"REAL STEEL" DEMOLISHES COMPETITION AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Real Steel

Without a doubt, Real Steel demolishes the competition this weekend at the Box Office, running away with a stellar debut of $27 million from 3,440 theatres in North America. The Disney Father/Son Action flick starring Hugh Jackman and Toronto's own Dakota Goyo, recently had its Canadian Premiere here in Toronto and I am proud to have been a part of it all! Click here to read all about it.

Despite some great reviews for George Clooney's The Ides of March, it only could muster a debut in second spot with $11 million from 2,199 theatres which might seem a bit underwhelming for the Political Drama with an All-star Cast of Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood, in addition to Clooney himself.

After landing on-top of the Box Office last weekend, Warner Bros.,' A Dolphin Tale slips to third spot this weekend with $8.5 million in its third week, just ahead of Moneyball with $7 million for Sony Pictures.

Cancer Dramedy 50/50 slips to fifth spot this weekend with $5.5 million, experiencing a 40% slip from its opening weekend. Meanwhile, former Champion The Lion King 3-D drops to eighth spot this weekend with $5 million, earning $86.4 million in its four-week run.

"LION" IS KING OF THE BOX OFFICE AGAIN

Still from Moneyball

Disney's The Lion King 3-D, last week's Champion, defies all odds and does it a second week in a row, still going strong with $22 million in its second week of release. The Animated Feature wins a hotly-contested race for the lead with Sony Pictures' Moneyball, both a critical and commercial success, getting edged-out with $21 million. The Sports Drama also garnered an amazing 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, meaning that likely it will be a serious Best Picture contender come Awards season.  And to think it all started at TIFF 2011!

Third-place finisher Dolphin Tale 3-D for Warner Bros., starring Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr., is by no means a slouch either, opening with a v. impressive $20 million from 3,507 theatres.

Abduction starring Taylor Lautner opens in fourth spot with $11 million below expectations, as it was made for $36 million and high hopes were held for its Lead Actor's star power. Surely the Actor will see better days soon with the impending release of the next installment of Twilight.

A strong and proven Cast of Leading Men wasn't enough to save Killer Elite which debuts in fifth spot also with $9.5 million. The Action Thriller starring Clive Owen, Robert DeNiro and Jason Statham also fared poorly with Critics at 23% on the Tomatometer.

Former Champion Contagion slips to sixth spot in its third week with $9 million, earning $57.5 million in its run, just ahead of Drive starring Ryan Gosling in seventh, with $6 million in its second week. Meanwhile, Disney's The Help finds itself in eighth spot, now surpassing the $150 mark domestically - just about exceeding everyone's expectations.