'Dolphin Tale' Dethrones 'Lion King': Box Office Report, September 30-October 2

Winter the dolphin might have no tail, but she's legs in the box office. 'Dolphin Tale,' which opened up at No. 3 a week ago, swam to to begin with by having an believed $14.two million. Which was enough not just to dethrone the three dimensional re-discharge of 'The Lion King' after two days, but additionally to outshine all of the weekend's new wide release movies: '50/50,' 'Courageous,' 'Dream House' and 'What's Your Number?' 'Dolphin Tale' did just a little much better than the $13 million approximately that commentators had predicted. Looking back, its victory is not that surprising. It's playing in additional venues (3,515) than every other movie, its only competition to see relatives audiences is 'Lion King,' and contains excellent reviews and word-of-mouth. Its decline from last week's clients are just 26 %. Its two-weekend total is $37.5 million. 'Moneyball' held onto second place by having an believed $12.5 million, lower just 35 % from last weekend. Like 'Dolphin Tale,' Kaira Pitt's baseball drama is taking pleasure in strong reviews and word-of-mouth. Its ten-day total is $38.5 million. (Click the link to see Moviefone's review.) 'Lion King' swapped places with 'Dolphin Tale' to land at No. 3 with $11.a million, 1 / 2 of last weekend's take. The stunningly effective re-release has gained $79.7 million in three days. The Disney classic's lifetime domestic total is $408.two million another $7 million, and will also exceed 'Toy Story 3' being the 2nd most effective animated movie ever. Inside a three-way race for 4th place were new movies '50/50,' 'Courageous,' and 'Dream House,' which finished so close together their actual ratings might not be known until final figures are launched on Monday. Weekend studio estimations placed '50/50' in 4th place with $8.85 million. Forecasts had the film opening around $ten million, because of good reviews and relentless promotion by stars Seth Rogen and Frederick Gordon-Levitt. Still, $8.85 million is not harmful to a comedy about this type of harsh subject as cancer. 'Courageous' stated receipts just $50,000 behind individuals of '50/50.' Produced by the filmmakers who designed a hit from 'Fireproof' 3 years ago, it is a similar low-budget indie drama about cops and fatherhood, specific to some belief-based and regional audience. Already, the film, which opened on just 1,161 screens, has opened up more powerful than 'Fireproof' (which first showed with $6.8 million, toward an eventual $33.4 million). Its per-screen average of $7,580 was the very best of any wide-release movie now. 'Dream House' opened up by having an believed $8.two million. Like '50/50,' 'Dream House' was likely to open above $ten million, however it experienced from poor advance buzz, weak reviews, negative word-of-mouth, and also the failure of their stars (bride and groom Difficulties and Rachel Weisz) and it is studio (Universal) to complete much to advertise it. The weekend's 4th new movie, 'What's Your Number?' opened up in eighth place with only $5.six million, based on estimations. (No. 7 movie, 'Abduction,' arrived only $50,000 greater, therefore the movies may swap places when final figures are launched on Monday.) The Anna Faris comedy underperformed even its pessimistic forecasts of $7 million, likely due to mediocre reviews and word-of-mouth. Overall, it was a slack weekend in the box office, with only $102 million as a whole receipts, though that's 4.4 % much better than exactly the same weekend this past year. For that first nine several weeks of the season, 2011 continues to be 3.3 % behind exactly the same period this past year ($7.8 billion, in comparison to $8.1 billion). 'Dolphin Tale' - Trailer No. 2 The entire top ten: 1. 'Dolphin Tale,' $14.two million (3,515 screens), $37.5 million total 2. 'Moneyball,' $12.5 million (2,993), $38.5 million 3. 'The Lion King,' $11.a million (2,340), $79.7 million 4. '50/50,' $8.85 million (2,458), era 5. 'Courageous,' $8.80 million (1,161), era 6. 'Dream House,' $8.two million (2,661), era 7. 'Abduction,' $5.sixty five million (3,118), $19.a million 8. 'What's Your Number?', $5.60 million (3,002), era 9. 'Contagion,' $5. million (2,744), $64.7 million 10. 'Killer Elite,' $4.9 million (2,986), $17.3 million Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman. Photo credits: Warner Bros. ('Dolphin Tale'), Summit Entertainment ('50/50'), TriStar Pictures ('Courageous'), Universal ('Dream House'), twentieth century Fox ('What's Your Number?') 31 Good reasons to Purchase a Movie Ticket October You will find 31 reasons that October might be Rocktober in the box office. These are. Rock 'Em Sock 'Em RobotsGeorge Clooney gives Ryan Gosling his Michael Clayton moment with 'Ides of March'We'll finally understand what this means for that Human Centipede to visit "full sequence"What can have happened if Butch Cassidy made it? Discover when Mike Shepard kicks ass as an adult Cassidy in 'Blackthorn'President Bartlett around the Large ScreenHarvey Weinstein Will get 'Dirty'Yet another Jessica Chastain performanceIt's been two-and-a-half decades since Peggy Sue attended her 25-year senior high school reunion after which travled in time for you to senior high school in 'Peg'The Large Year' might be your brand-new 'City Slickers'Opportunity to complain noisally regarding your recently discovered great fascination with the initial 'Footloose'/'The Factor'You reach sneak Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins to your screening of 'The Factor'Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman designed a home invasion thriller with Joel SchumacherThere's a brand new Pedro Almodovar movie being released!The 'Catfish' company directors' eerie, "bloody Mary" implanted-undertake 'Paranormal Activity 3'You can load on Mike Adams Octoberfest and attend a screening of 'The Three Musketeers'The now-annual opportunity to get scared with a VHS tapePTA designed a 'Three Musketeers' MovieAfter three full many years of staying away from the topic, you'll finally have the ability to speak semi-smartly concerning the financial crisisYour start looking at 2011 It-Girl -- and possible Best Actress nominee -- Elizabeth OlsenChance to determine for good if Kevin Cruz has talentRemind yourself heavyweight boxing still is available using the Klitschko siblings documentary known as, er, 'Klitschko'Regret not implementing Puppeteer 101 attending college using the Sesame Street documentary, 'Being Elmo'Arguing the question "Who authored Shakespeare's plays?" hasn't been a lot funTo discover when the trailer for 'The Double' really did spoil the whole movieJustin Timberlake's attempts to go all action star upon us in 'In Time'Another opportunity to watch The Actor-brad Pitt embody Hunter S. ThompsonYour start looking at 2011's other It-Girl -- and perhaps Best Actress nominee -- Felicity JonesSee exactly what the relaxation around the globe already lovesA ton of horror movie revival tests over the countryDude, Hershey's Air Delight!It's the films! See All Moviefone Art galleries »