Disney’s Real Steel knocks out the competition with solid $27.3 million weekend. With the look and feel of a summer movie, the IMAX enhanced PG-13 action sci-fi drama drew family audiences and action fans alike to the multiplex. The futuristic film stars Hugh Jackman and a scene-stealing Dakota Goyo as a father and son who work together to turn a discarded boxing robot into a true contender in the ring. IMAX showings accounted for $3.2 million or 12% of the weekend gross which is a new Sept./Oct. record for the giant screen company. The Ides of March is an R-rated political drama from Sony starring George Clooney as a presidential candidate and Ryan Gosling as his hot shot media consultant. Based on the play by Beau Willimon the R-rated film tallied up enough votes with sophisticated audiences to take in $10.4 million this weekend for a debut in second place. Warner Bros.’ Dolphin Tale in 3-D enjoyed a major comeback last weekend by jumping from third place to first in a surprising show of strength. This weekend the PG-rated film took advantage of its position as the predominant fall family film in the marketplace and caught around $9.2 million in family-friendly dollars as it nears $50 million in North America. Moneyball from Sony has continued to be a mid-week favorite earning around $1 million per day and slides right into its third weekend with $7.5 million. The Brad Pitt true baseball story has been playing catch with audiences since its debut and winds up with close to $50 million by Sunday night. After opening in fifth place, Summit Entertainment’s 50/50, enters its second weekend with momentum generated by solid word-of-mouth that has made it the second place movie during the mid-week box office contest. The R-rated dramatic comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen as two friends coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis, has taken advantage of the positive buzz that has been building since the film hit theaters and earned $5.5 million this weekend against a small 36% drop.
Weekend Box Office
Top Movies for Weekend of October 7, 2011 (Estimates)
Movie Weekend Gross Total to Date
1 Real Steel (PG13)
$27.3M
$27.3M
2 The Ides of March (R)
$10.4M
$10.4M
3 Dolphin Tale (PG)
$9.2M
$49.1M
4 Moneyball (PG13)
$7.5M
$49.2M
5 50/50 (R)
$5.5M
$17.3M
$49.2M
