Jolie pitted against Aniston in box-office tussle

Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are sharing a play date. Brad Pitt's current romantic partner Jolie and ex-wife Aniston will go head-to-head at theaters Oct. 24, when both have a movie coming out.

Jolie stars in Clint Eastwood's missing-child drama "Changeling" while Aniston is part of the ensemble cast in the romantic comedy "He's Just Not That Into You."

In this May 20, 2008 file photo, actress Angelina Jolie poses at the photo call for the film 'Changeling' at the 61st International film festival in Cannes, southern France.

Aniston probably will win the dollar battle because her film debuts in nationwide release, while "Changeling" starts in just a few cities to build critical buzz before going wide Oct. 31.

But Jolie, an Academy Award winner for "Girl, Interrupted," likely will lead the acclaim game. Well received by critics in its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, "Changeling" has put Jolie in the running for a best-actress Oscar.

Set in the 1920s and '30s, "Changeling" is based on the true story of a single mom in a nightmare battle with corrupt Los Angeles police trying to cover their mistakes in the investigation surrounding her missing 9-year-old son.

The commercial prospects for "He's Just Not That Into You" are bolstered by an all-star cast including Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Connelly. Directed by Ken Kwapis ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"), the movie focuses on the mixed signals men and women send in relationships.

Pitt and Jolie — expecting twins, their fifth and sixth children — hooked up after co-starring in the 2005 hit "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" as his marriage to Aniston was unraveling.

Universal Pictures is releasing "Changeling" and Warner Bros. is distributing "He's Just Not That Into You."