Top 30 Funniest Madea Moments
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for Tyler Perry’s signature character and her most hilarious bits from her film series and beyond. What’s your favorite Madea moment? Let us know in the comments!
#30: Hitting a “Buck”
“Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” (2017)
When Brian lets his daughter, Tiffany, go party with a bunch of frat guys for Halloween, Madea takes it upon herself to bring Tiffany back. She rounds up Joe, Bam, and Hattie to drive out to Lake Derrick. The way there is dark and spooky. Hattie claims to have seen a girl in a white dress in the woods. Of course the others don’t believe her when suddenly the girl appears in front of the car causing Madea to accidentally run her over. Scared, she doesn’t want to check on what she hit, saying it was probably a buck. When she does get out and sees a bit of blood on the hood, she still says it was a deer.
#29: Roasting Victoria
“Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006)
Family reunions are casual affairs, especially for the Simmons family in a humble Georgia setting. When Victoria rolls up to Aunt Ruby’s home, she definitely stands out in her attire of a fancy dress and heels. She certainly catches Madea’s attention. When Victoria’s called out for complaining about the heat, she justifies her choice by saying what she’s wearing is all the rage in Paris. This prompts Madea to come up with a little rhyme poking fun at Victoria complete with an absurd sounding French accent. She storms off but Madea and company are killing themselves with laughter.
#28: Making Fun of Trick or Treater
“Boo! A Madea Halloween” (2016)
Madea isn’t fond of giving out Halloween candy to kids. When sitting with Bam, she notices her cousin Bam secretly takes candy from trick or treaters when dispensing candy to them. Madea notices this and warns Bam that she’ll get caught when a child dressed as a cow comes up for candy. Madea takes issue with the kid’s costume, telling the mother she ought to be ashamed of herself. She continues to go in on the youngster, not so discreetly saying he looks like the Notorious B.I.G. even dropping the line, She’s proven right when the kid notices he’s missing some of his treats.
#27: Madea’s Makeover
“Madea’s Witness Protection” (2012)
In an attempt to recover stolen money, George comes up with a plan involving Madea. She needs to pose as Precious Jackson, the owner of a bank account, so that she can withdraw funds from it. The account is in New York but before departing George’s wife, Kate, says that Madea can’t go with what she’s wearing. Protesting, Madea says Aretha Franklin gave her what she’s wearing but Kate, instead, suggests that Medea gets a makeover. Introduced as Precious Jackson, Madea has a pink suit that George marvels at but Joe says she looks like a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.
#26: Roasting a Customer
“A Madea Christmas” (2013)
Madea gets a job at a store working as a sales person. Dissatisfied with what she has to wear, but her niece, Eileen, insists she’s dressed for success. Eileen explains that Madea’s duties involve her greeting customers, handling their inquiries and directing them to various sections of the store. A woman approaches and asks where the lingerie section is. Madea asks who it’s and when the lady replies for herself and Madea goes off on her, saying that she should instead go to Target and some comfortable underwear. Even during Christmas, Madea doesn’t hold back.
#25: Fighting the Demons
“Boo! A Madea Halloween” (2016)
Madea, Bam, and Hattie run from what they think are demons haunting them. Madea ends up in the church and is desperate for anything to make them go away. Easily enough, Sister Alice says that all Madea has to do is confess her sins and accept Jesus and she’ll be saved from demons. She accepts Jesus but soon Aday reveals the demons were just the frat boys pranking her. Enraged, Madea tries to prevent herself from cussing in church and threatens to burn the frat house down. The reverend tries to stop her, saying that she’s just been saved. She responds that sometimes, it just doesn’t take. The drop in her voice is what kills it.
#24: Knickers in a Bunch
“A Madea Homecoming” (2022)
Tim and Davi are about to graduate and Davi’s relatives, Agnes and Cathy, come from Ireland to attend the ceremony. The problem is they arrive at Madea’s house unannounced, so at first there’s confusion as to who they are. Even after Davi explains that they’re his family, everyone is still a bit bewildered. Noticing how everyone is looking at her, Agnes wonders why they have their knickers in a bunch. However, she’s misheard and Madea and company think she used racially charged language and clears things up by lifting her dress to show she was talking about underwear. Madea rightly points out that saying panties will avoid future troubles.
