Tyler Perry Discusses Always Being Told Movies With Black Stars Won’t Do Well

Tyler Perry Talks New Madea Movie Crossing Milestone And Made History As Adjusted To Movies With Black Actors That Have Never Been A Hit Outside Of The United States

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Madea is back, and the numbers show that many people tuned in. Last Friday, Netflix debuted A Madea Homecoming, which became the No. 1 film on the streaming service in the United States and throughout several countries across the world. As Perry reflects on how the movie’s success contradicts what Hollywood told him about his work with predominantly black casts and crews, he’s also energized to keep telling stories that matter. “I’m grateful to God that people have responded to the films that I’ve made,” Perry tells The Hollywood Reporter. “And I’m just going to continue to make films that I believe in, with black people and brown people and all kinds of people in them, because that’s what I like to see.”

A Madea Homecoming marks Perry’s seventh film with a predominantly black cast, following Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, which became his highest-grossing domestic release last year. The success of both movies flies in the face of what Hollywood conventional wisdom has long been about movies with black stars: that they won’t do well overseas. “It just goes to show you that people are interested in good stories, no matter what color the cast is,” Perry says. “And I’m grateful to God that we’ve been able to break through those boundaries.”

The first Madea film to be released directly to Netflix is A Madea Homecoming, which means it’s the first in the long-running franchise to be instantly available to viewers worldwide. In the world, Netflix has revealed that The Chaperone was in the top 10 of 33 nations, including Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. When Tyler Perry announced the good news, he said:

“Since the beginning of my career, I was always told that “black movies” don’t do well in other countries. I want to say ‘thank you to not only my ride or dies in the USA, but to all of you in the rest of the world that helped Hollywood see what I’ve always known! Movies with Black people in them can appeal to the entire globe. Thank you, thank you, thank you. THANK YOU, NETFLIX!!”

The director’s statement comes through his Instagram, where he revealed some incredible statistics about his new dramedy. According to Netflix, the comedy was seen for 31 million hours during its first week on the streaming service. The film debuted at No. 1 in the United States and nine other countries: The Bahamas, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Mauritius, Netherlands, Senegal, South Africa, and Trinidad & Tobago.

It must be mind-boggling to be Tyler Perry and watch how his latest project is performing in countries worldwide. After previously stating her death, the actor, filmmaker, and producer resurrected his gun-toting matriarch (after once saying she died) to bring more joy to the planet during a difficult moment in history. He may be pleased with his reach, as well as show Hollywood that “black films” can be profitable all around the world.

He’s now in his 17th year since releasing his first Madea film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Over the years, he’s learned a lot about Hollywood and knows his fans. Critics have bad things to say about most Madea films, and A Madea Homecoming is no different. The movie is currently sitting at a 39 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Tyler Perry took to social media to address the film’s less-than-stellar review average and to tell fans not to listen to them.” Don’t listen to them, y’all,” Perry wrote on Instagram. “I don’t care what they say.

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