Moneyball’ A Box Office Hit, But ‘Lion’ and ‘Dolphin’ Still Lurking.

Brad Pitt’s Moneyball is expected to edge The Lion King 3D for the box office crown this weekend, according to early estimates.
The true baseball story, also starring Jonah Hill and Philip Seymour Hoffman, is on pace for $21 million, which would edge out Disney’s animated classic’s re-release, tracking toward a $20 million second weekend.
Another kiddie flick, Dolphin Tale, is also performing well, currently projected at $18 million.
That said, there’s been a LOT of fluctuation among the top three movies’ trend lines, and the order could easily change.
Beneath the top tier, there’s a fierce battle between two action movies.
Taylor Lautner’s Abduction is expected to earn about $10 million, as is the Jason Statham-Clive Owen release Killer Elite.
Both movies should open ahead of holdovers Contagion ($9 million) and Drive ($6 million).
The Top 10 chart should round out with The Help at $4 million, followed by I Don’t Know How She Does It ($2 million) and Straw Dogs ($1.5 million).