Madagascar - Watch Order: Release Order
The Madagascar series follows a group of zoo animals from New York's Central Park Zoo as they embark on unexpected adventures around the globe. What begins as an escape attempt leads Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippopotamus on a journey that takes them from Madagascar to Europe.
This release order watch list includes the complete trilogy chronicling the main characters' adventures, followed by Penguins of Madagascar, a spin-off film focusing on the popular penguin characters Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private in their own globe-trotting mission.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order

Madagascar
Four animal friends get a taste of the wild life when they break out of captivity at the Central Park Zoo and wash ashore on the island of Madagascar.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Alex, Marty, and other zoo animals find a way to escape from Madagascar when the penguins reassemble a wrecked airplane. The precariously repaired craft stays airborne just long enough to make it to the African continent. There the New Yorkers encounter members of their own species for the first time. Africa proves to be a wild place, but Alex and company wonder if it is better than their Central Park home.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Animal pals Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois picks up their scent, Alex and company are forced to hide out in a traveling circus.

Penguins of Madagascar
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.
Other Film Series
Ice Age
A family-friendly animated series following prehistoric friends Manny, Sid, and Diego through various ice age adventures.
Jumanji
A magical adventure series about a supernatural board game that brings its jungle dangers into the real world.
Night at the Museum
A family adventure trilogy following night security guard Larry Daley as he discovers that museum exhibits come to life after dark, leading to magical adventures with historical figures and ancient artifacts.
Shrek
An irreverent ogre's journey through subverted fairy tales, revolutionizing animated comedy with pop culture parodies.
The Land Before Time
An animated dinosaur franchise following young dinosaurs on their adventures, beginning with Don Bluth's acclaimed 1988 film.
Toy Story
Pixar's groundbreaking animated franchise following the secret lives of toys and their adventures with their human owners.