In a thrilling showdown of cinematic giants during the festive season, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” outpaced Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to claim the coveted top spot at the box office just before the bustling Christmas rush in theaters.
The high-speed adventure of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” made an impressive debut with $62 million in ticket sales over its opening weekend, according to studio estimates. Boasting stellar reviews with an 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning an “A” CinemaScore from audiences, “Sonic 3” has emerged as a frontrunner for moviegoers during one of the busiest periods at cinemas.
The victory of “Sonic 3” over Disney’s beloved franchise marks a significant shift in audience preferences. Videogame adaptations, once dismissed as lackluster by some critics, have now become a powerhouse at the box office. The previous two installments in the “Sonic” series collectively amassed over $700 million worldwide, and projections suggest that the third installment is poised to surpass its predecessors. Additionally, plans for a fourth installment are already underway.
On the flip side, “Mufasa,” despite its grandeur and anticipation, fell short in its opening weekend with domestic ticket sales amounting to $35 million—falling notably below expectations. The photorealistic prequel to “The Lion King,” even though released across more theaters than “Sonic 3,” failed to capture audiences’ hearts as effectively.
While critical reception for “Mufasa” was lukewarm with a 56% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, viewers awarded it an “A-” CinemaScore. With production costs exceeding $200 million, Disney is banking on international sales totaling $87.2 million to offset initial domestic setbacks.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, “Sonic 3” features Ben Schwartz reprising his role as the voice of Sonic alongside Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), Knuckles (Idris Elba), and Jim Carrey delivering scene-stealing performances as Dr. Robotnik and his grandfather.
Conversely, Barry Jenkins helms “Mufasa,” assembling a star-studded voice cast including Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Mads Mikkelsen, and Blue Ivy Carter. Following Jon Favreau’s successful photorealistic remake of “The Lion King” in 2019—which grossed $1.66 billion globally despite mixed reviews—”Mufasa” struggled to replicate that success with its opening weekend performance falling short of expectations.
Looking ahead in Hollywood’s release calendar, no major franchise films are slated for Christmas Day this year—potentially paving the way for “Sonic 3” to dominate consecutive weeks at No.1 amidst limited competition.
Despite facing challenges during Christmas releases which typically draw large crowds to theaters annually due to Thanksgiving releases like “Moana 2” and Universal Pictures’ “Wicked”, movies like “Inside Out 2”, “Moana 2”, and “Sonic 3” played pivotal roles in reviving box office fortunes throughout this year.
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