Uncle Joe takes the wheel in this rollicking Netflix comedy.

*Joe’s College Road Trip *cast: Meet the stars of Tyler Perry’s foul-mouthed, feel-good comedy

Uncle Joe takes the wheel in this rollicking Netflix comedy.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on *The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer*, and many other publications.

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February 13, 2026 11:25 a.m. ET

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Jermaine Harris as B.J. and Tyler Perry as Joe in 'Joe's College Road Trip'. Credit:

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

- *Joe's College Road Trip* follows the misadventures of Tyler Perry's Uncle Joe and Jermaine Harris' B.J. during a cross-country drive.

- Amber Reign Smith, Ms. Pat, and R&B icon Millie Jackson round out the supporting cast.

- The comedy is now streaming on Netflix.

Tyler Perry will forever be remembered as Madea, the sassy, tough-as-nails Simmons matriarch, but fans are every bit as enamored with Uncle Joe, another Perry character who's now headlining his own movie on Netflix.

That movie is *Joe's College Road Trip*, a new entry in the sprawling *Madea* canon that finds the foul-mouthed, hard-drinking (and ultimately good-natured) Joe accompanying his sheltered grandson B.J. (Jermaine Harris) on, you guessed it, a road trip to college.

Along the way, the mismatched pair visit a brothel, brawl with bikers, and get chased by a cavalcade of police vehicles (including a helicopter). This being a Perry flick, you can also expect plenty of heart-warming lessons about the value of family and self-determination to punctuate Joe's unsavory exploits. (And there will be many — it's not called *B.J.'s College Road Trip*, after all.)

With the film now streaming on Netflix, meet the new and returning faces joining Joe and B.J. on their cross-country odyssey.

Tyler Perry as Joe, Brian, and Madea

Tyler Perry as Joe, Brian, and Madea in 'Joe's College Road Trip'.

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

Tyler Perry is pulling triple-duty in *Joe's College Road Trip* as Uncle Joe, Madea, and Brian, the latter being Joe's son and B.J.'s doting, level-headed (and dull) dad. Fans of the franchise will recognize the trio for their myriad of appearances in movies like *Diary of a Mad Black Woman* (2005), *Madea's Family Reunion *(2006), and *Boo! A Madea Halloween* (2016), among many others.

“Joe actually predates Madea," Perry recently told Blavity. "He was my first character but he’s always been the one that was more irreverent. The timing was right because I feel like he has a lot to say about the world today from a voice and point of view that was lost long ago.”**

Perry is the architect of the *Madea*-verse, which began on the stage before being becoming a hugely successful movie and TV franchise that currently includes 15 films and a handful of shows like *House of Payne *(2006–present) and*** **Meet the Browns *(2009–2011).

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The prolific Perry, who's received such honors as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Governors Award, has also written and directed dramas like *The Family That Preys* (2008), *For Colored Girls* (2010), and *Straw* (2025), as well as a variety of TV series for BET, including *The Oval* (2019–present) and *Ruthless* (2020–present).

He's also the driving force behind the Netflix thriller *Beauty in Black* (2024–present), which will air the back half of its second season in March 2026.

Outside of his own work, Perry played the title character in 2012's *Alex Cross *and carried supporting roles in *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows* (2016), *Vice* (2018), and *Don't Look Up* (2021).**

Jermaine Harris as Joe

Jermaine Harris as B.J. in 'Joe's College Road Trip'.

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

After debuting as the character in *Madea's Destination Wedding* (2025), Jermaine Harris returns as the Urkel-esque B.J. in *Joe's College Road Trip*.

“Jermaine is a brilliant actor,” Perry told Blavity. "I had so much fun bantering with him. He is such a great talent and brilliant actor. It was a joy to work with him again. I hope to see him rise as far as his faith will let him."

Prior to linking up with Perry, Harris starred on the Disney Channel series *Saturdays* (2023). His early credits include roles on the HBO series *Ballers* (2019) and the 2021 film *The Map of Tiny Perfect Things*.**

Amber Reign Smith as Destiny

Jermaine Harris as B.J. and Amber Reign as Destiny in 'Joe's College Road Trip'.

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

Amber Reign Smith costars as Destiny, a woman who plays a key role in reconciling B.J. and Joe's warring impulses.

"My character is a sex worker, but she's very layered," Smith said in an interview with KTLA5. "She's really smart. She knows about history, and she helps bridge the gap between Joe and B.J."

Perry, who cast Smith as one of the leads on *Beauty in Black*, sang her praises to Blavity. "Her vulnerability in any role she plays gives life to every character as only a great actor can.”

Smith has worked steadily over the past decade, and notable credits include in projects like HBO's *Rap Sh!t* (2022), Hulu's *Wu-Tang: An American Saga* (2023), and the Mario Van Peebles movie *Outlaw Posse* (2024).**

Patricia Williams, a.k.a. Ms. Pat, as Pearl

Patricia Williams, a.k.a. Ms. Pat, as Pearl in 'Joe's College Road Trip'.

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

Patricia Williams, also known as Ms. Pat, is a stand-up comic and actress who rose to fame on season 9 of *Last Comic Standing* (2015). In *Joe's College Road Trip*, she plays Pearl, the madame of a brothel.

Ms. Pat is best known for her BET+ plus series,* The Ms. Pat Show *(2021–present), which has been nominated for three Primetime Emmys. She also hosts the BET reality show *Ms. Pat Settles It *(2023–present), in which she presides over real cases, *Judge Judy*-style.**

Millie Jackson as Geraldine

Millie Jackson as Geraldine in 'Joe's College Road Trip'.

Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix

R&B legend Millie Jackson has been a soul staple for more than 50 years, having earned three gold records on the strength of singles of like "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right." Throughout her long career, she's collaborated with the likes of Elton John, Isaac Hayes, and Da Brat, among others.

As an actress, Jackson previously appeared on a 1994 episode of *Martin* and the 2008 movie *Soul Men* with Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson.

Bethany Anne Lind as Vikki

Bethany Anne Lind at Hulu's 'Reprisal' premiere at ArcLight Cinemas in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, 2019.

Leon Bennett/WireImage

Bethany Anne Lind has appeared on several of the most popular series of the last few decades, with guest spots on *The Walking Dead* (2015), *Stranger Things* (2016), and *Ozark* (2017). She starred opposite Abigail Spencer on the Hulu series *Reprisal* (2019) and played Clara Steele on the DC series *Doom Patrol* (2019–2023).

Most recently, she appeared in the Netflix rom-com *People We Meet on Vacation* (2026). Next up is a role in David Robert Mitchell's anticipated *Flowervale Street*, starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor.

DeEtta West as Kathryn

DeEtta West at the 2019 Trumpet Awards in Atlanta.

Prince Williams/WireImage

In addition to being an accomplished actress (and minister), DeEtta West is one of the voices behind "Gonna Fly Now," the theme to Sylvester Stallone's *Rocky*.

Since belting out one of the most iconic songs in film history, she's appeared in numerous films and series, including *Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins* (2008), *Greenleaf* (2018), and Malcolm Washington's adaptation of August Wilson's *The Piano Lesson* (2024).

She's also guested on episodes of Perry TV projects like *Meet the Browns* (2010) and *Sistas* (2024).

Where can I watch Joe’s College Road Trip?

*Joe's College Road Trip* is now streaming on Netflix.

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