Madea Dominates The Weekend Box Office
Posted by Media Outrage on February 23, 2009
Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail dominated the weekend box office by raking in $41.1 million. This was the highest grossing movie for both Tyler Perry and Lionsgate.
Via Eurweb:
Tyler Perry’s “Madea Goes to Jail” dominated the weekend box office, opening with $41.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
It was the highest grossing film ever for both Perry and the film’s studio, Lionsgate, reports the Associated Press. Perry’s previous opening record was $30 million for 2005’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”
Steve Rothenberg, president of distribution at Lionsgate said the debut of “Madea” was the studio’s best opening in its 14-year history. The studio’s previous top opening was the $33.6 million debut of 2006’s “Saw III.”
“You could argue that Madea is now the top female box office star in Hollywood,” said Rothenberg, whose studio has distributed all seven of Perry’s films, several of which were released straight to DVD. “The character is one of the great screen creations of the last decade.”
The following are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released today.
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.
Mediaoutrage– Get it Tyler! Kudos! We’re glad to see this dude doing the damn thing in this kind of way. You know what that means right? Yep many more Tyler Perry flicks to come. The studios always stick with the money makers. Continue to branch out and grow brotha. When we look at Tyler we see a lot of black actors that will continue working. That’s big though that he turned out the biggest opening weekend gross in Lionsgate history.
Media Outrage 
CrystalShine said
Dominate is tha right word.
Okay Saturday night me and my boyfriend went to tha late night movie, which started at 12:10a.m. Got there and tha dam tickets were SOLD OUT! As a matter of fact tha tickets were sold out 12:00p.m. that day. So were going 2day.
Dam it Tyler Perry, why you got 2 be so dam funny and talented, your making everyone addicted like crack 4 Madea!
Lai'Lani said
I’m happy for Tyler Perry and the entire cast. MO i agree, the more success he has, the more films he can cast black actors and actresses in.
Atlanta said
All I have to say is that this movie was on lock in Atlanta. If you did not buy tickets online you were not going to see this movie.
Yeah I Said It said
All I got to say is his lace front is tight!!!
claudette4heisman said
I glad for him!!! They said the first Madea movie wasn’t going to do well,but it went to the top. I knew this one would do the same thing….people just have a think for seeing men dressed as big women…..weird….
Dickwell Thrust said
Got to give him the love he deserves, he keeps alot of black actor from being in John Singleton movies and the black actresses from selling ass because of unemployment.
Gina said
Lmao @ yea I said it.
I saw this movie last night and laughed the whole movie. It was funny.
I just think keyshia didn’t play a good prostitute (my opinion)
MissTX85 said
That’s what’s up!! I saw that mess (good mess albeit) the day it came out. For real, TP is doing the damn thing. Keep it up!!
Marathon_Man said
You know why Keshia didn’t play a good prostitute Gina? Cause Tyler need to stop bull shittin and throw me up in one of his flicks. She would have played the real “Pretty Woman” if I had been up in that piece. In between scenes she would have been asking me “Marathon_Man why is that thing so damn BIG and THICK? It feels like one of them old Naughty by Nature bats. Damn baby!”
Gina said
Lmaoo @ marathon man
Yeah I Said It said
Ok MM I really need you to send a pic to my email. I promise to keep it to myself good or bad… I just need to see if there really is a jolly big giant.
ucanb2 said
I didn’t make it to opening weekend.. but I do plan on seeing Madea!!! Congratulations Tyler.
Brenda said
Will see it this weekend. I think it’s beautiful how God has blessed him just to bless others. Stay humble Tyler and God will continue to pour out his blessings upon you.
joneblaze said
The movie was so so. When Perry is onscreen portraying Madea or her weed loving brother it was hilarious,but the side story with Derek Luke as an assistant D.A and Keisha Knight Pulliam as a heroin addicted prostitute was hard to buy into.Pulliam just lacks the sass and weathered by life appeal to pull off her role.
Scale of 1-10 a 6