'Real Steel' prone to K.O. box office

'Real Steel''The Ides of March'DreamWorks' rock Them sock Them robot pic "Real Steel" won't have trouble knocking out its competition within the weekend's domestic B.O. -- exactly how hard it'll hit is tough to calculate, however.The consensus seems to put the film round the mid-$20 millions, while fellow wide opener, Sony's George Clooney political drama "The Ides of March," is predicted to vary from $ten million and $14 million."Real Steel," which Disney launches today at 3,440 locations, including 270 in Imax, is monitoring best with families and fans, two of the very difficult demos to pigeonhole. Photos specific to fans have observed a malaise available on the market lately (consider photos like "Fright Evening" and "Conan the Barbarian"). Family turnout, meanwhile, is infamously difficult to predict, since tykes aren't taken care of for by monitoring services.With "The Lion King" in 3d and "Dolphin Tale" undertaking very well, "Real Steel" may require the market's family momentum.Warner Bros.' "Dolphin Tale" elevated to No. 1 last weekend, throughout which "Lion King" dropped 52% within the third outing -- a enjoyable-enough hold, considering Disney marketed the re-release just like a two-week engagement. "Dolphin Tale" has cumed almost $40 million in your area "Lion King," $81 million.Overseas, "Real Steel" could manage an upset over "The Smurfs."The film launches day-and-date in roughly 24% in the worldwide market, including Australia, Mexico, Russia and Taiwan. "Smurfs," which has won overseas B.O. for eight straight days (last weekend it collected $10.7 million), narrowly beat "Abduction's" $10.millions of weekend gross.Limited Stateside releases include Emilio Estevez's Martin Sheen starrer "The Means By Which,Inch from Producers Distribution Agency, at 33 locations, while IFC's horror follow-up "Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence" opens at 18 playdates as well as the Weinstein Co.'s eighties-set Juno Temple starrer "Dirty Girl" at nine.With "Real Steel," Friday evening tests will inform them about, since fans are often first-responders and may gauge how well the film plays compared to that demo overall. Disney isn't as concerned about your family aud reaction, since the studio examined the pic extensively, with families rating the film best."Real Steel" includes a relatively modest cost of $110 million after tax savings, particularly for any effects-heavy tentpole.Clooney's "Ides of March," meanwhile, was fully funded by Mix Creek Pictures for just about any reported $12.5 million. The brand new the new sony acquired U.S. rights for the film last November. Set within a presidential primary, with Ryan Gosling since the campaign manager to Clooney's candidate, pic should attract mostly over-25 audiences. Appeal for stars, including Evan Rachel Wood, could attract more youthful moviegoers.The brand new the new sony is using just like a comp Clooney's "Michael Clayton," which acquired $10.4 million throughout its first weekend in wide release in 2007. That film made $49 million in your area. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com