Box Office Battle: ‘Mufasa’ and ‘Sonic’ Claim N.America Supremacy
Disney’s ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ and Paramount’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Dominate Holiday Weekend
The holiday weekend in North America saw two films battling for box-office supremacy and both emerging with a claim to first place.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Takes Top Spot for Five-Day Period
Disney’s animated drama “Mufasa: The Lion King” prevailed in the five days from Christmas Day through Sunday with an estimated take of US$63.8 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Edges ‘Mufasa’ for Traditional Friday-to-Sunday Stretch
But Paramount’s action comedy “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which booked US$59.9 million for that same five-day holiday period, came out on top for the traditional Friday-through-Sunday stretch, edging the Disney film by US$38 million to US$37.1 million.
New Releases Also Make an Impact
New vampire pic “Nosferatu” from Focus Features also posted impressive numbers, with $40.3 million for the five-day period and US$21.2 million for the three-day weekend. Gross called that “an excellent opening for a new horror film” – a remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by the 1897 novel “Dracula” – and noted that critics’ reviews are outstanding.
Other Notable Releases
Universal’s musical fantasy “Wicked,” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, earned US$31.7 million for five days (US$19.5 million for three) as the latest spin on the magical world of Oz slipped one spot to fourth place. Its global earnings now stand at US$634 million.
Disney’s animated “Moana 2” had an estimated US$28.3 million in ticket sales for five days (US$18.2 million for three), slipping one spot but holding on to top-five status for the fifth straight week.
Searchlight Pictures’ “A Complete Unknown,” with Timothee Chalamet portraying an enigmatic Bob Dylan during the dizzying years that propelled the singer-songwriter from anonymity to world fame, took in a solid US$23.3 million for five days (US$11.6 million for three). Dylan himself has described Chalamet as a “brilliant actor.”
Rounding out the Top 10
- “Babygirl” (US$7.2 million for five days, US$4.4 million for three)
- “Gladiator II” (US$5.9 million; US$4.2 million)
- “Homestead” (US$5.3 million; $US3.2 million)
- “The Fire Inside” (US$4.3 million; US$2 million)
Conclusion
The weekend generated “big, although not record-breaking box office” numbers, said analyst David A Gross, adding that “the next seven days should be excellent.” Overall, it was a strong holiday weekend for films, with multiple releases performing well at the box office.
FAQs
Q: Which films claimed the top spot at the box office over the holiday weekend?
A: Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” and Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” both claimed the top spot, depending on the time period considered.
Q: How much did “Mufasa: The Lion King” earn over the five-day period?
A: The film earned an estimated US$63.8 million over the five-day period.
Q: How did “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” perform compared to “Mufasa: The Lion King”?
A: “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” edged “Mufasa: The Lion King” for the traditional Friday-through-Sunday stretch, earning US$59.9 million to the Disney film’s US$37.1 million.