I'm eating crow this morning because — despite what I considered to be a poorly thought out marketing campaign — Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail has pulled in over $41 million since its debut on Friday and snagged box-office bragging rights along the way. In a close race for second place were Taken (the victor) and Coraline, which both added another $11 million and change to their running tallies.
He's Just Not That Into You came in fourth, and last night's big winner, Slumdog Millionaire, jumped up the charts to swipe the number five position. That's probably because over six hundred new screens playing the rags-to-riches tale were just added around the country. I'd bet that with all of its Oscar® statues now in tow, the kids from Mumbai are going to be hanging around theaters for quite some time.
Compared to Madea, the only other new release of the weekend, Fired Up, performed pretty dismally. It earned a mere $6 million in ticket sales and secured itself the number nine position. I'd have to think that it's all downhill from here for the male cheerleaders… but hopefully they've learned a thing or two about being perpetually perky, so they won't get too depressed about it.
If Fired Up is on one end of the Successful Film Spectrum, then The Dark Knight is surely on the other. This past week, the caped crusader rode his Batpod across the $1 biiiillllion revenue mark. Only three other films have been admitted to The Billion-Dollar Movie Club, and they are: Titanic (no surprise), The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (no surprise) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (huh?).
Dare to dream, Fired Up, dare to dream.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I have not yet seen it (Madea Goes to Jail) but I hear it’s really good. Looking forward to it.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Madea Goes to Jail was the bomb. I laughed until I couldn’t laugh any more.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Erica, Thanks for the 411 on this past weekends movie debuts. Obviously you are not a Tyler Perry fan, for if you were, you would have known beforehand that his movie would be #1 at the box office.That’s alright though…his movies are not for everyone; only for the people who can identify with him or who get his crazy humor.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 3:29 pm
One day you critics will learn to give deserving directors a chance. Tyler Perry creates excellent and buzz worthy plays & movies despite what anyone thinks about him. Madea Goes to Jail just proves that he can make a movie that appeal to all races not just to African Americans. No matter what genre movie he creates they’ve all been worthy of recognition. With the way the economy is, everyone needs something good to laugh at right now so they can stop worrying about what’s going to happen in their life. Laughter is the best healer, for anything you may be experiencing in life.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Madea Goes to Jail was hilarious,funny, emotional,it was just a great awesome movie…Iam a fan of all of Tyler Perry’s movies have a collection of his movies and let me tell you the message he has in all of those movies are great… A MUST SEE MOVIE!!! We laughed all thru the movie still i think of it and i laugh thats how great it was…
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Great movie and a great stress reliever from all the laughter..
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I honestly think if this movie was on more screens it would have made more than the measly $41.1million. His money continues to grow the more exposure he is “allowed”. My only negative is Rudy as a ho. Not even believable. How Rudy from the Cosby show and Spellman graduate going to be a HO. I wasn’t buying that. Derek Luke with that little lisp ewwwWww I want him. He still appeared to be Antoine “twanny”.
Keep up the good work Tyler and Don’t change!!
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I liked “Madea Goes To Jail”, but the movie did drag in places and should have more of Madea in jail. I watched Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counsler” and it was much,much funnier than “Madea Goes To Jail” the play or movie!
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Just to clarify, Cutey Movie Groupie, Medea Goes to Jail did not have a “limited” release — it was on just over 2,000 screens. That’s in the ballpark with Coraline, Slumdog Millionaire (at this point), The International, and Confessions of a Shopaholic. By comparison, recent releases such as Taken, He’s Just Not that Into You, Friday the 13th, and Paul Blart were in around 3,000 theaters.