#23: Slapping Mr. Brown
“Madea’s Big Happy Family” (2011)
At the doctor’s, Leroy Brown has a colonoscopy done where a growth is discovered. When he and Cora return to Madea's, Leroy explains his situation to Madea and seeks comfort from her. This is obviously a mistake as she’s completely unsympathetic to his situation saying that he is a growth and he is a cancer. When he approaches her for a hug, she just straight up slaps him. The way he screams and falls to the floor is just hilarious. She continues to tease him about his situation and Uncle Joe gets in a few jabs.
#22: Living for the Lort
“Madea Goes to Jail” (2009)
Madea ends up in court once again, this time for leading the police on a freeway chase and resisting arrest. Wanting to stay out of jail, Madea pleads with the judge saying that she’s turned her life around and has been living for the lord. Now, she has a tendency to mispronounce words and it doesn’t help that she’s mispronouncing the word “lord” as “lort”, but it does make the situation pretty funny to watch unfold. Of course, Judge Mablean doesn’t believe Madea for one second but ultimately has to let her go because she wasn’t read her Miranda rights.
#21: Pulling a Gun on Richard
“A Madea Homecoming” (2022)
Madea makes it no secret that he has no love for her great-grandson’s father, Richard. Tim, however, wants his dad to be there for his graduation. Madea allows Richard to be at her home because of this fact but warns that he better not come near her. Richard goes to greet her but she ignores him. Trying to get her attention with a tap, she pulls a gun and fires it in the air, a reasonable response. Later, it comes out that Richard is engaged to Sylvia, Tim’s mom’s best friend and the rest of the family is upset by this news. They want the couple to leave but Richard refuses until Madea pulls a shotgun out of nowhere and he quickly changes his mind.
#20: Attic Clown
“Boo! A Madea Halloween” (2016)
We don’t know how Tyler Perry came up with the brilliant idea to put Madea in a horror movie, but we’re sure glad he did. After Madea and friends shut down a Halloween party at a frat house, the brothers decide to get some revenge. Only, they should’ve figured Madea would have some more tricks of her own. When things start to go bump in the night, Madea ventures up in the attic to see what’s going on. What she gets is everyone’s worst nightmare in the form of a clown. Madea is understandably unsettled, but the frat brother probably should’ve known better than to sneak up on Mabel Simmons. We don’t care how many clowns there are; Madea is the scariest thing on Halloween.
#19: Waking Up George
“Madea’s Witness Protection” (2012)
Though Madea can be welcoming and hospitable on her own terms, she clearly doesn’t like having to entertain guests. Unless there’s something in it for her, of course. When Madea’s nephew Brian arranges for a wealthy family to stay with her while they hide from the mob, Madea’s more interested in the money than the charity. Still, she won’t abide slouches in her household, which is on full display as she tries to get a depressed George out of bed. George actor Eugene Levy has terrific chemistry with Tyler Perry, and it’s a shame we haven’t seen more of them since. Though we don’t really want to see what finally gets George up and at ‘em.
#18: Kid Whisperer
“I Can Do Bad All by Myself” (2009)
As much as Madea doesn’t take too kindly to adult visitors, she can be surprisingly good with kids. After Madea and Joe thwart a robbery, they’re surprised to see that they’re children. Madea sits them down and feeds them before using her tough exterior to get some answers out of them. Only, there are more than a few misunderstandings. “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” is definitely one of the more dramatic Madea movies in which she only plays a supporting role, but Tyler Perry proves he knows how to pepper in some comedic relief with this scene.
#17: Outhouse
“Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” (2017)
There’ve been a lot of “Madea” movies, but none got a direct sequel save for “Boo!” Coming out just a year after the first, “Boo 2” ratchets up the Halloween antics when Madea and the others go looking for her grand-niece Tiffany on the spookiest night of the year. Coming across the frat’s campsite, their investigation hits a snag when Hattie has to relieve herself. Terrified, she persuades Madea to escort her to the nearby outhouse, but Madea’s guard duty comes to an abrupt end when a masked maniac emerges from the river. As loyal as Madea is under normal circumstances, we can’t say we really blame her for running away.
