Box Office Preview: 'The Lion King' in three dimensional Poised to Steal Weekend Crown

Disney's three dimensional version from the The Lion Kinghits the domestic box office a few days ago prior to its Gemstone Blu-Ray release on March. 4 and it is broadly likely to roar even louder compared to competition and seize the weekend crown.our editor recommendsContagion: Venice Film ReviewDrive: Cannes 2011 ReviewI Have No Idea How She Will It: Film ReviewStraw Dogs: Film ReviewRyan Gosling Takes towards the Roads in 'Drive' Trailer (Video)Nicole Kidman 'I Have No Idea How She Does It' Poster Launched (Photo)'Contagion's' Matt Damon: Going Bald Is 'Really Liberating'Related Subjects•Box Office Simba's greatest competition is going to be holdover Contagion, which opened up to some strong $22.4 million last weekend, and also the significantly acclaimed Ryan Gosling action-drama Drive, 1 of 3 new films. Box office experts believe Lion Kingwill gross $11-13 million for that weekend -- thinking about the possible lack of family product on the market -- while Steven Soderbergh's Contagion is poised to earn $11-12 million. This past year, Disney rereleased three dimensional versions of Toy Story/Toy Story 2over the March. 2-4 weekend, consuming $12.4 million. PHOTOS: 10 Big Babies: Movies Which Have Entered the ten-Figure Mark Lion Kingis heading out by 50 percent,330 locations most theaters will have the household film on three dimensional and 2D screens. Theaters didn't appear to object playing the animated classic, despite the fact that it's seen by some like a marketing effort for that approaching Blu-Ray release. However the film the majority of Hollywood is going to be watching a few days ago is Drive, a popular at both this season's Toronto and Cannes film festivals. If word-of-mouth is nice, Drive could overperform and beat Contagionfor no. 2 place. Directed by Nicholas Winding Refn, Drive should gross within the $9-tens of millions of range, a good number for which's basically a heightened genre film. FilmDistrict, that is disbursing Drivedomestically, needs the experience-drama -- also starring Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston -- to possess especially strong legs and good repeat business. PHOTOS: Movie Report Card: 10 Greatest Flops of 2011 (To Date) Drive is monitoring best with males under 35 as well as is obtaining interest among more youthful women due to Gosling. FilmDistrict held 150 marketing tests now, following its United States premiere at Toronto on Sept. 10. But Drive, opening by 50 percent,886 theaters, won't be the sole R-ranked genre pic competing for male love -- Fishing rod Lurie's remake Hay Dog salso opens. Hay Dogs, from Screen Gems and starring True Bloodstream'sAlexander Skarsgard, James Marsden and Kate Bosworth, is forecasted to gross within the $7-8 million range. Hay Dogs, designed for $20 million and opening by 50 percent,408 theaters, is monitoring best with more youthful, urban audiences. STORY: Summer time Box Office: The Ten Greatest Flops of 2011 The feminine offering from the weekend may be the Weinstein Co.'s Nicole Kidman comedy I Don't Understand How She Will It, which is out by 50 percent,476 locations. The PG-13 pic is searching in a modest opening within the $6-8 million range. The Weinstein Co. thinks the film, also starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Seth Meyers, will rather hold in well, since women don't always hurry on opening weekend. How She Does Itcost within the low-$20 million range to create. In the niche box office, The new sony Pictures Classics opens Gus Van Zant's Restless, starring Mia Wasikowska, in five theaters in NY, La and Toronto. Related Subjects Bryan Cranston Carey Mulligan Greg Kinnear James Marsden Kate Bosworth Pierce Brosnan Ryan Gosling Nicole Kidman Seth Meyers Box Office Drive Contagion The Lion King Hay Dogs I'm Not Sure How She Will It