'Madea's Family Reunion' Leaves 'Eight Below' Out In The Cold
Tyler Perry got reacquainted with the #1 spot at the box office this weekend as his latest film, "Madea's Family Reunion," opened nationwide.
The comedy/drama, based on Perry's play of the same name, earned more than $30.2 million in its opening weekend, according to early estimates. "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," Perry's last film about the outspoken Grandma Madea, also bowed at #1 when it opened with $21.9 million last year. In "Madea's Family Reunion," Madea organizes a family gathering while dealing with the myriad crises of her kin (see [article id="1524462"]" Tyler Perry Still Fighting For Respect, Still Doing Fart Jokes"[/article]).
Paul Walker, who has two films in the top 10 this week, saw his "Eight Below" drop from #1 to #2 under the weight of Perry's new release. The film, which follows a scientific expedition forced to leave sled dogs behind after a sudden change in weather conditions, earned more than $15.7 million (see [article id="1524445"]"Paul Walker Says Coolest Thing About 'Eight Below' Was The Dogs"[/article]).
"The Pink Panther" held on to the #3 spot for the second week in a row. Starring Steve Martin as a bumbling detective hired to solve the murder of a world-famous soccer coach and Beyoncé as the coach's pop star girlfriend and a major suspect in the case, the film earned $11.3 million.
"Date Movie" slipped two spots to to #4, earning more than $9.2 million its second week in theaters. The comedy starring Alyson Hannigan ("American Pie") spoofs flicks including "Wedding Crashers," "The Wedding Planner" and "Napoleon Dynamite" (see [article id="1524239"]"Rewind: What's So Funny 'Bout Love? (Lots)"[/article]).
"Curious George," one of two animated flicks on the box-office top 10, fell from #4 to #5 with more than $7 million. Jack Johnson provides the soundtrack to the film about an inquisitive monkey and the Man in the Yellow Hat (Will Ferrell) who looks after him.
In its third week in theaters, "Firewall" clung to the #6 spot. Harrison Ford stars as a security expert at a bank who is forced to steal $100 million from his company in order to save his kidnapped family in the film (see [article id="1524100"]"Harrison Ford Takes A Beating For 'Firewall' And Asks For More"[/article]), which earned more than $6.2 million.
Rounding out the box-office top 10 are "Final Destination 3," which dropped from #5 to #7 with more than $5.3 million; "Doogal," which opened at #8 with more than $3.6 million; "Running Scared," which bowed at #9 with more than $3 million; and "Freedomland," which fell from #7 to #10 with $2.9 million.
Overall, ticket sales were down from the corresponding weekend last year.
Next week, look for "16 Blocks," "Aquamarine," "Ultraviolet" and "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" to debut on the box-office top 10.
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