The popular animated Madagascar movie franchise by DreamWorks has captured the hearts of both kids and adults alike since the first film debuted in 2005. Over the years, there have been three main theatrical Madagascar movies released along with a holiday special and a spin-off film focused on the lovable Penguins. But out of all these entertaining movies, Which Madagascar Movie is the Best?
Recapping the Madagascar Films [Which Madagascar Movie is the Best]
Before determining the best, let’s briefly recap what each Madagascar movie is about:[Which Madagascar Movie is the Best].
Madagascar (2005)
The original classic follows Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo. These four animal friends live a comfortable life in a New York City zoo but dream of experiencing the wild. When Marty escapes the zoo, Alex, Melman, and Gloria pursue him and all end up shipwrecked on the exotic island of Madagascar. There they meet a colony of lemurs and try to adapt while attempting to get back home.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
In the sequel, Alex, Marty, Gloria, and Melman finally make it back to New York but crash land their aircraft in Africa. There Alex is reunited with his parents but trouble soon arises from rival lions. Marty also connects with other zebras who look and act exactly like him. They all have to learn what it means to be truly wild animals.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012)
This time the group joins a failing European circus troupe in order to get back home. They bring excitement to the lackluster circus through their exotic talents while falling into a hilarious love triangle between the lion and two bears as well as a romantic dynamic between the hippo and the circus’s Italian tiger.
Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
Focused on the scene-stealing Penguins from the main series, this spin-off follows their adventures as agents in an Arctic spy organization. When a villain threatens penguins globally, the waddling quartet springs into action on a fun international spy mission.
Madagascar: A Little Wild (2020 – Present)
An animated series aimed at younger kids, this takes Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo and depicts them as children residing happily in a rescue habitat at the Central Park Zoo. They go on various adventures exploring New York City.
So now that we’re caught up on the premise for each entry in Which Madagascar Movie is the Best.
Ranking the Films From Good to Best [Which Madagascar Movie is the Best]
While all the Madagascar movies have fantastic animation, great voice acting, and lots of humorous moments, some of the films are more entertaining and memorable than others. Below is my definitive ranking of the main Madagascar movies from lowest to highest: [Which Madagascar Movie is the Best]
3. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Though still an enjoyable film with its spectacular CGI animation continuing to impress, this sequel fails to capture the same magic of the first movie. The plot feels recycled as once again the group finds themselves stranded in an unfamiliar habitat separated from their NYC home. While it explores Alex’s ancestry, the emotional stakes don’t feel as high throughout. The Penguins play a smaller role here as well in the film’s detriment.
2. Madagascar
As the movie that started everything for the beloved franchise, the original Madagascar deserves respect for properly introducing audiences to all the unique characters audiences would grow attached to plus creating an immersive world packed with details. It sets up the personalities and relationships between Alex and his friends extremely well through standout opening sequences in New York’s Central Park Zoo before sending them spiraling into uncertainty on the island that gives the film its name. The animation holds up nicely all these years later though can’t compare to the visual feats of its sequels. Still it has an undeniable charm.
1. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Claiming the title of best Madagascar film is this third installment which demonstrates the franchise hitting its stride by combining superb animation, an abundance of hilarious gags, stronger relationships between core characters, and showstopping circus acts. Out of the trilogy, this one has the most compelling story sending the group on the run as they immerse themselves in a traveling European circus while evading a ruthless animal control officer named Chantal DuBois hellbent on placing Alex’s head on her wall. The emotional stakes feel higher than ever with Alex’s deepening bond with fellow circus performer Gia the Jaguar and him grappling with missing his old showbiz prestige. Gloria’s own courtship with the smooth Italian tiger Vitaly also makes for great comedy. And the circus setting prompts vibrant psychedelic colors and allows the animators to design creative routines showing off the characters’ talents from dancing seals to motorcycling dogs under the big top. With no shortage of big laughs, tugs at the heartstrings, and eye-catching spectacle on display, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted stands as the crown jewel of the film series.
