New York - Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail kept a relentless hug on first place at North American box offices over the weekend, according to preliminary studio estimates issued Sunday.

The film had Friday-Sunday ticket sales of 16.5 million dollars to retain the top spot that the sequel captured in its first week in cinemas.

The movie stars Perry in drag as the brash, gun-toting grandmother, a character returning from his previous films. Madea is arrested after one of her typical, angry outbursts leads to a police pursuit.

Second place went to the live concert film Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, which grossed 12.7 million dollars.

In third was Slumdog Millionaire, enjoying a box-office resurgence following its Academy Awards triumph, which included the Oscar for best picture. It's three-day haul was
12.1 million dollars. (dpa)