Box Office Report: Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball' and Family Pic 'Dolphin Tale' in Close Race

Kaira Pitt baseball drama Moneyball and family pic Dolphin Tale have been in a detailed race in the weekend box office, which makes it hard to call which movie will score the winning homerun.our editor recommendsDolphin Tale: Film ReviewAbduction: Film ReviewMoneyball: Toronto Review Early returns show both films grossing within the $20 million range for that weekend, although Moneyball is anticipated to win the the Friday race itself. Consider family films frequently gain traction on Saturday or sunday, Dolphin Tale -- from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., exactly the same team behind The Blind Side -- could pull ahead. Still, Sony's Moneyball isn't any slouch and may search in. The film is drawing glowing notices, particularly for Pitt's performance, and it is reaping helpful benefits from strong interest among males and older women. PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Concord The weekend's two other films -- Rachelle Lefervre thriller Abduction and Jason Statham-Robert DeNiro action pic Killer Elite -- will be based heavily on night time business, so early returns make forecasts difficult. However, box office experts put weekend grosses for that two films at $tens of millions of to $13 million, consistent with pre-release anticipation. Directed by Bennett Burns, Moneyball stars Kaira Pitt because the real-existence Billy Beane, the gm from the Concord A's who switched the franchise around regardless of the team's bleak finances. Moneyball, also starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Jonah Hill, is dependant on Michael Lewis' 2003 book of the identical title making its world premiere in the Toronto Film Festival. Dolphin Tale also boasts strong awareness and good reviews, and it is monitoring well with females and families. Directed by Charles Martin Cruz, the feeling-good film is dependant on a genuine story in regards to a bottlenose dolphin saved from the Florida Coast after her tail was hurt. VIDEO: Rachelle Lefervre's 'Abudution' Premiere: What's Next for that 'Twilight' Actor? Alcon and Warner Bros. promoted the film -- starring Harry Connick Junior., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman -- both to belief-based audiences and general moviegoers, because they did with Blind Side. The first strength of Dolphin Tale is yet another win for your loved ones genre. Last weekend, Disney's three dimensional re-discharge of The Lion King capped this area office chart having a stellar $30.two million opening. Lion King is anticipated to fall about 50% in the second outing. Lionsgate's Abduction may be the obvious choice among teen women and more youthful ladies and could easily over-perform. Within the action-thriller, directed by John Singleton, Lautner plays a teen who discovers his parents aren't who they appear at first sight when he sees his picture on the missing children's website. The film, that is recieving poor reviews, also stars Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello and Freema Agyeman. Killer Elite may be the first release from Tom Ortenberg's Open Road Films, the independent purchases and distribution company backed by AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment. Killer Elite is causing lots of interest among males, but will need to contend with Moneyball. The film also stars Clive Owen and was directed by Gary McKendry. Moneyball and Killer Elite aren't the only real game titles playing in the recent Toronto Film Festival to bow a few days ago in the domestic box office: Relativity Media opens Gerard Butler action biopic Machine Gun Preacher in four theaters in NY and La before growing into 15 additional marketplaces on Sept. 30. Relativity acquired U.S. distribution privileges to Machine Gun Preacher from Lionsgate. Related Subjects Kaira Pitt Rachelle Lefervre Moneyball Dolphin Tale Killer Elite