Friday Box Office: Can 'Moneyball' dethrone 'The Lion King'?

"The Lion King 3-D" has been reigning supreme in theaters, drawing in young viewers with their families as well as older viewers on a nostalgia kick, but early Friday estimates suggest that Brad Pitt's "Moneyball" may be heir to the throne.

"Moneyball" pulled an estimated $6.7 million on its opening night, while "Lion King's" Friday evening numbers were around $6.0 million. Another family-friendly film, "Dolphin Tale," debuted from Warner Bros on Friday at around $5.1 million.

Taylor Lautner vehicle "Abduction" may be in for a lackluster debut weekend, as it came in fourth on Friday ($3.8 million). Clive Owen, Jason Statham, and Robert DeNiro got off to a slow start with "Killer Elite," coming in fifth place with $3.5 million.