Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

As the story picks up where the second film left off, Alex (Ben Stiller) finds himself beset by a vivid dream, wherein he and his friends from their African escapades have all grown old and grey. The nightmare serves as a harbinger of things to come, as Alex awakens on his birthday to find his companions - Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer), and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) - gathered around him, bearing gifts in the form of a miniature model of New York City. In a stroke of ingenuity, Alex proposes that they journey to Monte Carlo, where they hope to enlist the penguins' aid in flying them back home. The gang agrees, and together they set off on their latest adventure.

In the glamorous city of Monte Carlo, the animals' fortunes are marked by an unbroken streak of success at the gaming tables, with the penguins and a pair of chimpanzees, Mason and Phil, masquerading as the King of Versailles. However, their winning ways ultimately prove to be their downfall, as Alex's friends' attempts to intercept them trigger chaos in the Hotel De Paris. In response, Monaco Animal Control officer Captain Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) is summoned to capture the animals and bring them to justice.

DuBois, however, harbors a darker motive than mere capture - she seeks the animals' heads as trophies, with Alex's being her primary target. As she and her team pursue the animals in hot pursuit, they barely manage to evade their clutches. The chase culminates in a heart-pumping, high-speed pursuit through the French countryside.

Their luck finally runs out when the plane's engines fail, sending it careening into a suburban rail yard amidst the chaos of closing authorities. With no other options left, Alex and his friends make a desperate bid to board a passing circus train, knocking loudly on its cars in a last-ditch effort to escape their pursuers.

It is here that they encounter Gia, a stunning jaguar (Jessica Chastain), who finds herself smitten with Alex upon first laying eyes on him. Seeing the four zoo animals as their only hope for survival, Marty, Melman, and Gloria convince Stefano the sea lion (Martin Short) and Vitaly the tiger (Bryan Cranston) to let them join the circus train, despite the initial protests of its skeptical members.

As Stefano's words sink in, the menagerie of zoo animals absorbs the revelation that their performing days will take them to the revered stages of Rome and London. The ultimate goal: to impress a promoter and secure their first American tour. But before their claim can be disputed, the penguins burst onto the scene with an unexpected offer - a deal to purchase the circus itself, sending the human performers packing in a haze of pleasure. Meanwhile, King Julien (Sacha Baron Cohen) finds himself smitten with Sonya the bear (Frank Welker), and embarks on a whirlwind city tour of Rome as the others prepare for their grand performance at the ancient Colosseum. However, disaster strikes when the circus's questionable quality becomes apparent, leaving the audience in an uproar demanding refunds and, ultimately, chasing the troupe to the departing train bound for London.

As the zoo gang trudges along, weighed down by the crushing reality of having squandered their hard-earned cash on a failing circus, Stefano finally opens up to Alex about Vitaly's checkered past. The former professional ring jumper was once an inspiration to all, pushing himself to dizzying heights as he leapt through increasingly smaller flaming hoops, thrilling audiences with his daring feats. But a catastrophic attempt at an impossible jump through a flaming pinkie ring ended in disaster when his flammable olive oil-coated fur caught fire, shattering his confidence and sending the entire circus into tailspin.

Inspired by Alex's words of wisdom, the performers are persuaded to make an impromptu stop in the picturesque Alps. There, they embark on a transformative journey, reworking their act to create an animal-only circus that stands in stark contrast to the human-centric Cirque Du Soleil. As the zoo animals and circus performers combine their talents, forging sophisticated acts and deepening friendships along the way, Alex finds himself falling for Gia, his bond with her growing stronger with each passing day.

As the situation spirals out of control, DuBois finds herself behind bars in Rome after a run-in with local authorities, her efforts to reach the Colosseum foiled by jurisdictional issues. Once freed, she sets about gathering her injured cohorts and plotting their next move, despite incomplete rehearsals for their performance. The troupe's trajectory is altered as they head towards the Alps, forcing the animals to adapt to new circumstances.

In London, the group prepares to impress a key promoter in attendance, but Vitaly's departure seems imminent due to his growing unease. Alex, however, uses his charisma and persuasive abilities to convince Vitaly to stay, highlighting the thrill of performing seemingly impossible feats and suggesting a safer alternative for his signature flaming ring jump - using hair conditioner as a lubricant. This successful stunt proves to be the opening act in a spectacularly successful show, earning the troupe an American tour with the promoter's enthusiastic backing.

Meanwhile, DuBois arrives on the scene, producing a paper that reveals Alex's true identity: a missing lion from the New York Zoo. Despite the penguins' best efforts to foil her plan, Alex is eventually forced to confess the truth - that the group consists of zoo animals attempting to return home. The revelation leaves the others feeling betrayed and used, their lives and performances forever changed by these amateur performers who nearly got them killed in the process.

As both groups arrive in New York City, the shamefaced zoo animals and the circus troupe must confront the consequences of their actions. Gia, Vitaly, and Stefano ultimately find it in themselves to forgive their new friends, recognizing that their lives and performances would be incomplete without them.

Simultaneously, the zoo group and Julien finally reach the gates of Central Park Zoo, only to realize that their adventures have transformed them too much for them to ever return to captivity. As they resolve to reconcile with their circus counterparts and begin a new chapter, they are ambushed by DuBois, who tranquilizes and captures the animals. The zoo staff, oblivious to the true nature of events, thank DuBois for her efforts in returning the missing animals, unaware that Julien had managed to escape and warn the penguins of the trap.

The penguins, realizing too late that they have been ambushed, are left to ponder the consequences of their actions and the true cost of their freedom.

As Gia and Vitaly's sympathetic ears absorb the distressing tale of their fellow zoo animals' plight, they hatch a daring plan to liberate their imprisoned friends. Under the banner of "Operation: Afro Circus Rescue," the charismatic duo convinces the circus animals to join forces and embark on a perilous mission to infiltrate the zoo. Meanwhile, Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria find themselves confined within their enclosures, surrounded by formidable chain-link barriers that threaten to thwart any escape attempts. Unbeknownst to them, the seemingly benevolent DuBois is secretly scheming to put an end to Alex's existence, cleverly concealing a poison-filled dart gun inside a foam finger. Just as she readies to strike, the circus animals arrive on the scene, precipitating a chaotic confrontation that culminates in a spectacular display of their newly honed skills.

As the dust settles and DuBois's nefarious plans are foiled, the rescued zoo animals join forces with their newfound friends to vanquish her treachery. With Alex and Stefano standing tall, they collectively overpower DuBois and make their daring escape. The experience leaves a profound impression on Alex and his companions, who are moved by the circus's unwavering dedication and camaraderie. United in their shared spirit, the animals decide to abandon their old lives and join the circus permanently, embarking on a thrilling American tour.

In a curious twist of fate, Skipper's keen intuition inadvertently dooms DuBois and her cohorts to repeat the same misadventure that befell Alex and his friends in the first film. As they find themselves trapped inside crates on a cargo ship bound for the mystical island of Madagascar, they are left to ponder the capricious nature of their own fortunes.