The big story this Monday is the list of Oscar winners, even if everyone had predicted Slumdog Millionaire’s near-sweep for a month now. For a real surprise, turn your attention to the weekend box office, where Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail scored a whopping $41 million.
Box office gurus frequently underestimate Perry’s films, but even so, it was his biggest opening ever, besting Madea’s Family Reunion, which grossed $30 million in its opening weekend, and grossing more than his last film, The Family that Preys, made in its entire run.
The other new release, Fired Up, debuted quietly in ninth place with $6 million.
Slumdog Millionaire saw its grosses rise 10% to $8 million, putting its total tally at a hair under $100 million. Look for the gross to rise again next weekend, capitalizing on its Best Picture win.
Last week’s winner, Friday the 13th, fell by an astounding 81% to $7.8 million after its $41 million gross last weekend. Apparently, after the actual Friday the 13th weekend is over, everybody stops caring.
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