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Wise-cracking, larger-than-life grandma Madea first appeared on screen in 2005. Since then, we\u2019ve seen Tyler Perry\u2019s character sort out countless family rows, solve relationship woes, dish out idiosyncratic words of wisdom, get in trouble with the law and erm, do battle with zombies.<\/span><\/p>\n With their blend of broad slapstick humour, heightened melodramatic storylines and often didactic messages, the Madea films have certainly proved divisive and prompted some scathing reviews. Despite that, though, Perry\u2019s movies have been reliably successful at the box office, helping the actor and filmmaker to build up a billion dollar entertainment empire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Madea, Perry says, was inspired by the female family members he grew up alongside. \u201cMadea is a cross between my mother and my aunt,\u201d he told USA Today in 2019. \u201cShe\u2019s the type of grandmother that was on every corner when I was growing up\u2026 She\u2019s a strong figure where I come from, in my part of the African-American community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The character started life in Petty\u2019s 1999 play I Can Do Bad All By Myself (not to be confused with his later film of the same name, which has a totally different plot), and then featured again in his stage follow-up Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which would later form the basis of the first movie.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In each film, Perry himself dons heavy prosthetics to play the family matriarch, and also crops up as Madea\u2019s grouchy elderly brother Joe and her nephew Brian, among other roles. Though 2019\u2019s A Madea Family Funeral<\/a> was initially intended to be the character\u2019s last hurrah, the filmmaker went on to strike a deal with Netflix to bring her back for A Madea Homecoming<\/a> three years later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re new to the Madea cinematic universe or want to return to the franchise after catching up with the latest offering on Netflix<\/a>, here\u2019s your guide to Perry\u2019s movies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHow to watch Madea movies in order<\/b><\/h2>\n
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)<\/b><\/h3>\n