Nor is $41 million “measly” by any stretch for this time of year — it’s very, very good indeed for a film that isn’t a huge action or superhero film. :)
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I love all his work and i just want him to make a movie with just a message of lets laugh without a serious message behind it because that is okay too.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I liked Madea Goes to Jail was hilarious,very funny emotional,it was just a great awesome movie.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 6:21 pm
This movie was OK, not worthy of a #1 Title. The only reason it made so much money was because it was hyped up with the movie trailer. I liked the wanna be comedy part of the movie however, the way the movie kept going back from serious to funny was not what I expected. Now don’t be pulling me apart for saying this but, I thought that the movie could have been extremely better and I expected more than what I paid for. I would not go back to see it a second time. I might get it from the Library once it gets there. I mean come on how cheezy is the line ” I love it when you call me Big Poppa?” If you are going to make a comedy, then make it funny Medea could have attacked Dr. Phil or something, now that would have been funny..not, “How do you sleep at night?” This is just another way that these poor excuses for Directors make money off of stupid people that pay to go see their cheezy wanna be funny movies. I could have made something funnier than this piece of crap…..
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Madea looks like Tori Spelling
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 6:59 pm
The movie was great, just like all the others movies that he came up with. The way everything is nowadays. We needed something to laugh about. Thanks Mr. Perry.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I loved the movie. I am so proud of Tyler Perry. It reminds me that God is real because he was homeless at one time but look at him now. Tyler Perry kept up the good work and continue to produce Great movies.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 7:13 pm
We need a prespective from someone who represents the community that this movie is meant for. Sorry Erika I love ya… but you have to grow up in this community to relate. While Madea is over da top each of us knows one in our ‘hood or have one in da fam!
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 7:52 pm
It AMAZES me that no matter what the subject is about and it has something to do with us (BLACKS) people can NEVER just say something positive, it always has to be some negativity included. Keep up the good work Tyler and just brush off the haters.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Tyler Perry is definitely not a wanna be director. I’m glad that he has a message in his movies all movies should mean something. Tyler Perry deserves everything and more. For those that don’t know he has always given back, and he has put alot of people to work. GOD Bless him.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:06 pm
my wife and i went to see Madea and it was a great movie! my wife is from africa and she loved every bit of the movie. i wasnt a fan of the other madea movies but this one has changed my opinion of the madea movies. from now on ill be going to every madea movie that is made. me and my wife!
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:12 pm
you have to love madea, and tyler perry is such a wonderful person with an inspiring story, you need to give him much more credit.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Madea is a riot. Tyler Perry’s movies are so down to earth…….FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY I am so tired of the guns blazing,drugs and filth. I think laughter is the best medicine……Go Madea
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I knew that there was going to be a positive message in the movie before I went to watch it. Tyler is always giving people hope in the movies and plays that he write, produce and directs. I fell the message of forgiveness and one that everyone can relate to. I never though about how holding on things effected me until I watch the movie.
Tyler keep up the good work.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I loved this movie, just like all the others! Tyler Perry does a wonderful job at making movies that make people laugh,cry,and feel good about themselves. No matter what the race he makes good movies and there is no doubt that he will go down in history as one of the best director/writers. He is definitelly in the hall of fame of directors and desearves it. Just give him the credit where its due.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Loved “madea” in this movie. Would have liked to see more of her. Tyler Perry’s movies are always worth watching and I will continue to watch your movies.
Posted on February 24, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I agree 100% with Tanisha (and not because that is my name too). Simply because I was in the bathroom before the movie started and a white female said to me ‘did you see Madea yet? No? You have to see it’. It was a wee bit shocking for me a black woman getting that from her but she was right. I already had my ticket for the next showing LOL It was great! I love Tyler for all of his movies, plays and sitcoms on TBS. He always has not only hilarious comedy but a great message for many. I always seek out comedies as I suffer from depression and they help. I won’t take anyone’s pills but shows like this, House of Payne and 2 & a 1/2 Men (not a Tyler production) fix me right up. I was glad to see Madea with my two daughters. Ironically, I had to let my daughter have a lecture right before the show while in the bathroom and low and behold, Tyler cosigned my point during the show. THANKS! Maybe she’ll believe Madea if she didn’t believe me LOL The man is a genius and deserves his props! God bless Tyler may he always shine bright. He is definitely what the world needs now.