Lionsgate'scomedy sequel Madea's Family Reunion repeated the original's success this time last year with anumber one debut that grossed an estimated $30.3m.

Tyler Perry, awell-known figure on the US playwriting circuit, returns as the pistol-packingmatriarch and also wrote and directed. It opened to mixed reviews but averageda powerful $13,787 on 2,194 screens.

The two othertop 10 arrivals did not fare so well. The Weinstein Company's CG-animated Doogal(aka The MagicRoundabout) opened ineighth place on $3.6m, while New Line's action title Running Scared starring Paul Walker opened in ninthplace on $3.1m.

Walker alsostars in Buena Vista's adventure Eight Below, which fell to second place in itssecond weekend on $15.7m for $45.1m.

MGM/Columbia's ThePink Panther stayed inthird place bringing its gross to an impressive $61m after three weekends, andFox's teen comedy Date Movie ranked fourth on $33.9m after two.

Rounding out thetop five is Universal's animated family title Curious George, which raised its running total by $7mto $43.1m after three.

Columbia/Revolution'sthriller Freedomland looks tohave a very short theatrical life indeed after slumping to 10th place on justunder $11m after two weekends.

Next weekend'swide releases are Screen Gems' supernatural romp Ultraviolet starring MillaJovovich; Warner Bros' thriller 16 Blocks starring Bruce Willis and Mos Def; Fox 2000's family mermaid picture Aquamarine starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts and JoJo; andRogue Pictures' stand-up concert documentary DaveChapelle's Block Party.

EstimatedTop Ten North America Feb 24-26 2006
Film (Distributor)/International distribution/Estimated weekend gross/Estimatedtotal to date
1 (-) Madea's Family Reunion (Lionsgate) LGFI $30.3m -
2 (1) Eight Below (Buena Vista)Spyglass $15.7m $45.1m
3 (3) The Pink Panther (MGM/Columbia)Fox Int'l $11.3m $61m
4 (2) Date Movie (Fox) Fox Int'l$9.2m $33.9m
5 (4) Curious George (Universal)UIP $7m $43.1m
6 (6) Firewall (Warner Bros)Warner/Village Roadshow $6.3m $36.9m
7 (5) Final Destination 3 (NewLine) New Line Int'l $5.4m $44.8m
8 (-) Doogal (TWC) PatheInternational $3.6m -
9 (-) Running Scared (New Line)Media 8 $3.1m -
10 (7) Freedomland(Sony/Revolution) SPRI $2.9m $10.8m