“Madea’s Big Happy Family” released in 2025. The original “Madea’s Big Happy Family” is a 2011 American comedy-drama film written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry. The film, based on Perry’s 2010 play of the same name, is the eleventh installment in the Tyler Perry film franchise and the sixth in the Madea cinematic universe. It features a cast including Loretta Devine, Bow Wow, David Mann, Cassi Davis, Tamela Mann, Lauren London, Isaiah Mustafa, Natalie Desselle, Rodney Perry, and Shannon Kane.
The plot centers around Madea’s niece, Shirley, portrayed by Loretta Devine, who receives the devastating news that her cancer has worsened, leaving her with only a few weeks to live. Determined to unite her fractured family, Shirley enlists Madea’s help to bring her children together and share the news. However, her children—Byron (Bow Wow), Tammy (Natalie Desselle-Reid), and Kimberly (Shannon Kane)—are entangled in their own personal issues, leading to conflicts that hinder Shirley’s efforts. Madea steps in with her signature tough love and wisdom, addressing each family member’s problems and striving to mend the family’s bonds before it’s too late.
The film was produced on a budget of $25 million and was released theatrically on April 22, 2011. It debuted at number two at the box office, grossing $25,068,677 during its opening weekend, just behind the animated film “Rio.” By the end of its theatrical run, “Madea’s Big Happy Family” had grossed a total of $53,345,287 in the United States, making it a commercial success.
Critical reception was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 38% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 4.60/10. Metacritic reports a score of 45 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.” Despite the lukewarm critical response, audiences reacted more favorably, with CinemaScore polls reflecting an average grade of “A,” suggesting strong approval from moviegoers.
In terms of home media, “Madea’s Big Happy Family” was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 30, 2011. The DVD includes four featurettes: “By-reen: The Baby Mama from Hell,” “Ties That Bind,” “Madea’s Family Tree,” and “Brown Calls Maury.” The Blu-ray edition offers these features along with a digital copy of the film.
As of now, the latest installment in the Madea franchise is “Madea’s Destination Wedding,” an upcoming American comedy film produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. This film is scheduled for release on Netflix in 2025 and features a cast including Cassi Davis, Tamela Mann, David Mann, Diamond White, and Taja V. Simpson. Filming began in January 2024 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, with additional scenes shot in the Dominican Republic. “Madea’s Destination Wedding” marks the thirteenth film in the Madea cinematic universe.
