Tyler Perry has had his ups and downs, but sending his trademark character Madea to the slammer marks a new high for the writer/director/star. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail raked in over $41 million this weekend, the best opening of the year so far.

It's also the highest opening Perry has enjoyed for any of his films. Most of his movies haven't even cleared the $40 million mark in total U.S. sales much less earned it in a single weekend.

It may be Perry's popularity is growing, but he also has the economy to thank. The stock market may be battered and unemployment at a recent high, but in this time of economic woe ticket sales are up. Maybe people are looking for an escape, maybe they're just trying to spend it before Obama figures out how to do it for them, but year-to-date sales are a solid $250 million higher than they were this time last year.

Oscar nominee Slumdog Millionaire will find out its fate tonight where awards are concerned, but with a wider release this weekend it enjoyed a jump from ninth place to fifth place, taking $8 million for its 15th weekend in release. The film is just shy of breaking the $100 million mark, making it a contender with Benjamin Button for the most lucrative film nominated.

The other new release this weekend, the pseudo-comedy Fired Up didn't get anyone excited, making a meager $6 million to take ninth place. It's a rough start for a film on a slim $20 million budget, but the movie's such a crapfest, no one's shedding any tears.

1. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail * $41,120,000   -   Total: $41,120,000 LW: N     WR: 1     THTRS: 2,032

2. Taken $11,400,000   -   Total: $95,153,000 LW: 3     WR: 4     THTRS: 3,102

3. Coraline $11,031,000   -   Total: $53,393,000 LW: 5     WR: 3     THTRS: 2,155

4. He's Just Not That Into You $8,540,000   -   Total: $70,083,000 LW: 2     WR: 3     THTRS: 3,050

5. Slumdog Millionaire $8,050,000   -   Total: $98,020,000 LW: 9     WR: 15     THTRS: 2,244

6. Friday the 13th (2009) $7,825,000   -   Total: $55,002,000 LW: 1     WR: 2     THTRS: 3,105

7. Confessions of a Shopaholic $7,019,000   -   Total: $27,654,000 LW: 4     WR: 2     THTRS: 2,507

8. Paul Blart: Mall Cop $7,000,000   -   Total: $121,380,000 LW: 6     WR: 6     THTRS: 2,835

9. Fired Up * $6,000,000   -   Total: $6,000,000 LW: N     WR: 1     THTRS: 1,810

10. The International $4,450,000   -   Total: $17,017,000 LW: 7     WR: 2     THTRS: 2,364