New York - Filmmaker Tyler Perry's latest sequel to the Madea character opened atop North American box offices for the three- day weekend, according to preliminary studio estimates issued Sunday.

Madea Goes to Jail stars Perry in drag as the brash, gun-toting grandmother. She is arrested after one of her typical, angry outbursts leads to a police pursuit.

The film's Friday-Sunday ticket sales totaled 41.1 million dollars, putting it far ahead of its competition at US and Canadian cinemas. (dpa)