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

'Real Steel''The Ides of March'DreamWorks' rock Them sock Them robot pic "Real Steel" will not have trouble knocking out its competition in the weekend's domestic B.O. -- precisely how hard it'll hit is difficult to calculate, however.The consensus appears to place the film around the mid-$20 millions, while fellow wide opener, Sony's George Clooney political drama "The Ides of March," is anticipated to range 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 most difficult demos to pigeonhole. Photos specific to fans have experienced a malaise on the market recently (consider photos like "Fright Evening" and "Conan the Barbarian"). Family turnout, meanwhile, is infamously tough to predict, since tykes aren't paid for for by monitoring services.With "The Lion King" in three dimensional and "Dolphin Tale" carrying out extremely well, "Real Steel" may need the market's family momentum.Warner Bros.' "Dolphin Tale" increased to No. 1 last weekend, throughout which "Lion King" dropped 52% in the third outing -- a pleasant-enough hold, thinking about Disney promoted the re-release like a two-week engagement. "Dolphin Tale" has cumed almost $40 million locally "Lion King," $81 million.Overseas, "Real Steel" could manage an upset over "The Smurfs."The film launches day-and-date in roughly 24% from the worldwide market, including Australia, Mexico, Russia and Taiwan. "Smurfs," that has won overseas B.O. for eight straight days (last weekend it collected $10.7 million), narrowly beat "Abduction's" $10.a million weekend gross.Limited Stateside releases include Emilio Estevez's Martin Sheen starrer "The Way In Which,Inch from Producers Distribution Agency, at 33 locations, while IFC's horror follow up "Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence" opens at 18 playdates and also the Weinstein Co.'s eighties-set Juno Temple starrer "Dirty Girl" at nine.With "Real Steel," Friday evening tests will tell them about, since fans are frequently first-responders and can gauge how well the film plays to that particular demo overall. Disney is not as worried about the household aud reaction, because the studio tested the pic extensively, with families rating the film best."Real Steel" has a relatively modest price of $110 million after tax savings, specifically for a effects-heavy tentpole.Clooney's "Ides of March," meanwhile, was fully funded by Mix Creek Pictures for any reported $12.5 million. The new sony acquired U.S. privileges towards the film last November. Set throughout a presidential primary, with Ryan Gosling because the campaign manager to Clooney's candidate, pic should attract mostly over-25 audiences. Appeal for stars, including Evan Rachel Wood, could attract some more youthful moviegoers.The new sony is applying like a comp Clooney's "Michael Clayton," which gained $10.4 million throughout its first weekend in wide release in 2007. That film made $49 million locally. Contact Andrew Stewart at andrew.stewart@variety.com