Tyler Perry (left) stars as Madea in the US family comedy

Written and directed by Tyler Perry, who also stars in the film, Madea's Family Reunion took an estimated $30.25m (�17.36m) in its debut weekend.

Doogal, a US version of last year's computer animated Magic Roundabout movie, was in eighth place.

Les Bronzes 3: Amis Pour La Vie topped the international box office chart.

Perry's last film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, also made the top spot at the US box office in February last year.

His latest film is based on his stage play Madea's Family Reunion and sees a variety of domestic crises unfold before a family finally manage to meet up.

Target audience

Perry plays a variety of characters, including Grandma Madea, who he also played in Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Perry's plays and films are most popular with black women over 35 - they have made up 52% of the audience for Madea's Family Reunion so far, according to film-makers Lionsgate.

Crime thriller Running Scared was the only other new release to enter the top 10 - it made $3.1m (�1.78) and went in at number nine.

South African film Tsotsi, nominated for best foreign language film at this year's Oscars, had a limited release at six cinemas but still made $78,000 (�44,873).

The film follows six days in the life of a young Johannesburg gang leader, played by Presley Chweneyagae.