Moneyball vs. Dolphin Tale

Sometimes, I think September movies end up being "the movies that aren't" in the sense that the films seem like they are full of promise and "award show potential" but then don't have the gusto when they are released.

That being said, I feel like something strange has happened in which after a weekend where a 1994 Disney film was top of the box office (Lion King 3D) that there is room in September for heartfelt and meaningful drama.

I'll be interested to see the weekend box office numbers on Sunday, but I think the two well reviewed films with a lighter bent (Dolphin Tale and Moneyball) have a lot of potential to do well at the box office.

If the bio-pic Moneyball can ride a box office success wave, I think Bennett Miller's film has the potential to ride some waves into award season. Of course, Dolphin Tale is not that type of film, but I think there might be surprised box office enthusiasm.

Other wide releases this weekend include John Singleton's thriller Abduction (staring Taylor Lautner) and the thriller Killer Elite (staring Clive Owens, Jason Stratham, and Robert DeNiro).

And it just seems to me that it's a strong weekend for September. I'd expect Abduction and Killer Elite will disappoint and fade away after this weekend, but I expect Moneyball and Dolphin Tale to stick around in the theaters for awhile and am interested to see which one wins in the box office race.

I'd put my bet on Dolphin Tale.