Mufasa’s Box Office Fortunes Are on the Rise

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Summary

  • Mufasa: The Lion King narrowly missed out on the top spot in its second weekend, finishing $200,000 less than Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
  • The film showed resilience after Christmas, grossing $36.8 million domestically and $77 million overseas in its second weekend.
  • Box office experts predict a probable $200 million domestic finish and $550 million global finish for Mufasa: The Lion King.

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the rise and fall of numerous blockbusters, and I must say that Disney’s latest offering, Mufasa: The Lion King, has managed to hold its ground against some formidable competition.

Mufasa: The Lion King narrowly missed out on the top spot in its second weekend, finishing a mere $200,000 less than Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – a battle reminiscent of the classic cat-and-mouse chase, albeit with a twist.

While the film opened with a slightly lower domestic box office take compared to its predecessor, it has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the post-Christmas period. Its second weekend grosses of $36.8 million domestically and $77 million overseas are indeed impressive, considering the stiff competition from the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Moana 2, and Wicked.

The film’s steady comeback is a testament to its quality and Disney’s marketing prowess. I must admit, I was initially skeptical about another Lion King remake, but Mufasa: The Lion King has proven me wrong. It might not be on track to match the staggering numbers of its predecessor, but a $200 million domestic finish and a $550 million global finish are still impressive feats.

In terms of budget, a $200 million finish would blend well with its reported $200 million budget, even as it falls short of cracking into the top 20 highest-grossing movies of 2024. As they say in the business, “It’s not about how much you make, but how much you keep.”

As for a joke to lighten the mood, here goes: They say Mufasa is king of the Pridelands, but I guess he’s also king of the box office, at least for now!

Despite initially falling behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at the box office, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King appears to be proving its strength and remaining competitive in the ongoing fight. The post-Christmas numbers indicate that the photo-realistic animation is robust and holding strong.

In a departure from expectations, the movie titled “Mufasa: The Lion King” debuted in North America with an opening weekend of $35 million across 4,100 theaters, and an additional $87.2 million overseas. This performance placed it behind initial domestic projections of $50 million, as well as the $254 million international and $191.8 million domestic earnings of its 2019 predecessor, “The Lion King.” Interestingly, during the December 20-22 weekend in the US, it was Sonic the Hedgehog 3 that claimed the top spot with a $60 million opening, while “Mufasa: The Lion King” took second place. Despite this initial performance, the film has shown signs of a resurgence heading into its second weekend.

Mufasa: The Lion King Narrowly Missed Out On the Top Spot in Its Second Weekend

It Finished Its Second Weekend With a Mere $200,000 Less Than Chart-Leader Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Analysts had foreseen that “Mufasa: The Lion King” would capitalize on the Christmas crowd, and it did so magnificently, earning $14.7 million and claiming the number one spot at the US box office. Not only did it maintain this success after Christmas, but it also brought in $12 million on Boxing Day and continued to thrive during its second weekend. As reported by Luiz Fernando on X and confirmed by Box Office Mojo, “Mufasa: The Lion King” grossed approximately $36.8 million domestically, representing a 3.8% increase, and $77 million internationally, showing only a minor 11.8% decrease, in its second weekend in theaters. By the end of the last weekend in 2024, the film narrowly missed surpassing Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s $37 million and taking the top spot on the US box office charts, falling just $200,000 short.

In contrast to Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s decrease of 38% from its initial weekend, Jon Favreau’s Mufasa: The Lion King demonstrated an even more substantial drop of 60% during its second domestic weekend in the United States and Canada (from $76.6 million to $191.8 million). Despite this significant drop, it still falls short compared to its predecessor’s astounding cumulative earnings of $1.66 billion. As of now, Mufasa: The Lion King has amassed a total of $335 million globally, with $120 million earned in the U.S. and Canada and an additional $215 million from 53 international markets.

It’s generally agreed upon by movie industry professionals that “Mufasa: The Lion King” is likely to earn less than “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” in North America. Despite a below-average Rotten Tomatoes score of 55% and competition from not only Sonic but also “Moana 2” and “Wicked”, “Mufasa: The Lion King” has managed to hold its ground better than anticipated in the holiday season. It’s expected that the film will finish with a domestic total of around $200 million, with an opening of almost $175 million being very likely. Even if it falls short of entering the top 20 highest-grossing movies of 2024 with a global finish of $550 million, this would still be a good match for its reported budget of $200 million. With “Wicked” potentially weakened by an early digital release, audiences will keenly observe as the lion and hedgehog trade places in terms of box office dominance in the US.

Mufasa: The Lion King was released on December 20 and is currently showing in theaters worldwide.

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2025-01-02 16:24