MADEA GOES TO TOP OF THE BOX OFFICE: Tyler Perry's latest opens with $41.1 million, highest weekend total for both filmmaker and Lionsgate

*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.