setting. This confirms that despite previous farewells, Tyler Perry's iconic character is here to stay.

Understanding the Madea Cinematic Universe (MCU)

While the list above provides the essential viewing order, it’s helpful to understand how the Madea franchise relates to the broader work of Tyler Perry. The films are best described as a series of standalone adventures centered on the Simmons/Brown family tree, rather than a single, continuous narrative that requires strict chronological viewing. Madea's character, Mable Simmons, is the glue that holds the universe together, often crossing paths with characters from other plays and films by Tyler Perry.

The Chronological vs. Release Order Debate

The question of "chronological order" for the Madea movies is often raised, but the reality is that the fictional timeline is largely inconsequential to enjoying the films. Tyler Perry’s focus is on thematic and character-driven stories, not a tightly woven continuity. For instance, Madea's age and background are rarely consistent across the films. Therefore, the release order is the de facto "chronological" order for the viewer, as it follows the evolution of the character and the franchise's production quality.

The only minor deviations are the two films where Madea is a supporting character—Meet the Browns and I Can Do Bad All by Myself—which fans can watch at any point, though placing them where they appear in the release order provides the best context for her character's on-screen development. The animated film, Madea's Tough Love, is also a standalone story that can be enjoyed outside the main movie list.

Tyler Perry’s Madea: The Enduring Appeal and Future

The character of Madea, a tough, gun-toting grandmother with a heart of gold, has been a cultural phenomenon since her stage debut in 1999. Tyler Perry’s decision to bring her back for *A Madea Homecoming* in 2022, and now *Madea's Destination Wedding* in 2025, underscores the character's massive and enduring appeal. The franchise's move to Netflix has broadened its global reach, introducing the unique blend of slapstick comedy, family drama, and moral lessons to a new generation of viewers.

The success of the Netflix films, including the high viewership of *A Madea Homecoming*, suggests that the "farewell" of *A Madea Family Funeral* was, thankfully, premature. Fans can look forward to more adventures from Mable "Madea" Simmons, her brother Joe, and the rest of the family as Tyler Perry continues to expand his creative output, with *Madea's Destination Wedding* being one of five projects slated for a 2025 release from the studio.

To fully appreciate the evolution of the character and the comedy, simply follow the list above. Starting with *Diary of a Mad Black Woman* and ending with the latest 2025 release will give you the complete, up-to-date Madea experience.