Look, Netflix gets a lot of flak for pulling shows before their time, but they really nailed it with this one. They stuck with a franchise that’s been around for almost thirty years, and it’s clearly paid off. The latest film is a huge hit, pulling in a massive 23 million hours of watch time in just the first few days of its release. I’m genuinely impressed – it’s a win for both Netflix and fans of the series.
Despite sounding like just another road trip comedy you might find on Netflix, Joe’s College Road Trip is actually the 14th movie featuring Tyler Perry’s beloved character, Madea. This marks a significant moment for the series, which originally started as a stage play back in 1999.
Tyler Perry’s Madea Franchise Just Launched Its First Successful Spinoff
The Madea series, which includes thirteen movies and eleven plays, has always revolved around Mabel Earlene “Madea” Simmons, played by Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip is the first film to spin off from the main series, focusing on a member of Madea’s family – her brother, Joe. Interestingly, Tyler Perry also plays Joe, Madea, and Joe’s son, Brian (Madea’s nephew)! The cast also includes Jermaine Harris as Brian’s son, B.J., as well as Amber Reign Smith, Millie Jackson, Bethany Anne Lind, Ms Pat, and others. The movie follows Joe as he takes his grandson, B.J., on a road trip to show him what the “real world” is like. Expect some drama and valuable life lessons along the way!
As a film fan, I’ve noticed a pattern in Tyler Perry’s work: things usually escalate into drama, but characters end up learning something big along the way. His latest, Joe’s College Road Trip, really leans into the generational gap – it’s basically Gen Z clashing with Boomers, and the dad, Brian, is stuck right in the middle. What I think Perry does really well is tap into what families are actually going through right now, which explains why his movies often get such huge audiences. It’s not winning over the critics, though – it’s sitting at 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences aren’t much higher at 50%.
Despite some mixed reactions, the movie debuted at No. 1 on Netflix worldwide. It’s a clear win, racking up 12.5 million views in its first week. The next most popular films were far behind: The Investigation of Lucy Letby received 6.6 million views, and the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake came in third with 6.1 million. This shows Tyler Perry still has a strong following that turns out for his new releases.
The movie College Road Trip is being recognized as a funny and somewhat crude comedy. In a review for Variety, Owen Gleiberman described it as a lighthearted and boisterous film, unusual for its director. He noted that even the Madea movies have moments of heartfelt family drama, but College Road Trip features a character who is far more outrageous and unrestrained than Madea.
In a review for the New York Times, Glenn Kenny found unexpected emotional depth in Tyler Perry’s Road Trip, noting it had “a lot more…than you might expect.” He highlighted the film’s convincing anger and pride, and pointed out its timely premiere during Black History Month, despite acknowledging its occasionally excessive nature.
You can now watch Tyler Perry’s Joe’s College Road Trip on Netflix! Join the conversation and share your thoughts with other fans on the ComicBook Forum.
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2026-02-20 02:41