Here’s why Tyler Perry won’t play Madea anymore

While promoting A Madea Christmas (2013), Perry told Today, “As long as people want to see her, she’ll be around,” before adding, “But the minute they stop coming, that broad’s going to die a quick death!” There he goes with the whole death talk again. Sheesh.

Following that interview, more Madea films were released, but ticket sales were nothing to rave about. Forbes reported that A Madea Christmas only raked in $16.01 million during its opening weekend in 2013. Now, of course, we’re not talking pennies here, but when compared to 2009’s Madea Goes to Jail, which brought in $41.03 during its opening weekend, the decline in moviegoers’ interest was evident.

Perry take a hiatus from the character from 2014 to 2016, only to return with Boo! A Madea Halloween, which made $28.5 million its opening weekend, and Boo 2! A Madea Halloween in 2017 that clocked in at $21.23 million. The final installment, 2019’s release of A Madea Funeral, brought in $27.05 million its opening weekend, according to Forbes.

Those numbers are nothing to sulk over, but it was clear that the people had spoken. The character’s popularity had dwindled down over the years. We can’t really fault Perry for finally putting her to rest … for now, at least.