#16: Keeping the Secret
“A Madea Family Funeral” (2019)
“A Madea Family Funeral” gets its title from Anthony, the husband of Madea’s niece, Vianne. While Madea and the gang are supposed to be attending their 40th anniversary party, things take a turn when they catch Anthony being unfaithful. Anthony having suffered a heart attack during the tryst, Madea is resolved not to tell his family about his infidelity at the hospital. However, Joe and her friend Hattie aren’t quite so tight-lipped. The scene would otherwise be serious, as the family eventually learns of Anthony’s passing, but Madea rightly demands the spotlight in her namesake film as she shuts Joe and Hattie up the quickest way she knows how.
#15: Infiltrating the Party
“Boo! A Madea Halloween” (2016)
Going back to this horror comedy, Madea and company definitely get a strange reception upon arriving at the Halloween party. Given her appearance, multiple frat guys naturally think she’s someone simply in costume as an old woman, and it doesn’t go too well. Despite all the misunderstandings, the frat brothers learn that the surest way to distract Madea is to bring out her inner clubber. Indeed, when real-life rapper Tyga takes the stage, Madea can’t help but groove along. And you know what, we don’t blame her. Madea ultimately gets herself thrown out, but we honestly could’ve watched a whole movie about Madea partying.
#14: Christmas Retail
“A Madea Christmas” (2013)
Given her snappy and no-nonsense nature, Madea is probably the last person we’d hire to work at a department store, especially during the most hectic time of year. But that’s exactly what happens in “A Madea Christmas,” and the results are about what you’d expect. From telling an older woman not to wear lingerie to taking personal calls during her shift, Madea inadvertently ends up spreading a little less cheer than her employers intended. But somebody should’ve warned them not to mess with her paycheck, because when they try to let her go without compensating her on the spot, Madea is in the opposite of a giving mood.
#13: Flight Attendant
“Madea’s Witness Protection” (2012)
There’s a lot that goes into making Madea a memorable character, but one of her funniest eccentricities is her periodical fudging of the English language. Though, we’d never try to tell her she’s saying something wrong. When Madea and George travel to New York to resolve the latter’s dealings with the mob, Madea has to take to the skies. But not even first class can alleviate her fear of flying. She desperately tries to get the attention of a flight attendant, but instead, it sounds like she’s saying “flight…” well, something else. Credit to Tyler Perry for being able to make even little scenes like this hysterical.
#12: Madea’s Chainsaw
“Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005)
Who needs a divorce lawyer when your grandmother is Madea? After her granddaughter’s marriage falls apart, Madea takes Helen into her home and gives her marital advice… and marital advice from Madea is just what you’d expect it to be. Demanding that Helen’s former husband give up 50% of his belongings, Madea cuts to the chase – and takes a page out of Leatherface’s book – by divvying up the belongings herself, starting with the sofa… and a chainsaw. It may not be legal, but it sure solved the problem!
#11: Foster Mother
“Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006)
After removing her house arrest bracelet, Madea finds herself back in court to answer the charges, hoping her lawyer will lie for her and get her off the hook. The judge doesn’t believe her lawyer’s excuses, however, and Madea is forced to list off the many people she cares for in the run of a day – demanding that she not be tied down with a house-arrest bracelet. So, instead of sending Madea to jail, the judge saddles her with a troubled youth who’s also in court that day. If it were up to Madea, though, she’d prefer a jail cell.
#10: Drive Thru
“Madea’s Big Happy Family” (2011)
We all know how well a breakfast sandwich can hit the spot, but Madea takes the craving for all-day breakfast to a whole new level. After waiting in the drive-thru for over fifteen minutes, Madea’s informed that not only are they sold out of eggs and ham, but breakfast servings just ended too. Of course, this news doesn’t sit too well with Madea, nor does the manager’s attitude. So, she does what anyone else would do in this situation: drive her car through the restaurant’s side window and take her anger out on the employees. Maybe we’d just go get breakfast somewhere else instead…
#9: Run for Your Life
“A Madea Christmas” (2013)
What’s a Christmas movie without an accidental run-in with the Ku Klux Klan? Well, leave it to Madea to somehow find her way into a KKK meeting en route to Alabama during the holiday season. Shocked at seeing a bunch of white hoods and the Confederate flag, Madea bursts out the door and hightails it to her car like a running back heading for the end zone. She dives into the back seat, screaming “get the hell out of here,” as the car squeals away.
