Animals are likely to rule the box office roost this weekend. While conventional wisdom has it that Hollywood blockbusters are made for young men, this is one of those weekends in which women and families are likely to dictate the hits. “African Cats” is a sure thing — produced by Disney, rated G to bring in a larger audience, and released on Earth Day, the secular holiday that this year moved Good Friday to the shadows. It’s also a charming film, showcasing the beauty of the African savanna and some of its most adorable and deadly denizens. The documentary, narrated by the suave Samuel L. Jackson, focuses of two families, a pride of lions and a cheetah mother and her cubs.

“Water for Elephants” has its own crew of animals — circus animals. Reese Witherspoon is the wife of the cruel owner and its star attraction, while Robert Pattinson is the vet who’s joined the troupe during the Depression and falls in love with her. Based on the best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, this romance is a little melodramatic, but it does a nice job of re-creating the wonders of the circus at the height of its magic.