'Madea' reigns at box office
NEW YORK — Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes to Jail" reigned at the weekend box office, opening with $41.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Perry's box office clout has lessened recently, but the success of "Madea Goes to Jail" reinforces the notion that Perry draws the largest audience when he dons a frumpy dress as his trademark grandmother character, Madea.
Landing second was 20th Century Fox's revenge thriller "Taken," which earned $11.4 million in its fourth weekend of release, bringing its cumulative total to $95.2 million.
"Madea" was one of only two new releases. The other, Sony's cheerleader comedy "Fired Up," took in $6 million.
Last weekend's top earner — "Friday the 13th" — saw a steep drop in ticket sales, as is common for horror movies in weeks following their initial releases. It took in $7.8 million in its second week.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers.
1. "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail," $41.1 million.
2. "Taken," $11.4 million.
3. "Coraline," $11 million.
4. "He's Just Not That Into You," $8.5 million.
5. "Slumdog Millionaire," $8.1 million.
6. "Friday the 13th," $7.8 million.
7. "Confessions of a Shopaholic," $7 million.
8. "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," $7 million.
9. "Fired Up," $6 million.
10. "The International," $4.5 million.
By The Associated Press