#8: Oprah Interviews Madea
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” (1986-2011)
During an interview with creator Tyler Perry promoting the upcoming release of “Madea’s Family Reunion,” Oprah somehow managed to score a side interview with the pistol-packing grandma herself. Via satellite from her home in Atlanta, Georgia, Madea praises Oprah and says how much she trusts her before the legendary talk show host lets it slip that Madea was recently in jail. Madea then jokes that her relationship with Tyler Perry has gone downhill since he invited Oprah – and not her – to a black-tie affair. It’s all a bit silly, but still lots of fun to watch.
#7: Rosa Flashback
“A Madea Homecoming” (2022)
Originally, 2019’s “A Madea Family Funeral” was supposed to mark Tyler Perry’s retiring of the character, so we were naturally overjoyed when he partnered up with Netflix to release another film in 2022. The usual antics ensue in “A Madea Homecoming,” but the scene that surprised us the most was Madea’s bit of revisionist history as she relates a story about her man cheating on her with her friend Rosa in 1955. The black-and-white aspect is hilarious enough, but things take another turn when Rosa is revealed to be Rosa Parks, and that Madea’s berating of her on the bus inadvertently kicked off the Civil Rights Movement. Well, if you believe Madea, that is. Can we get a “Drunk History” episode narrated by Madea, please?
#6: Bus Stop
“Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006)
Now, we’re not suggesting that you should attack a child under any circumstances, but the manner in which Madea leaps over a bus seat to grab a mouthy whippersnapper is truly something. She’s sure got a whole lot of energy! Hearing from her foster child that she’s been tormented on the school bus, Madea quickly – and we mean quickly – solves the problem, giving the busload of kids fair warning not to pick on her friend… while also smacking one unlucky dude upside the head. Parenting 101: Madea Style.
#5: The Whole Funeral
“A Madea Family Funeral” (2019)
Though the department store gig certainly didn’t work out, Madea fits right in at the eponymous funeral in this one as the minister of service. Though that’s not exactly what she calls it. Madea isn’t exactly tactful as she organizes the event, but seeing as it goes on for hours and hours and hours, she probably does the best with what she has to work with. After constantly cutting off speakers and singers as they drone on endlessly, Madea finally tries to wrap things up with a viewing of the body. But things unsurprisingly go even more awry when Anthony’s aforementioned wild ways have him - ahem - “rising” from the dead.
#4: Madea vs. Dr. Phil
“Madea Goes to Jail” (2009)
You don’t want to get on Madea’s bad side… and that goes for beloved celebrities and law enforcement, too! Her anger issues are the stuff of legend, and not even Dr. Phil can reach through to Madea and calm her inner rage. In fact, Madea only ends up angering Dr. Phil, who gives up on trying to help her. Also, if you’re from the “popo” and you think that arresting Madea comes without a fight, you’re sorely mistaken – and do NOT try to tell her anything about Miranda because she won’t hear it!
#3: White House Communications Director
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (2014-)
Oprah’s not the only TV host who enjoys a good Madea gag! Jimmy Fallon loves having the grumpy grandma on his late-night show, too – especially if he can take a few jabs at former President Trump in the process. With the White House in an uproar in real life, Madea and Fallon poke fun at the media circus surrounding Trump’s presidency when Madea becomes the new Communications Director and makes it clear she won’t take flak from any reporters. This wasn’t her first association with Trump on “The Tonight Show” either, as Madea once took a direct phone call from the president himself. Perhaps she should have her own late-night show? We’d watch!
#2: Pat Down
“Madea’s Witness Protection” (2012)
It’s not advised to play around with airport security, as they have a pretty serious job to perform. But even when she’s about to fly, Madea’s going to be Madea and make a scene! Sure, she complies with all of security’s wishes, but she also gets a little flirting in as well. First, joking that airport screenings remind her of her stripping days and then telling the officer he’ll find “the road map to heaven” while he pats her down below the waist. Oh, Madea, you charmer, you!
#1: Madea Destroys a Car
“Madea Goes to Jail” (2009)
There are a lot of things you shouldn’t do to Madea: give her attitude, pick on her friends, hurt her family members, etc. But the one thing you should NEVER do is park in her space! Case in point: Madea uses a crane to destroy a woman’s car that parked in her spot instead of just finding another one. That’s cold-blooded! It’s not like Madea cares about the police, either, as she tells the woman to “call the po-po!” It’s not the only time she’s said that either, as she spouts the same line to homewrecker Brenda in “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.” Po-po?? Madea don’t fear no po-po!