Tyler Perry's $21 Million Box Office Upset

Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?" is the number one film at the box office, grossing $21.5 million dollars in its first three days.

"Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" out sold films featuring major stars George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix and Cate Blanchett to take first place at the box office. The film is an adaptation of Perry's play of the same name, "Why Did I Get Married?"

This is the latest in a string of successes for the 38-year-old Atlanta-based filmmaker.

"My strong hunch is that this is the last time anybody will underestimate Tyler Perry," Lions Gate President Tom Ortenberg said.

Close to 90% of ticket buyers for the new film were African American proving you can make money catering to a black audience. 98% of patrons also rated the film as "excellent" or "very good," according to Lions Gate's own surveys.

If "Why Did I Get Married?" performs like Perry's two biggest successes, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Madea's Family Reunion," it should end up earning $50-million to a $100-million.