NEW YORK — In the holiday season’s competitive landscape of big-budget family films, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 outpaced Mufasa: The Lion King at the box office, securing the top spot during the crucial Christmas corridor.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, produced by Paramount Pictures, premiered with an impressive $62 million in ticket sales over its opening weekend, according to studio estimates. The film received strong critical praise (86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and garnered an “A” rating from audiences via CinemaScore, positioning it well to dominate the cinema scene throughout the peak moviegoing period of the year.
This success underscores a notable trend: Sonic 3, a video game adaptation, surpassed one of Disney’s major properties. Video game-based films, once regarded as cinematic flops, have evolved into box-office successes in recent years. The previous Sonic movies collectively grossed over $700 million globally, and the third installment is on track to surpass both of its predecessors. Paramount has already confirmed plans for a fourth Sonic film.
In contrast, Mufasa, the photorealistic prequel to The Lion King, faltered at the box office. Despite opening in over 4,100 theaters (more than Sonic 3), and taking a significant share of IMAX screens, it earned only $35 million in domestic sales. This figure fell short of industry expectations. Mufasa also faced less favorable reviews (56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) but did secure a solid “A-” rating from CinemaScore audiences.
The contrast between the two films’ openings is striking: Sonic 3 had a production budget of $122 million, while Mufasa was a far more expensive venture, costing over $200 million to produce. To recover the gap, Disney may need to rely on international ticket sales, which brought in $87.2 million in overseas markets.
The success of Sonic 3 is especially significant given the shift in the family film market. With its strong fanbase and consistent engagement from younger audiences, the Sonic franchise has positioned itself as a reliable box-office player. The film’s success could lead to sustained dominance throughout the holiday season, with no major competing franchise film being released in the near future.
Despite Mufasa’s underperformance, Disney is celebrating a strong overall year, having achieved more than $5 billion in global ticket sales, bolstered by hits like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool and Wolverine. Mufasa still holds significant potential internationally, and future live-action remakes, such as Snow White and Lilo & Stitch, are already in the pipeline.
In addition to the box-office battle between Sonic 3 and Mufasa, other films like Moana 2 and Wicked are also contributing to a stronger-than-expected holiday season at the box office. This growth follows a sluggish start to the year but signals a potential recovery for the film industry in 2024, particularly within the family film sector.
For further insights into box office trends and film industry performance, check out resources such as Comscore’s box office reports.
