Three movies to watch on Netflix if you loved ‘Joe’s College Road Trip’
If the Madea movies have taught us anything, it is that life should be taken less seriously and laughter should be more commonplace. And since laughter is contagious, we totally get it if the recent release of Joe’s College Road Trip on Netflix left you craving for similar comedies.
Directed by Tyler Perry, Joe’s College Road Trip is a recently released movie from the Madea universe and the first to entirely focus on her brother, Joe, as he accompanies his sheltered grandson, BJ, on a college road trip, hoping to teach him more about the real world, his history, and culture.
Packed with comedic moments as well as moments of awakening, Joe’s College Road Trip is a fulfilling drama that will make you appreciate the slow in the fast-forward world.
So, if that leaves you with a bigger appetite than you started with, here are three movies to watch on Netflix if you loved Joe’s College Road Trip.
Three Netflix movies to watch if you loved Joe’s College Road Trip
A Madea Homecoming (Tyler Perry, 2022)
Since Joe’s College Road Trip is part of the Madea cinematic universe, it only makes sense to start with an adventurous title from the franchise itself, and what better start than A Madea Homecoming? Serving as the twelfth film from the movie series, the comedy drama follows the return of Madea to celebrate her great-grandson, Tim’s graduation from college. While we already know wherever Madea goes, chaos follows; this case is no different.
A Madea Homecoming starts with a different kind of predicament involving Tim’s sexuality, but the actual tension erupts when his parents return to reveal their marital issues. As expected, the family reunion quickly spirals into a mess, with hidden secrets unfolding left and right, more than one dramatic confrontation waiting for an outburst, and an unexpected guest to double down the madness: Agnes Brown.
Happy Gilmore 2 (Kyle Newacheck, 2025)
Parents can go to any length to secure their children’s future, just like Brian unwillingly agreed to send BJ on a college road trip with his eccentric grandfather, Joe. Although Happy Gilmore chooses a different route to ensure his daughter goes to her dream ballet academy in the comedy sequel, the intentions were no different. After the events of the first film, Happy’s wife was killed by a mistimed golf dive, causing Happy to give up golf and turn alcoholic.
But to afford his daughter’s tuition, Happy, knowing that being a part-time supermarket employee wouldn’t get him anywhere, picks up his gold clubs. Happy Gilmore 2 follows his re-entry to the golf scene, dominated by Maxi Golf, an extreme high-tech league, as he grapples with rusty skills, navigating the obstacles plaguing his former passion professionally and personally.
Jay Kelly (Noah Baumbach, 2025)
Lastly, to end the marathon, we have a heartbreaking comedy drama starring Adam Sandler and George Clooney, Jay Kelly. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the Netflix movie follows a fading, middle-aged movie star, Jay, who, realising that his life has become a brand rather than a reality, abandons his everyday life and embarks on a trip through Europe to surprise his daughter.
Jay Kelly tells the story of a movie star who slowly comes to terms with the dichotomy of a life under the spotlight and that, without it, confronting unprecedented regret over the strained relationships he didn’t think of before. The roles he has played in his career heavily influence this realisation juxtaposed with the journey he takes on, culminating in a career tribute in Tuscany, offering a poignant, sometimes sentimental look at life against the backdrop of hard-hitting, genuine comedy.