Pixar's latest animated film Monsters University is expected to win the weekend box office, beating zombie blockbuster World War Z.

A prequel to the 2001 hit Monsters, Inc., Monsters University raked in $30.8 million on Friday. It is projected to gross at least $79 million in its opening weekend, making it the second-highest Pixar debut in the company's history. The family-friendly film tells the story of how Mike and Sully met and became best friends in college.

Brad Pitt's zombie apocalypse blockbuster World War Z came in second on Friday with $25.5 million and is expected to total $63 million for the weekend. The drama, which cost $200 million to make, is an adaptation of the 2006 novel of the same name. Pitt said at the film's premiere, "It's just big and fun and this is the most intense thing you're going to see all year."

Both Monsters University and World War Z are trending toward positive on critic aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, so that will only help the films. On CinemaScore, on which film goers rate movies after they watch them, Monsters University has the much-coveted A average while World War Z has a B+.

Last week, Man of Steel raked in $125 million in its opening weekend, but it is expected to slip to No. 3 with a still-impressive $42.7 million. The Superman reboot had a $13.2 million Friday and is expected to cross the $200 million mark by the end of the weekend.

Rounding out the top five is projected to be Seth Rogen comedy This Is the End and magic-themed heist thriller Now You See Me.

Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring is expanding from five theaters to 650 this weekend. The film stars Emma Watson as the leader of a gang of materialistic girls who rob celebrities' houses. It is expected to rake in $2.8 million this weekend, according to Box Office Mojo.

Watch a trailer for Monsters University:

Tags: monsters university Box Office World War Z Brad Pitt