Watch the Madagascar movies in release order: Madagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), then the spin-off Penguins of Madagascar (2014), which follows the penguins after the third film.
- Titles
- 4
- Films
- 4
- Watch time
- 6 hours
- Box office
- $2.27 billion
- Avg IMDb
- 6.8
Madagascar movies in release order
Here is every Madagascar title in the order it came out, 2005 to 2014: 4 films.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madagascar | 2005 | Film | 1h 26m | 7 |
| 2 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | 2008 | Film | 1h 29m | 6.7 |
| 3 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | 2012 | Film | 1h 33m | 6.8 |
| 4 | Penguins of Madagascar | 2014 | Film | 1h 32m | 6.7 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Madagascar, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Madagascar and go in release order.
The whole thing is 6 hours. At two hours a night that is about 3 evenings.
The three highest rated: Madagascar (7), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (6.8), and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (6.7).
Every Madagascar movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 2005 · Film · 1h 26m
Madagascar
Four animal friends get a taste of the wild life when they break out of captivity at the Central Park Zoo and wash ashore on the island of Madagascar.
Why it matters: Zoo animals stranded in Madagascar.
- Starring
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and David Schwimmer
- Director
- Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath
- Box office
- $542 million on a $75 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7 · Rotten Tomatoes 55%
No. 02 · 2008 · Film · 1h 29m
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Alex, Marty, and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The precariously repaired craft stays airborne just long enough to make it to the African continent. There the New Yorkers encounter members of their own species for the first time. Africa proves to be a wild place, but Alex and company wonder if it is better than their Central Park home.
Why it matters: The gang reaches Africa.
- Starring
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and David Schwimmer
- Director
- Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath
- Box office
- $604 million on a $150 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 64%
No. 03 · 2012 · Film · 1h 33m
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Animal pals Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois picks up their scent, Alex and company are forced to hide out in a traveling circus.
Why it matters: The gang joins a circus.
- Starring
- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and David Schwimmer
- Director
- Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, and Conrad Vernon
- Box office
- $747 million on a $145 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 78%
No. 04 · 2014 · Film · 1h 32m
Penguins of Madagascar
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.
Why it matters: The penguins' spin-off.
- Starring
- Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, and Christopher Knights
- Director
- Simon J. Smith and Eric Darnell
- Box office
- $374 million on a $132 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 74%
Madagascar box office and budgets
The 4 Madagascar films with reported numbers have grossed $2.27 billion worldwide on about $502 million in combined budgets, roughly 4.5 times what they cost. The biggest is Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted at $747 million, 33% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa ($604 million) and Madagascar ($542 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Madagascar, which made 7.2 times its $75 million budget. The weakest was Penguins of Madagascar at 2.8 times its $132 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Madagascar movies
Across 4 rated titles, Madagascar averages 6.8 on IMDb. The top of the list is Madagascar at 7, then Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (6.8) and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (6.7). At the bottom: Penguins of Madagascar (6.7) and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (6.7).
- Madagascar7 · RT 55%
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted6.8 · RT 78%
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa6.7 · RT 64%
- Penguins of Madagascar6.7 · RT 74%
Who appears in the most Madagascar movies
Andy Richter leads with 4 appearances as Mort, ahead of Ben Stiller (3) and Chris Rock (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Richter | Mort | 4 | Madagascar (2005) to Penguins of Madagascar (2014) |
| Ben Stiller | Alex | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| Chris Rock | Marty / Additional Zebras | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| David Schwimmer | Melman | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| Jada Pinkett Smith | Gloria | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| Sacha Baron Cohen | King Julien / Julien | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| Cedric the Entertainer | Maurice | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012) |
| Tom McGrath | Skipper / Fossa | 3 | Madagascar (2005) to Penguins of Madagascar (2014) |
| Christopher Knights | Private | 2 | Madagascar (2005) to Penguins of Madagascar (2014) |
| Chris Miller | Kowalski | 2 | Madagascar (2005) to Penguins of Madagascar (2014) |
| Conrad Vernon | Mason / Rico | 2 | Madagascar (2005) to Penguins of Madagascar (2014) |
Madagascar directors and creators
4 filmmakers have directed or created Madagascar; Eric Darnell has the most, with 4.
- Eric DarnellMadagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), and Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
- Tom McGrathMadagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008), and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- Conrad VernonMadagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- Simon J. SmithPenguins of Madagascar (2014)
How long it takes to watch every Madagascar movie
All 4 titles add up to 6 hours. That is about 3 two-hour evenings, or 1 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted at 1h 33m.
The 4 best rated films: Madagascar, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and Penguins of Madagascar.
Everything takes about 6 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Madagascar movies in?
Watch the Madagascar movies in release order: Madagascar (2005), Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), then the spin-off Penguins of Madagascar (2014), which follows the penguins after the third film.
How many Madagascar movies and shows are there?
There are 4 titles in the Madagascar franchise: 4 films and 0 series, released from 2005 to 2014.
How long does it take to watch all the Madagascar movies?
About 6 hours for all 4 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Madagascar title in chronological order?
Madagascar, set in Central Park Zoo. In release order the first is Madagascar (2005).
What is the best Madagascar movie?
By IMDb score, Madagascar (2005) at 7, followed by Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted at 6.8.
What is the highest-grossing Madagascar movie?
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), with $747 million worldwide. Madagascar films have made $2.27 billion in total.
Who has appeared in the most Madagascar movies?
Andy Richter, in 4 of them as Mort.
What is the longest Madagascar movie?
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, at 1h 33m.
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