Box Office, Hugh Jackman | featured news

Boxing robots are the undisputed champions at the weekend box office. According to studio estimates Sunday, Hugh Jackman’s “Real Steel,” set in a near-future when robot fighters have replaced humans in the ring, debuted at No. 1 with $27.3 million. “Real Steel” added $22.1 million overseas for a worldwide total of $49.4 million. The movie casts Jackman as a former boxer reluctantly thrown together with his young son as they turn a junkyard robot into a world-class contender.

After X-Men: Origins: Wolverine grossed a sizable $87m in the US in its opening weekend, 20th Century Fox has moved quickly to greenlight a sequel.

Sources tell me that Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine had a stunning $35 million debut Friday thanks in part to heavy attendance at tonight's shows and the studio's widest release ever into 4,099 theaters. That includes the $5 million midnight shows at 2,000 venues.) Comparables include Iron Man, which made $39M its opening Friday, and Fast & Furious which earned $30.5M.