The highly anticipated showdown between Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King and Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reached its climax this weekend, with Mufasa narrowly overtaking Sonic 3 after trailing for two consecutive weekends. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the Lion King prequel/sequel brought in an estimated $24 million, raising its domestic total to nearly $170 million and its worldwide gross to $476.4 million. While the film still has ground to cover to recoup its $200 million budget, its global performance highlights the enduring strength of holiday releases.
Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continued its stellar run, earning $21 million in its third weekend. The film’s domestic total has climbed to $190 million, with a worldwide gross of $336.3 million. Sonic 3 is now just $70 million away from surpassing its predecessor to become the highest-grossing installment of the trilogy. The milestone comes as the Sonic franchise recently crossed $1 billion in global earnings, underscoring the enduring appeal of the Blue Blur and Paramount’s effective franchise strategy.
Top Five Box Office Performers
| Film | Weekend Gross | Domestic Total | Worldwide Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mufasa: The Lion King | $24M | $170M | $476.4M |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 3 | $21M | $190M | $336.3M |
| Nosferatu | $13M | $70M | $100.4M |
| Moana 2 | $13M | $425M | $960.5M |
| Wicked | $10M | $450M | $681.3M |
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu secured third place with $13 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $70 million. The film is on track to become the third-highest-grossing horror movie of 2024, driven in part by its controversial scenes that have fueled audience curiosity.
In its sixth weekend, Disney’s Moana 2 added $13 million, pushing its domestic total to an impressive $425 million. With a global gross approaching $1 billion, the sequel is poised to become Disney’s third billion-dollar hit of 2024.
Universal’s Wicked rounded out the top five, earning $10 million in its seventh weekend despite its simultaneous digital release. Its domestic total now stands at $450 million, with strong performance expected as awards season approaches.
Despite Mufasa: The Lion King momentarily overtaking it, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 remains a box office juggernaut, buoyed by its devoted fanbase and franchise-high critical acclaim. Its ability to hold its ground during a fiercely competitive holiday season cements the Sonic series as a cinematic powerhouse. With several records still within reach, Sonic 3 continues to prove that the Blue Blur has no plans of slowing down.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more updates as Sonic races toward breaking even more records, and Paramount lays the groundwork for future adventures in the Sonic cinematic universe.
Source: Deadline
