‘Real Steel,’ ‘Footloose’ Duke It Out For No. 1

First Published: October 16, 2011 12:24 PM EDT Credit: AP, Flynet, Disney, Disney, JFX, Capitol Records, BuzzFoto

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The robot boxers of “Real Steel” and the dancers of “Footloose” are in a tight fight for the box-office title.

According to studio estimates Sunday, the Hugh Jackman tale about machines in the boxing ring took in $16.3 million, which would make it the No. 1 movie for the second-straight weekend.

But “Real Steel” came in barely ahead of the remake “Footloose,” which opened with $16.1 million. “Footloose” is a new take on the 1980s film about a youth challenging a town’s dance ban.

The movies are close enough that they could switch rankings once final numbers are released Monday.

Thehorror remake “The Thing” opened at No. 3 with $8.7 million. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson’s bird-watching comedy “The Big Year” flopped with a $3.3 million opening.

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