"TRUE GRIT" EXPECTED TO TAKE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from True Grit

In a tight finish for a third consecutive week, True Grit and Little Fockers duke it out Cowboy style at the Box Office. True Grit based on preliminary numbers from Friday, is expected to take the top spot with $13.5 million. Two-week champion Little Fockers, is expected to land in second with $13.2 million although it could well take top spot after final tallies come in tomorrow.  Screeners have already floated online as illegal downloads for True Grit, not impacting its Box Office performance.

Season of the Witch, which critically has been-panned, the latest in a series of Box Office and critical failures from Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, is expected to bring in $9.2 million, good enough for third spot in its debut. Rotten Tomatoes has pegged the Film at 1% on the Tomatometer. Pathetic.

Sony Screen Gems' Country Strong also failed to impress the Critics despite high hopes, but doesn't disgrace itself in its debut with $7.5 million in fourth. Keep in mind that it only opened in 1,424 theatres versus Season of the Witch which is showing in 2,816 theatres.

Disney's TRON: Legacy 3-D continues its way down, expected to place fifth this weekend with $8 million in its fourth week. Black Swan exceeds all expectations again with $7 million from 1,584 theatres helping it surpass the $60 million mark in its sixth week. Remember, it was made for only $13 million and has yet to open wide overseas. Bravo.

Near the bottom of the Top Ten are The Fighter, which likely will account for seventh spot with $6.5 million and also The King's Speech, which still is in Limited Release in only 758 theatres and $5.5 million this weekend. Both are legitimate contenders for Best Picture at the Oscars late February.