Honestly, threequels usually suck. By the time a franchise hits its third movie, the creative juices are usually dried up and the studio is just milking a dead cow for every last cent. But then there is Madagascar 3: Europe's most wanted. It’s loud. It’s colorful. It is basically a ninety-minute fever dream fueled by neon lights and Katy Perry.
Most people remember the first one for the "I Like to Move It" meme and the second for being "the one in Africa." But the third one? It’s arguably the most successful of the lot. We’re talking about a movie that grossed over $746 million worldwide. That’s more than the original and more than the sequel. It actually held the record as DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing non-Shrek film for a long time.
Why did it work so well?
The Absolute Chaos of Captain Chantel DuBois
You can’t talk about this movie without talking about the villain. Most kids' movies have a generic bad guy who wants to take over the world. Captain Chantel DuBois doesn't care about the world. She just wants to decapitate a lion.
Frances McDormand voiced her, and she went full "Terminator" for the role. DuBois is terrifying. She runs through walls. She sniffs the ground like a bloodhound. She sings Edith Piaf’s "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" to heal her injured henchmen in a hospital bed. It is unhinged.
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Why the circus setting actually saved the franchise
By the time the gang—Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria—left Africa, the "fish out of water" trope was getting stale. They couldn't just go back to the Central Park Zoo and stay there. That would be boring. Instead, the writers (including Noah Baumbach, which is still the weirdest fact about this movie) threw them into a failing traveling circus.
This introduced a bunch of new characters that actually mattered:
- Vitaly the Tiger: A grumpy Russian tiger who lost his confidence after a literal fire-hoop accident. Bryan Cranston voiced him right around the height of Breaking Bad fame.
- Gia the Jaguar: Jessica Chastain brought a bit of heart as the trapeze artist who catches Alex's eye.
- Stefano the Sea Lion: Martin Short being Martin Short. Loud, Italian, and surprisingly sweet.
The Visual Leap and That Neon Circus Scene
If you watch the first Madagascar today, the animation looks... okay. It’s a bit blocky. The fur looks like felt. But Madagascar 3: Europe's most wanted was a massive technical jump. Since it was the first in the series designed for 3D, the directors (Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, and Conrad Vernon) went all in on stylized visuals.
The "Firework" sequence in London is basically a psychedelic light show. It doesn't try to look "real." It looks like a painting come to life. Using Katy Perry’s "Firework" might feel dated now, but in 2012? It was a moment.
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Money talks: Breaking down the box office
The budget was roughly $145 million. That is a lot of pressure. Opening against Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a lot of people thought the animals would get crushed. Instead, they took the #1 spot with a $60.3 million opening weekend in the U.S.
| Region | Box Office Total |
|---|---|
| North America | ~$216 million |
| International | ~$530 million |
| Worldwide Total | $746.9 million |
It crushed it in Russia especially. Apparently, Russians really love a lion in a rainbow wig.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
There is a common misconception that the Madagascar movies are about the "journey home." They aren't. They are about realizing that "home" isn't a place; it's the people (or animals) you're with.
When the gang finally makes it back to the Central Park Zoo, it’s depressing. The cages look smaller. The walls feel higher. They realize they’ve grown too much to fit back into their old lives. Deciding to join the circus permanently was a bold move for a kids' franchise. It told the audience that it's okay to change your mind about what you want.
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The Noah Baumbach factor
I mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating. Noah Baumbach—the guy who did Marriage Story and The Squid and the Whale—co-wrote this. You can feel his influence in the snappy, almost neurotic dialogue. It gives the movie an edge that other animated threequels lack. It’s not just slapstick; it’s witty.
How to Revisit the Franchise Today
If you’re feeling nostalgic or want to show it to a new generation, here is the best way to handle a Madagascar marathon:
- Watch the original first: Obviously. You need the context of the New York four and their dynamic.
- Skip the spin-offs (for now): The Penguins of Madagascar movie is fun, but it distracts from the main emotional arc of the quartet.
- Pay attention to the background: The animators hid tons of references to European culture and classic cinema in the Monte Carlo and Rome sequences.
- Listen to the score: Hans Zimmer did the music. Yes, that Hans Zimmer. The man who did Inception and The Lion King also gave us the "Afro Circus" polka. That’s range.
There hasn't been a Madagascar 4 yet. DreamWorks shifted focus, and the story felt finished enough. Honestly? That’s probably for the best. Ending on a high note with a neon-soaked circus performance is a much better legacy than dragging it out until nobody cares anymore.
Next Steps: If you haven't seen it in years, check out the Monte Carlo chase scene on YouTube. It's a masterclass in pacing and physical comedy that still holds up better than most modern CGI action scenes. Or, if you have a streaming subscription, pull up the full movie to see if the "Afro Circus" song still gets stuck in your head for three days straight (it will).