Early WEEKEND BOX OFFICE - Friday Update: MONEYBALL, LION KING, DOLPHIN TALE - Who's #1?? COURAGEOUS, DREAM HOUSE, NUMBER and 50/50 all low

It's going to be yet another close weekend as holdovers MONEYBALL, DOLPHIN TALE and LION KING 3D battle for #1.  The big story is that the four new films of the weekend are going to take a back seat to these older films according to Deadline Hollywood

On Friday MONEYBALL was the highest grossing film taking in $4mil which could give it a $12mil weekend.  DOLPHIN TALE took in less with a $3.5mil Friday but kids movies make more money on the weekend matinees.  That could give it a $14mil weekend which would be good enough for #1.

And then there's THE LION KING 3D (aka as the movie that will never die) which made $3.2mil but just like DOLPHIN will see an uptick in business from rugrats on Saturday and Sunday shows.  Will it take #1?

A big surprise this weekend is the weak opening for the four new movies.

The cancer comedy-drama 50/50 was expected to open huge but its subject matter may have been off-putting to some.  It'll have a $10mil weekend.  Hopefully its 90% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes (a critics rating site) will help it in the weeks to come.

The Christian theme film COURAGEOUS opened stronger as its appeal isn't as wide as other films.  It's looking at a $9mil weekend.

Daniel Craig leaves the tux behind and tries his hand at horror with the new film DREAM HOUSE.  Bad word-of-mouth and poor reviews will give this a weak $7.5mil opening weekend.

The Anna Faris comedy WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? opened the weakest of all four and is looking at a $5.5mil weekend.

Other holdovers ABDUCTION and KILLER ELITE fell down about 55% each on their second weekend out.


More info as it comes in!!