Sonic the Hedgehog races ahead of Disney’s latest live-action prequel at the holiday box office. Here’s how the two films performed during their opening weekends.
The holiday movie season is in full swing, and two highly anticipated films—Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King—debuted with contrasting fortunes at the box office. Here’s a closer look at their opening weekend numbers and reception.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” Races to a Strong Start
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3′ opened with $70.5 million from 3,761 theaters, slightly below the $72.1 million domestic debut of its predecessor, “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.”The film received an overwhelmingly positive response on both CinemaScore and Rotten Tomatoes.
An ‘A’ CinemaScore from audiences.
Rotten Tomatoes scores of 86% from critics and 98% from audiences.
The audience breakdown revealed that 34% of opening-day viewers were families, highlighting the franchise’s broad appeal beyond gaming enthusiasts.
With strong early reception, Sonic 3 is expected to maintain momentum during the holiday season.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” Faces a Tougher Start
Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King”, directed by Barry Jenkins, earned $35 million from 4,100 screens, including IMAX venues, during its opening weekend. Initial estimates put the film at $50-$55 million, but it looks like that will not happen.
The box office isn’t the only thing the “Mufasa” film also trails behind, the early Rotten Tomatoes score for “Sonic 3.”
Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score is a 58% critical and 89% audience.
With a reported $200 million production budget, the film has drawn attention for its slower start at the domestic box office. However, Disney will likely look to international markets and family audiences during the holiday season for box office support.
Contrasting Box Office Performances
The two films represent different box office strategies, with “Sonic 3” capitalizing on its established fan base and “Mufasa” seeking to expand Disney’s Lion King live-action franchise. The results of this holiday box office matchup reflect their early reception and audience engagement.
So far, audiences would rather see Sonic and Shadow than Mufasa and Scar.
We will have to wait and see how the films perform over the upcoming holiday.
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Source: The Wrap
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