Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo are still trying to get back to New York's Central Park Zoo, but a detour to Europe becomes unavoidable after the penguins and chimpanzees blow their cash at a Monte Carlo casino. Following clues across glamorous and chaotic cities, the quartet draws the obsessive attention of French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois. To dodge capture they take on new roles inside a colorful traveling circus, picking up performance tricks and unexpected allies along the way, while juggling slapstick mishaps and the pressure to keep their group together.

Released in 2012, the film was directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, and Conrad Vernon, and features voices from Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Frances McDormand, based on characters created by Noah Baumbach.

The picture proved a solid commercial performer worldwide, helping cement the Madagascar series as a dependable animation franchise and boosting the studio's slate during the early 2010s, with strong international appeal and merchandising.

Its circus setting, kinetic visuals, and soundtrack, notably renewed attention to the song "I Like to Move It", kept the franchise in the public eye. The film's set pieces and the zealous Capitaine DuBois have shown up in marketing, costumes, and online clips. Bright character designs and slapstick routines made it easy to translate moments into toys, theme-park tie-ins, and short-form social videos.

Critics and audiences responded mostly positively, reflected in a 6.623 out of 10 user vote, praising the fast pace, comic set pieces, and visual inventiveness while some reviewers flagged a familiar, formulaic plot. The voice work, especially from Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, earned nods, and families tended to enjoy the film's energy and humor, which emphasize friendship, identity, loyalty, and learning to adapt when plans change.