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Diary of a Mad Black Woman

  • 20052005
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:20
3 Videos
34 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

A couple's seemingly solid marriage begins to crumble when the wife discovers that her husband intends to divorce her.A couple's seemingly solid marriage begins to crumble when the wife discovers that her husband intends to divorce her.A couple's seemingly solid marriage begins to crumble when the wife discovers that her husband intends to divorce her.

IMDb RATING
5.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Darren Grant
  • Writer
    • Tyler Perry(play)
  • Stars
    • Kimberly Elise
    • Steve Harris
    • Tyler Perry
Top credits
  • Director
    • Darren Grant
  • Writer
    • Tyler Perry(play)
  • Stars
    • Kimberly Elise
    • Steve Harris
    • Tyler Perry
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 213User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 36Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 13 nominations

    Videos3

    Diary of a Mad Black Woman: 2-Disc Special Edition
    Trailer 1:20
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman: 2-Disc Special Edition
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
    Trailer 2:19
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
    Trailer 2:52
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman

    Photos34

    Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Steve Harris and Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Kimberly Elise and Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Steve Harris and Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Kimberly Elise and Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Shemar Moore and Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Cicely Tyson and Kimberly Elise in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Tyler Perry in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)
    Monica Bellucci, Jim Brown, Kerry Washington, Anthony Mackie, and Tyler Perry in She Hate Me (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kimberly Elise
    Kimberly Elise
    • Helenas Helen
    Steve Harris
    Steve Harris
    • Charlesas Charles
    Tyler Perry
    Tyler Perry
    • Madeaas Madea…
    Cicely Tyson
    Cicely Tyson
    • Myrtleas Myrtle
    Shemar Moore
    Shemar Moore
    • Orlandoas Orlando
    Lisa Marcos
    Lisa Marcos
    • Brendaas Brenda
    Tamara Taylor
    Tamara Taylor
    • Debrahas Debrah
    Terrell Carter
    Terrell Carter
    • Reverend Carteras Reverend Carter
    Carol Mitchell-Leon
    • Mildredas Mildred
    Avery Knight
    Avery Knight
    • BJas BJ
    Vickie Eng
    Vickie Eng
    • Christinaas Christina
    Tiffany Evans
    Tiffany Evans
    • Tiffanyas Tiffany
    Gary Anthony Sturgis
    Gary Anthony Sturgis
    • Jamisonas Jamison
    • (as Gary Sturgis)
    Bart Hansard
    Bart Hansard
    • Guardas Guard
    Chandra Currelley-Young
    Chandra Currelley-Young
    • Chandraas Chandra
    Sho Dixon
    • Childas Child
    Tamela J. Mann
    Tamela J. Mann
    • Coraas Cora
    • (as Tamela Mann)
    Ric Reitz
    Ric Reitz
    • D.Aas D.A
    • Director
      • Darren Grant
    • Writer
      • Tyler Perry(play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    I Can Do Bad All by Myself
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    Diary of a Mad Black Woman
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    Madea's Witness Protection
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    Meet the Browns
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    Storyline

    Edit
    Helen McCarter has everything a woman wants: a nice house and rich husband. However after her husband Charles throws her out of the house after admitting to an affair a distraught Helen turns to her mother, grandmother Madea and cousin Brian who take her in and turn back to God. Helen learns for the first time in her life to stand up on her two feet and is ready to remove herself from her relationship with Charles and move on with Orlando. But when her husband is almost killed by a vengeful client, Helen wonders if she has the heart to forgive him despite everything. —teyee_eng2388-1
    • 2000s
    • mabel 'madea' simmons character
    • timeframe 2000s
    • diary
    • f rated
    • 63 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Time heals the heart. Faith heals the rest.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for drug content, thematic elements, crude sexual references and some violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Charles' home is the actual home of producer Tyler Perry.
    • Goofs
      Helen throws water in Orlando's face, his shirt is wet just a little. In the next scene Orlando is using a rag to dry off and his shirt is completely wet.
    • Quotes

      Helen: Orlando, what's going...

