Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

16% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 86% Audience Score 50,000+ Ratings

After 18 years of marriage to lawyer Charles (Steve Harris), Helen (Kimberly Elise) is shocked when he announces he's ending their marriage and shacking up with Brenda (Lisa Marcos). Helen retreats to the house of her grandmother Madea (Tyler Perry), who helps her destroy much of Charles' property, earning her house arrest. While Charles prepares for the trial of a corrupt client, Helen is courted by Orlando (Shemar Moore), an affectionate moving man with strong Christian values. Read More Read Less

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman

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Critics Consensus

Tyler Perry's successful play can't make the move to the screen; this mix of slapstick, melodrama and spirituality lacks a consistent tone.

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Critics Reviews

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Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Syrupy drama -- not much here for kids. Rated: 2/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Peter Travers Rolling Stone Rated: 2/4 Aug 14, 2007 Full Review Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Peter Howell Toronto Star It's never less than watchable, a bizarre hybrid that somehow works as a whole, even though its various components don't mesh. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 18, 2005 Full Review Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com The film is blessed with the presence of Cicely Tyson, who apparently was desperately for one last cinematic fling. Rated: 1.5/4.0 Sep 6, 2020 Full Review Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Dustin Putman TheFilmFile.com It is a film full of jagged edges, but one that is sincere and beguiling at its core. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 14, 2013 Full Review Diary of a Mad Black Woman | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy [Jams] together not two but three separate genres that probably should have remained that way. Rated: 3/10 Jan 19, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Granee R I loved everything about it. I've watched it probably like seven times. I like everything that Tyler Perry produces. Great actors. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/25/24 Full Review Audience Member Not great, not terrible. Funny moments Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/12/22 Full Review Richardo M This is the best movie Tyler Perry ever made! He wrote it right and everything. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/01/22 Full Review Audience Member What a bizarre movie. It's like a soap opera, to the point where I thought the opening scene must be a dream and then the main character would wake up. Nope! Her husband actually had a truckload of his mistress' clothes delivered to their mansion, had his wife's clothes removed and told her to move out…on their wedding anniversary.It only gets more ridiculous from there. There's a bunch of Christianity sprinkled in which I thought was very strange. I was surprised that I actually loved the scenes with Madea in them. I'd never seen any of the movies prior to this and she's hilarious, but she felt incredibly out of place in what felt like a very serious romantic drama. Though as I continued to watch, I realized this is a dark comedy. It must be purposely over the top, otherwise there is no explanation for how terrible it is. It's a fun ride and overall I enjoyed watching it. The worst part of this film is Orlando's wig. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member I was really irritated with Charles in the movie. Helen was being far too sweet to Charles, in my opinion. Aside from that, I had a good time viewing this film and will watch it again. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A violent clash of shrill low brow comedy and soapy lifetime melodrama and amatarish direction, this was painful. Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

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Cast & Crew

Darren Grant Director Kimberly Elise Helen McCarter Steve Harris Charles McCarter Shemar Moore Orlando Tamara Taylor Debrah Lisa Marcos Brenda
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Synopsis After 18 years of marriage to lawyer Charles (Steve Harris), Helen (Kimberly Elise) is shocked when he announces he's ending their marriage and shacking up with Brenda (Lisa Marcos). Helen retreats to the house of her grandmother Madea (Tyler Perry), who helps her destroy much of Charles' property, earning her house arrest. While Charles prepares for the trial of a corrupt client, Helen is courted by Orlando (Shemar Moore), an affectionate moving man with strong Christian values.

Director
Darren Grant

Producer
Tyler Perry, Reuben Cannon

Screenwriter
Tyler Perry

Distributor
Lionsgate Films

Production Co
Diary of a Woman Productions Inc.

Rating
PG-13 (Drug Content|Crude Sexual References|Some Violence|Thematic Elements)

Genre
Comedy, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 25, 2005, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 27, 2015

Box Office (Gross USA)
$50.4M

Runtime
1h 56m

Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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