By Jeanni Ritchie
Tyler Perry’s latest Madea movie, Madea’s Destination Wedding, premiered July 11 on Netflix. I’d had it marked on my calendar- I love the Madea movies.
Perry said in an interview years ago that Madea was a cross between his mother and his aunt. “She’s the type of grandmother that was on every corner when I was growing up. She walked out of the house with her curlers and her muumuu and she watched everybody’s kids. She didn’t take no crap.”
I always wished I was more like her!
Played by Perry (he also plays Madea’s brother Joe and nephew Brian), the character was originally slated to retire after 2019’s A Madea Family Funeral. “That’s it, man. That’s it. It’s time for me to bury that old broad, man,” he said on The Tonight Show at the time. “She’s had a run. I don’t want to be her age, playing her. It’s time for me to let it go.”
But then Netflix came calling. Perry released
A Madea Homecoming in 2022. It is a role he’s played on stage since 1999 and on the screen since 2005. In that film, Madea deals with family drama at her great-grandson’s college graduation celebration.
The most recent movie has Madea traveling to the tropics with her family for her great-grandniece’s rushed wedding.
Here is the complete list of Tyler Perry’s Madea movies, in order:
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) Who can forget Madea chainsawing that couch in half? We were introduced to the woman we all wanted to be..at least a little more on the inside!
Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) It’s been almost 20 years and I still have times when I think about playing some grit ball!
Meet the Browns (2008) Both a film and a tv series, we were introduced to Mr. Brown and his daughter Cora. They’ve been in many of the Medea movies since.
Madea Goes to Jail (2009) This was one of my favorite Madea movies. It had a good, heartfelt plot starring Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy, The Cosby Show). She also starred as Miranda in Perry’s tv series, House of Payne. Sofia Vergara has a comedic role.
I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) This drama has a stellar cast led by Taraji P. Henson and Adam Rodriguez.
Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011) Family drama at its finest. These are the guests that end up on Jerry Springer!
Madea’s Witness Protection (2012) My all-time favorite Madea movie, this Eugene Levy led film has Levy’s George moving his family into Madea’s house as part of the Witness Protection Program. Doris Roberts and Denise Richard’s co-star. Funny, poignant, great plot…
A Madea Christmas (2013) This was a cute holiday film.
Madea’s Tough Love (2015) Madea’s first animated flick.
Of the last five, Madea’s Destination Wedding is my favorite.
Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016)
Boo 2! A Madea Hallowen (2017)
A Madea Family Funeral (2019)
A Madea Homecoming (2022)
Madea’s Destination Wedding (2025)
I hope this means we will get more of her!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