      Orlando: I know you don't believe in fairy tales. But, if you did, I'd want to be your knight in shining armor. You've been through so much. I don't want to see you hurt anymore. Now I may not be able to give you all that your used to. But I do know I can love you past your pain. I don't want you to worry about anything. You just wake up in the morning, that's all you have to do and I'll take it from there. There's one condition. You have to be my wife.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'Diary' (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      I Wanna Swing
      Performed by Cheryl Pepsii Riley (as Cheryl Pepsi Riley)

      Written by Tyler Perry / Ronnie Garrett / Earl Fleming

      Produced by Tyler Perry and Ronnie Garrett

      Courtesy of The Tyler Perry Company

    User reviews213

    Review
    Top review
    How Darren Grant Sold The Most Unlikely Film To The Masses
    Darren grant is a cool cucumber. After over 120 Music videos and commercials in just 8 years, the youngish helmer has delivered with "Diary of A Mad Black Woman". This debut director has entered the Hollywood fray on par with any big shooter. As a former Madison Avenue, ad agency creative director, I will admit I am biased because he directed an award- winning commercial for me 2 years ago.

    Still, Mr. Grant pulled off the same trick he did with our controversial cinema/TV commercials (which featured a cigarette executive as a lethal "Hitman"): he took a complex, ethnically esoteric subject and simplified it, making it digestible for the masses. Slap me around a little, but I think that's what a good Director should do. The playwright, Tyler Perry has had things cooking for years on the Chittlin' Circuit, bringing his own unique brand of urban theatre to working-class, black America. Mr. Perry came to Hollywood as a pre-packaged star. And Hollywood has acknowledged his presence in grand fashion.

    The rather surreal Madea character is more than just a man-in-drag; it is Perry's vessel of choice. Via Madea, he can impart a spiritual gospel that reflects his experience growing up in the black church. He can also channel his insights on politics and perhaps give a few pointers to wayward minorities who feel they are up against it. The rest of the characters in DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN: Helen, Charles, Orlando, Debrah, Brenda, Tiffany and Myrtle – not to mention, Brian, Madea and Joe – all played by Tyler Perry, serve to hone Mr. Perry's particular brand of cultural propaganda. To wit, love it or hate it, there is a well- defined black American subculture that cannot be ignored.

    DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN is indeed complex. Whereas Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire" was, deliberately in drag as a scheming septuagenarian and as was Martin Lawrence in the "Big Momma's House" – Tyler Perry's Madea is a REAL woman! He's also Madea's dirty-old-man of a brother and takes off the makeup to play handsome young attorney. Tyler is almost on par with Eddie Murphy as he bandies about in multiple roles. Again, credit Darren Grant's deft understanding of the characters' interaction. The only criticism here is that Tyler Perry is actually a more convincing actor when he is talking to himself(s)!

    Kimberly Elise is a true A-list acting talent. If Madea is comic relief, Elise's Helen fulfills the dramaturgy aspect of the film. She admirably holds her own with screen legend, Cicely Tyson as her mother. Steve Harris is menacingly effective as an Ike Turner-esque, booji Atlanta attorney who emotionally terrorizes his wife and associates. Shemar Moore gives a breakout performance that is sure to take him to the next level in Hollywood. Watch as he is next transformed into a mainstream matinée idol …

    What's most important about this film is how it OWNS the right to speak of an ethnic genre. Darren Grant and Tyler Perry have cleverly positioned themselves as experts on American black culture. And how there are thousands of similar stories yet untold. Look for this director to, perhaps, do what Spike Lee intended; what Carl Franklin suggested; and what the Van Peebles' aspired to do: become the definitive, fresh, new voice in Black American film.

    ###
    helpful•23
    12
    • benier
    • Feb 26, 2005

    FAQ7

    • What is 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' about?
    • Is "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" based on a novel?
    • I see Judge Mablean listed in the credits. What role does she play?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 25, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman
    • Filming locations
      • 1197 Avon Avenue SW, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • BET Pictures
      • Diary of a Woman Inc.
      • Diary of a Woman Productions Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $50,633,099
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $21,905,089
      • Feb 27, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $50,652,203
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Is Tyler Perry’s Madea A Bad Character?
    Is Tyler Perry’s Madea A Bad Character?
    Feb 27TVovermind.com
    ‘A Madea Homecoming’ Review: The Fastest, Funniest Tyler Perry Movie in a While
    ‘A Madea Homecoming’ Review: The Fastest, Funniest Tyler Perry Movie in a While
    Feb 26Variety Film + TV

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