Box Office Report: Hugh Jackman's 'Real Steel' Wins Friday With $8.6 Million

Shawn Levy's robot boxing drama Real Steel topped the Friday box office race with $8.6 million, but the fate of the Hugh Jackman pic will depend upon strong family business over the weekend.

The Ides of March, directed by George Clooney, placed second, grossing an estimated $3.5 million on the strength of adult moviegoers intrigued by the political drama. Ides stars Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

PHOTOS: 'Real Steel' Premiere

As it stands now, Real Steel is headed for a $24 million to $26 million debut, short of the hoped-for $30 million or better opening. However, if families turn out in force over the weekend, the DreamWorks movie could make up some ground and end up north of $27 million. Real Steel cost $110 million to produce, and also is opening this weekend in a number of key foreign markets.

Ides of March, distributed by Sony and fully financed by Cold Creek Pictures, is projected to earn $10.5 million or better for the weekend, a good number considering the film cost $12.5 million to produce. Sony is hoping to best the $10.4 million earned by Clooney starrer Michael Clayton on its first weekend in nationwide release.

PHOTOS: 'Real Steel' First Look

CinemaScores won't be released until Saturday night for either film.

Warner Bros. and Alcon Entertainment's Dolphin Tale placed No. 3 on its third Friday, grossing $2.4 million for a domestic cume of $42.3 million, followed by Sony's Brad Pitt baseball drama Moneyball with an estimated $2.3 million for a cume of $44 million.

Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures' Seth Rogen-Joseph Gordon-Levitt film 50/50 paced No. 5, grossing an estimated $1.8 million for a cume of $13.6 million in its first eight days in release.

Faith-based pic Courageous, from Sherwood Pictures and TriStar, came in No. 6, grossing $1.4 million on its second Friday for a total $12.7 million.

Daniel Craig-Rachel Weisz horror movie Dream House followed with $1.36 million for a cume of $11.4 million in its first eight days.

Disney 3D re-release of The Lion King fell to No. 8, grossing an estimated $1.2 million for domestic total of $82.6 million. The re-release has become a box office blockbuster, and is still playing in more than 2,260 theaters, even thought the Diamond Blu-Ray edition of the film was released on Oct. 4.

What's Your Number? came in No. 9 on its second Friday, grossing an estimated $1 million for a disappointing cume of $8.3 million. Fox is distributing the Anna Faris-Chris Evans R-rated comedy, which was produced and fully financed by New Regency.

Taylor Lautner action pic Abduction, from Lionsgate, rounded out the top 10, grossing an estimated $865K for a cume of $21.3 million.