Which Madagascar Movie is the Best Reddit
Beyond just my own critical analysis, looking at public consensus on platforms like Reddit can further validate Madagascar 3 standing as the most beloved installment. The r/Madagascar subreddit often names Europe’s Most Wanted as their top pick when asked to rank the series. Fans highlight the over-the-top circus setting allowing animators to really flex their creative muscles. Many find the romance subplots between Alex/Gia and Gloria/Vitaly take the series to an emotionally satisfying place not seen before. And the penguins amusing espionage side plot continues being a hit with viewers. For capturing the franchise’s animation and storytelling at its peak, Redditors largely agree Madagascar 3 takes the cake. [Which Madagascar Movie is the Best]
Which Madagascar Movie is the Best IMDb
IMDb user ratings tell a similar story with the 9.3 million worldwide users on the platform scoring Madagascar 3 the highest out of the franchise at 7.1/10 versus the original earning 6.9/10 and Escape 2 Africa lagging further behind at 6.7/10. Every installment delivers entertainment but the third chapter simply brings greater laughs, spectacular visuals, and crowd-pleasing showstoppers leading more fans to grant it a perfect 10 rating more than the others. As the movie also garnered the most critical acclaim from professional reviewers, both experts and average moviegoers find Europe’s Most Wanted to be peak Madagascar.
Which Madagascar Movie Has Mort
The lovable lemur Mort first appeared in the original 2005 film establishing himself as an instantly iconic character that kept popping up throughout the trilogy plus Penguins of Madagascar spin-off. Known for his huge eyes and tendency to bite feet, the tiniest zoo animal provided plenty of comic relief. Fans loved him in the first movie but he shined even brighter getting more screen time in the sequels. Mort particularly stood out in Europe’s Most Wanted with his overeager antics meshing perfectly with the frenetic circus atmosphere allowing animators to stage even bolder slapstick humor with him. So while Mort debuted in the classic first film, his madcap energy reached its full potential in part 3.[Which Madagascar Movie is the Best]
Why Madagascar 2 is the Best One
While the second Madagascar film Escape 2 Africa has its moments of humor and stunning visuals of the African landscape, many fans and critics would argue it lacks the spark that made the original film feel so fresh and special. Now we are near to conclusion for Which Madagascar Movie is the Best section. The surprise factor is gone as audiences have already seen Alex’s group stranded in an unfamiliar environment they didn’t ask for, leading to a recycled plot. Making Alex reunite with his pride provides opportunity for emotional growth but isn’t executed strongly enough to resonate deeply. And fan-favorite Penguins get significantly less screen time resulting in fewer memorable set pieces. After the first movie’s runaway success, expectations were higher for the sequel that unfortunately couldn’t live up to the original’s charm. Let see conclusion for Which Madagascar Movie is the Best.
Conclusion: Third Time’s the Charm- Which Madagascar Movie is the Best
In the end, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted edges out the other films by improving on everything that came before. The animation is the most stunning of the trilogy with its flashy circus aesthetics and vibrant, surreal colors that pop off the screen. The relentless humor lands more often thanks to the eccentric character additions like the passionate Italian tiger Vitaly, the coquettish jaguar Gia, and the relentlessly pursuing animal control officer Chantal DuBois. We get to see deeper dimensions to beloved main characters as well like Melman’s medical talents benefitting the circus, Gloria’s search for romance with Vitaly, and Alex grappling with his former fame while bonding with Gia. The story itself takes more risks to yield higher emotional payoffs compared to the previous plots rehashing the friends getting stranded in unfamiliar habitats. Overall, it’s simply the most fun, lively, and complete moviegoing experience of the whole franchise.[Which Madagascar Movie is the Best].
At last, judging all major theatrical releases in DreamWorks’ beloved Madagascar franchise, the third movie Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is the clear winner thanks to its clever writing, emotional depth, dazzling circus aesthetics, and nonstop hilarity making it appealing for all ages. The creators clearly hit their stride raising the animation quality and character relationships to new heights the third time around. It proves itself the most entertaining, creative, and complete Madagascar cinematic experience yet. So whenever you revisit Alex the Lion and his wacky friends’ misadventures, prioritize watching Madagascar 3 to see this talented animal pack at their very best.[Which Madagascar Movie is the Best].
Which Madagascar Movie is the Best?-FAQ
Is Madagascar 2 better than 1?
No, the original is more charming and innovative.
Which part of Madagascar movie is best?
Madagascar 3 takes the franchise to new heights.
Was Madagascar 2 a success?
Yes commercially but many find it a creative disappointment.
Which Madagascar movie made the most money?
Madagascar 3 earned over $746 million worldwide.
Why is Madagascar 3 so good?
The animation, humor, emotions, and circus acts fire on all cylinders.
Is Madagascar 3 good for kids?
Yes, with its visual spectacle, laughs, and positive messages it entertains kids extremely well.