The 3-D comedy took in $26.9 million, according to studio estimates from the box-office tracking firm Hollywood.com. The movie has generated $81.2 million in 10 days, nearly recouping its $90 million budget. The movie has benefited from a timely release as school-age kids on break for Good Friday gave the cartoon a surge
Top ten list:
1.Rio
Weekend gross: $26.9M
2.Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family (not reviewed)Weekend gross: $25.7M
3. Water For Elephants Weekend gross: $17.5M
4. HopWeekend gross: $12.5M
5. Scream 4Weekend gross: $7.2M
6. African CatsWeekend gross: $6.4M
7. Soul SurferWeekend gross: $5.6M
8. InsidiousWeekend gross: $5.4M
9. HannaWeekend gross: $5.3M
10. Source CodeWeekend gross: $5.1M
The haul was enough to hold off a slew of newcomers, including Tyler Perry's latest, Madea's Big Happy Family, which took second with $25.7 million.
Though some analysts expected Medea to take the top spot with a higher opening, the debut will mark another profitable project for the Atlanta-based Perry, who keeps his production costs below $20 million, making him one of the industry's most bankable directors.
Robert Pattinson's drama Water for Elephants scored better with critics, 52% of whom gave the movie a thumbs-up. The film was third with $17.5 million.
The Easter cartoon Hop dose well seen the holiday, which kept it in the top five a fourth straight weekend. Hop earned $12.5 million.
Wes Craven's horror/comedy Scream 4 in fifth place with $7.2 million, followed by the Disney documentary African Cats, which was sixth with $6.4 million, Soul Surfer was in position 7th with $5.6 ,million Insidious in number eight with 5.4 million,Hanna and Source Code are in position nine and ten with $5.3 and $5.1 million.
