Box Office Report: Steven Soderbergh's 'Contagion' Winning Weekend Race

TORONTO --Steven Soderbergh's thriller Contagion opened up to No. 1 in the domestic box office Friday by having an believed $8 million, while Disney's The Assistance locked in strong at No. 2.our editor recommendsContagion: Venice Film ReviewWarrior: Film ReviewThe Help: Film ReviewBucky Larson: Born to become a Star: Film ReviewRelated Subjects•Box Office Otherwise, this news ranged from so-to harsh.The film clients are searching at worst weekend of the season when it comes to revenues, which might only hit $70 million. PHOTOS: Helpful tips for Fake Film Illnesses Lionsgate's mma drama Warrior made an believed $1.8 million in the first day in the future in No. 3 and it is now searching in a lower-than-expected weekend debut of $5 million to $5.5 million. Simultaneously, the film -- starring Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton and Tom Sturdy -- is drawing strong reviews and came a b CinemaScore, portending good word-of-mouth. Sony's comedy Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star, created by Adam Sandler's production company Happy Madison, is a brand-out explosive device, generating a dismal $540,000 on Friday to fall outdoors from the top ten. Oddly, the pic received a b - CinemaScore. PHOTOS: Movie Report Card: 10 Greatest Flops of 2011 (To Date) Warner Bros. and Participant Media's Contagion, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law,Laurence Fisburne and Kate Winslet together of CDC doctors attempting to stop an international viral epidemic, should easily win the weekend race with $20 million to $22 million. The pic received a b -- CinemaScore, using more than 80% from the audience older than 25. DreamWorks' The Assistance -- also co-funded by Participant -- should gross around $9 million, pushing its domestic total to almost $140 million. Contagion knocks the film in the No. 1 place in the domestic box office following a three-week rule. STORY: Summer time Box Office: The Ten Greatest Flops of 2011 Focus Features' Your Debt is taking pleasure in a powerful hold in the second weekend, grossing an believed $1.4 million on Friday for any cume of $18.5 million. The Helen Mirren thriller, arriving at No. 4, is anticipated to gross roughly $4.5 for that weekend. Sony's Zoe Saldana action pic Colombiana is holding within the No. 5 position, grossing an believed $1.two million for any domestic cume of $26.9 million. Shark Evening three dimensional and Apollo 18both saw steep drops within the their second weekends. Shark Evening placed No. 7 on Friday, falling 64% for an believed $a million for any cume of $12.3 million. PHOTOS: 10 Big Babies: Movies Which Have Entered the ten-Figure Mark Apollo 18 tumbled a lot more than 68% for an believed $875,000 for any cume of $13 million. Box office experts say Sunday, Sept. 9 might be a particularly slow day for male-driven films due to the beginning of the National football league season. Related Subjects Gwyneth Paltrow Kate Winslet Matt Damon Tom Sturdy Box Office Contagion Steven Soderbergh The Assistance Bucky Larson: Born to become a Star Warrior