The holiday season is shaping up to be a thrilling box office battle, with Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King both gearing up for impressive Christmas openings. Early tracking suggests Sonic 3 may edge out Mufasa, with an estimated $55M+ opening weekend compared to the Lion King prequel’s $50M+.
Sonic 3 currently leads first-choice polling among general audiences, pulling ahead of Mufasa with 11% to 7%. Buzz for the blue blur’s latest adventure surged after the release of Sonic 3’s second trailer, which trended across social media earlier this week. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Keanu Reeves as Shadow, Jim Carrey reprising Dr. Robotnik (and portraying his grandfather), Ben Schwartz (Sonic), and Idris Elba (Knuckles), the film is riding high on anticipation.
Meanwhile, Disney is preparing to shift Mufasa‘s promotional campaign into high gear starting December 2, building on the momentum of three previously released trailers and pre-sale promotions. In contrast, Sonic 3 has only released two trailers—but the most recent one has left an undeniable impression.
The Sonic franchise owes much of its success to its passionate fanbase, which has been integral since the original film’s redesign controversy. Each installment has deepened its connection with fans, introducing beloved characters like Shadow and maintaining a broad appeal across age groups. The addition of Keanu Reeves has only amplified the hype, cementing the film as a must-see event for both families and longtime fans.
While Sonic 3’s tracking falls slightly behind the openings of its predecessors ($58M for the first film, $72.1M for the sequel), it’s expected to enjoy strong legs through the holiday season. Family-oriented films opening around Christmas often achieve impressive multiples, sometimes reaching 5x their opening gross.
Neither Sonic 3 nor Mufasa is expected to reach the box office heights of blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home or Avatar: The Way of Water, but both are on track to surpass last year’s holiday releases, including Wonka ($39M) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ($27.6M).
Ultimately, the Christmas box office isn’t about who wins—it’s about the strength of the industry as a whole. Both Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa promise to deliver big numbers and keep theaters bustling this holiday season.
With excitement building and fans eagerly awaiting the blue blur’s return, it seems likely that Sonic will speed past the competition to claim victory at the box office this Christmas.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for the latest Sonic Movie 3 News and Updates!
Source: Deadline
