Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail took over the North American box office this weekend with $41.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
Not only did the latest installment in Perry's popular series completely dominate its competition, but the film also managed to beat the $30 million opening weekend gross of 2006's Madea's Family Reunion. This time around, Madea goes to prison, where she quickly befriends and inspires a troubled prostitute.
Still delivering a strong performance in second place was Pierre Morel's thriller Taken, which collected $11.4 million and brought its total haul to $95.1 million after a solid four-week run. Liam Neeson stars as a protective father who stops at nothing to find his kidnapped daughter.
Climbing back up to No. 3 was Henry Selick's 3D stop-motion adventure Coraline, which earned another $11 million for a domestic total of $53.3 million after three weeks in release. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, the film follows a curious girl who discovers a parallel world in her new home.
Meanwhile, Ken Kwapis' comedy He's Just Not That Into You slipped to No. 4, taking home $8.5 million and reaching a cumulative gross of $70 million. Featuring a top-notch cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Long and Drew Barrymore, among others, the film follows a bunch of adults discovering new things about dating and marriage.
At No. 5, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire pulled in $8 million and reached a cume of $98 million after expanding into 2,244 theaters this weekend. Following at No. 6 with $7.8 million was last week's winner Friday the 13th, which brought its total to $55 million.
Dropping to seventh place was P.J. Hogan's Confessions of a Shopaholic, which earned $7 million for a $27.6 million total. Kevin James' comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop lifted its domestic total to $121.3 million after weekend earnings of $7 million.
New entry Fired Up! didn't perform all too well, placing only ninth with a weekend gross of $6 million. Directed by Will Gluck, the teen comedy follows two popular high-school friends who decide to spend their summer at cheer camp.
Rounding out the top 10 with $4.4 million was The International, in which Clive Owen and Naomi Watts try to bring down a corrupt world bank. The film brought its cumulative gross to $17 million after two weeks in release.
FRIDAY THE 13TH Tops Box Office
HE'S NOT JUST INTO YOU Tops Box Office
I hope Madea stays in jail for good.
I can't beleive this movie made so much money. But ti did. Will Madea win the Oscar next year? She should. Perhaps that should be the next sequel. MADEA GETS NOMINATED.