So this is how the box office is shaping up this weekend. With no surprise, Real Steel‘s early estimates look for it to have a mid-$20 million weekend that could break $30 million if the returns for Saturday matinees are higher than originally predicted. The Amblin-inspired release with nods to ’80s relics Rocky and Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots is geared to families and early teens. Audiences venturing to see Hugh Jackman’s aging pugilist help train a sparring bot will undoubtedly take away Dolphin Tale‘s first-place viewers from last weekend. That family film with the A+ CinemaScore rating should finish the weekend with $9 million.
George Clooney’s fourth directorial effort, The Ides of March, is counter-programming for adult couples looking to take a break from the round-the-clock news cycle coverage of the Republican presidential nomination process and watch an R-rated political thriller about a Democratic primary that’s influx with Ryan Gosling starring. If it makes $10 million this weekend, versus its $12.5 million production budget, Sony Pictures will consider that a win. It may not be catching awards buzz as fast as Moneyball (which looks to finish around $7.5 million, and is also a Sony Pictures release), but could be a viable contender for adapted screenplay, with Gosling on the outside looking in, if not the shortlist, for lead acting honors.
Relgious-based Courageous and the cancer dramedy 50/50 will fall in the $5 million range, while audiences have already decided to not venture inside Dream House.