Film News: ‘Real Steel’ Wins Second Round at Weekend Box Office

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CHICAGO- In the battle of boxing robots and dancing teens, the robots have won in a split decision. In its second weekend in theaters, “Real Steel” has won back-to-back box office bouts, winning this past weekend by a very close scorecard.

“Real Steel,” starring Hugh Jackman as a robot boxing manager that gets back on the scene with an undersized, but resilient robot, brought in an estimated $16.3 million in its second weekend. The total gross for the film has now hit $51.7 million domestically.

Dancing in just behind “Real Steel” with an estimated $16.1 million was the remake of “Footloose.” This week also featured another classic film being made for 2011; “The Thing,” a prequel of the 1982 film with the same title, Brought in $8.7 million, which was good enough for third place.

The biggest disappointment of the week has to go to “The Big Year,” which finished ninth in its first weekend in theaters with $3.3 million. Starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black, audiences apparently didn’t want to watch a movie about bird watching.

Other than “Real Steel,” a few of the films that were in theaters for second, third, and fourth weekend still did well. “The Ides of March” made $7.5 million (fourth place), Dolphin Tale brought in $6.3 million (fifth), “Moneyball” grossed $5.5 million in its fourth weekend (sixth), and “50/50” tallied $4.3 million (seventh).

Can “Real Steel” hold in for a third consecutive week? We will see when it faces off against all of the current films, as well as the new releases: “The Three Musketeers,” “Paranormal Activity 3,” and “Margin Call.”

1. Real Steel— $16.3 million — down 40% — $51.7 million total
2. Footloose — $16.1 million — new
3. The Thing — $8.7 million – new
4. The Ides of March— $7.5 million – down 28% — $22.2 million total
5. Dolphin Tale— $6.3 million – down 31% — $58.7 million total
6. Moneyball— $5.5 million – down 26% — $57.7 million total
7. 50/50— $4.3 million – down 23% — $24.3 million total
8. Courageous — $3.4 million – down 30% — $21.4 million total
9. The Big Year — $3.3 million — new
10. The Lion King 3D— $2.7 million – down 41% — $90.5 million total

By TIM MARTENS Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com