Dolphin Tale Swims To Top Of Box Office

True-life story leaps into first placeNever underestimate the power of a true-life story to captivate US audiences. It's a lesson the producers of several new movies learned at the hands (or, er, fins) of schmaltzy sea shanty Dolphin Tale this weekend as the based-on-truth story surged back up the charts to claim the top spot after launching in third place last week. The movie, which features Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr and Winter the dolphin as herself, made $14.2 million this weekend.That was enough to keep baseball drama Moneyball in second place, earning $12.5 million, while last week's champ The Lion King fell to third with $11 million. But the two veterans were still strong enough to hold off fresh competition from cancer comedy 50/50, which got off to a relatively weak start in fourth with $8.9 million, and Christian-focused drama Courageous, which launched in fifth place with $8.8 million.In sixth place, the Daniel Craig/Rachel Weisz thriller Dream House had a nightmare start, taking just $8.2 million. Abduction began a swift fall down the charts, landing with a thud at seventh and $5.7 million. Rom-com What's Your Number? found its own digit - eight - as the Anna Faris/Chris Evans film failed to woo cinemagoers, kicking off with a paltry $5.6 million.Contagion was ninth with $5 million and Killer Elite shot straight down from fifth to 10th, earning $4.8 million.To share the joy of sea-going statistics, swim on over to Box Office Mojo.

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