Mufasa: The Lion King’ and ‘Sonic 3’ Dominate Box Office Rankings
The holiday weekend box office in North America saw a heated battle between two major releases, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” and Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” with both films staking a claim to the top spot.
Disney’s animated drama, a prequel to the beloved “The Lion King,” led the five-day holiday period (Monday through Sunday) with an estimated $63.8 million, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.
Meanwhile, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” claimed victory over the traditional Friday-to-Sunday weekend, grossing $38 million compared to Disney’s $37.1 million during the same time frame. Its five-day total reached $59.9 million.
Industry analyst David A. Gross noted that the weekend delivered “big, although not record-breaking box office numbers,” with strong expectations for the following week.
Focus Features’ vampire thriller “Nosferatu,” a remake of the 1922 silent horror classic, debuted strongly, earning $40.3 million over five days and $21.2 million over the three-day weekend. Gross called the opening “excellent for a new horror film,” bolstered by rave reviews. The star-studded cast includes Bill Skarsgard, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Nicholas Hoult.
Universal’s “Wicked,” featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, continued its magical run with $31.7 million over five days and $19.5 million for the three-day weekend, placing fourth. Its global earnings now exceed $634 million.
Disney’s “Moana 2” secured fifth place, earning $28.3 million over five days and $18.2 million over the weekend, marking its fifth consecutive week in the top five.
Rounding out the highlights, Searchlight Pictures’ “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan, impressed with $23.3 million over five days and $11.6 million for the weekend. Dylan himself praised Chalamet, calling him a “brilliant actor.”
The competitive holiday box office reflects strong audience turnout, setting the stage for continued success in the coming weeks.
