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Madea Tops the Box Office

There was not a single Academy Award-nominated film in the top three this weekend.

Oscar weekend’s box office winner was the Tyler Perry flick, Madea Goes to Jail.  The comedy about a grandmother behind bars locked up the weekend box office in North America with 41.1 million dollars in ticket sales, final figures showed Monday.

According to reports, it was the largest opening weekend gross on the fewest amount of screens ever (2,032) – and the highest grossing weekend opening in Lionsgate history.

It was also Tyler Perry’s best film debut.  Per Box Office Mojo:

1. Madea Goes to Jail                        $41,030,947       2,032 Screens       2/20/09

2. Madea’s Family Reunion            $30,030,661       2,194 Screens       2/24/06

3. Diary of a Mad Black Woman   $21,905,089        1,703 Screens      2/25/05   

4. Why Did I Get Married?              $21,353,789        2,011 Screens       10/12/07

5. Meet the Browns                           $20,082,809      2,006 Screens        3/21/08

6. The Family that Preys                 $17,381,218        2,070 Screens       9/12/08

7. Daddy’s Little Girls                      $11,210,754         2,111 Screens         2/14/07