Tyler Perry Still Struggling to Get his Films Shown In White Neighborhoods

Actor and director Tyler Perry says he’s still struggling to get white audiences to see his movies.

“I still have issues getting screens in white neighborhoods believe it or not,” the 47-year-old told The Wrap.

Perry’s latest film, “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” was a box office hit — but he thinks it could have done even better if it was shown in more theaters.

“I think the numbers could have been bigger had people who are in the white suburbs had the option to go to their own theaters to see it. It’s something I’ve been dealing with for many many years,” he continued.

The movie brought in $27.6 million during its debut over the weekend, beating out Tom Cruise’s action sequel, “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.”

“All I know is, I have 1,500 less screens than ‘Jack Reacher,'” Perry added.

“Boo! A Madea Halloween” was Perry’s first film with a large Caucasian audience, according to The Wrap.

Perry started performing as the Madea character, a feisty and tough elderly black woman, nearly 10 years ago in the franchise’s first film, “Madea’s Family Reunion.”

His movies mainly center on African-American families and star a predominantly African-American cast.

This weekend’s viewers were 60% African-American and 40% Caucasian. While in the past, audiences were 80% to 90% African-American, according to Lionsgate.

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SOURCE: NY Daily News – Nicole Bitette