'Interstellar', 'Big Hero 6' Box-Office News: Movies to Break 2014 Records This Weekend?

"Interstellar" -- an intense space epic starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Michael Caine, Ellen Burstyn, and John Litgow, among other superb actors – is going head-to-head with "Big Hero 6" from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The amount being eyed by both films for this weekend's receipts is $55 million. However, box-office analysts are predicting that "Big Hero 6," despite the lack of big name stars, could easily go beyond $55 million and may reach $60 million from domestic box-office receipts alone during its debut.

One of the reasons being cited for this prediction that's tilted in favor of the animated feature is that "Big Hero 6" is family-oriented. Traditionally, when a family-oriented film ranges up against one that isn't, it's the movie with family appeal that wins out, especially during the weekends.

However, the presence of the capably convincing actor Matthew McConaughey cannot be discounted. McConaughey has portrayed a wide variety of roles in his acting career, and with an exception of a few, he has always been fully credible, giving life to his assigned characters with ease. This makes for good cinema, and viewers appreciate his skill and show support by flocking to the moviehouses where McConaughey's films are shown.

Anne Hathaway is similarly an award-winning actress. Hathaway has gone on record to express her satisfaction and pride with the way the Christopher Nolan-helmed space epic has turned out.

Sci-fi movies are also no pushovers in the ratings game. So whether or not "Big Hero 6" wins over "Interstellar" is still a toss-up. What's likely important to the American film world, anyway, is that either of the two films, or better yet both, hit their target, as that could signal sunnier days ahead for the industry.