'Dragon,' Kick-Ass' tussle for box-office win

Distributor Paramount reported Sunday that DreamWorks Animation's "How to Train Your Dragon" took in $20 million, while "Kick-Ass" distributor Lionsgate reported its movie debuting at $19.75 million.

It's another photo finish at the weekend box office, with the No. 1 spot close to call between the animated adventure "How to Train Your Dragon" & the superhero comedy "Kick-Ass."

The previous weekend, 20th Century Fox's comedy "Date Night" led the Warner Bros. action tale "Clash of the Titans" by about the same amount based on Sunday estimates. But "Clash of the Titans" came out on top by $1.4 million when final numbers were reported Monday, with "Date Night" pulling in $2 million less than 20th Century Fox had estimated a day earlier.

With $250,000 separating them, either movie could finish up at No. 1 when studios release final weekend numbers Monday.

Executives for both DreamWorks Animation & Lionsgate said they were tracking their own movies ahead of the competition.

"Our information is indicating that they are at No. 1," said Anne Globe, head of promotion for DreamWorks Animation, whose "How to Train Your Dragon" debuted in first place in late March & slipped to No. 3 the next seven weekends before climbing the chart again.

Lionsgate head of distribution David Spitz said he had tracked "Kick-Ass" in first place over "How to Train Your Dragon."

"I don't see them grossing $20 million, but I have been wrong before. I can promise you 24 hours from now, they will know who is right & who is wrong," Spitz said. "It would have been tidy to say, Hey, we are the clear-cut No. 1.' "

Other studios were divided on which film led, some giving the weekend to "How to Train Your Dragon," others to "Kick-Ass."

Finishing first at the box office is a valuable promotion tool, with the winning studio able to declare its movie No. 1 in commercials through the following weekend.