‘Dolphin Tale 2’ to top ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ thriller ‘No Good Deed’

“Dolphin Tale 2” may splash ahead of thriller “No Good Deed” and four-time box office winner “Guardians of the Galaxy” this weekend.

The aquatic family film is expected to gross up to $22 million, according to people who have seen pre-release audience surveys. This would put it in a tight competition for No. 1 with “No Good Deed,” which is expected to gross $19 million to $21 million.

Meanwhile, Marvel’s “Guardians” will likely add $7 million to its $297-million gross, putting it on track to be the first film of 2014 to pass the $300-million milestone.

Though the movie industry suffered its worst May-to-Labor Day season since 1997, when factoring in inflation, the newcomers will likely help shake off the summer slump.

With the lack of family films to choose from this summer, younger audiences and families are expected to gravitate to “Dolphin Tale 2.” On Thursday, the film had notched a positive 60% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film, which stars Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman, continues the story of Winter, the rehabilitated dolphin who was rescued by Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida.

Warner Bros. expects “Dolphin Tale 2,” which cost about $36 million to make, to gross about $20 million, on par with the $19-million opening for the 2011 “Dolphin Tale.”

The predecessor was a surprise hit when it dove into theaters, grossing $72.3 million in the United States and Canada. It went on to become a “global phenomenon,” David Yates, chief executive of Clearwater and an executive producer, told the Los Angeles Times.

Screen Gems’ “No Good Deed” follows Colin (Idris Elba), an escaped convict who invades the home of wife and mother Terri (Taraji P. Henson).

The studio expects the Sam Miller-directed thriller, which cost about $13.2 million to make, to gross in the mid-to-high teens.

The film has generated much of its buzz from social media. Leading up to the release, Sony Pictures and its Screen Gems unit launched a social media campaign, inviting fans to play a Twitter game called #TweetToEscape.

“You’re home alone. Watch the video and choose your path,” reads the first tweet of the game.

Elba also co-starred in the 2009 Screen Gems’ thriller “Obsessed,” which opened to roughly $28 million.

Fandango, the nation’s largest online movie ticket company, said Thursday that both “Dolphin Tale 2” and “No Good Deed” are selling virtually the same amount of tickets on the website -- but to different audiences.

“There’s a battle ensuing at the box office this weekend,” Fandango Chief Correspondent Dave Karger said in a statement.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight’s “The Drop” will open in 805 theaters. The film, which stars Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini, follows organized crime’s use of local New York City bars as money-laundering drops.

The studio expects the Chernin Entertainment-produced film to gross roughly $2 million in its three-day opening.

The Weinstein Co.’s “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” and Roadside Attractions’ “The Skeleton Twins” will also open in select cities.

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