As an old-timer movie buff who’s seen more films than I can count on my fingers and toes, I must say this weekend’s box office battle between “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” was quite a spectacle. I remember when Sonic was just a spritely little video game character, and here we are with three movies under his belt!
Similar to how Thanksgiving month is known for major studio blockbusters, the weekend just before Christmas is usually a time of intense competition among them. The sparse movie releases in January give larger films a chance to thrive, making what seems like a congested schedule actually beneficial for box office earnings. This year’s significant clash was between Jeff Fowler’s Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King, with the initial round of the box office fight going to the former.
The video game series just released another blockbuster title, but the Disney prequel didn’t have a strong initial launch. Feel free to examine the Top 10 rankings, and I’ll discuss the findings with you later.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Has The Tenth Biggest Opening Weekend Of 2024, But It’s A Middle-Of-The-Pack Start Franchise-wise
Without a doubt, it seems that the Sonic The Hedgehog series continues to thrive and shows no signs of waning. Contrary to popular expectation, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 was never marketed as the concluding part of a trilogy. Instead, just last week, it was revealed that a new installment, Sonic The Hedgehog 4, is in development. This implies that the latest film may not have received the increased box office revenue typically associated with movies titled “3”, but it’s still poised to be another successful addition to the series.
Based on preliminary data from The Numbers, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 outran its box office rivals last weekend, raking in an estimated initial earnings of $62 million. This impressive start places it among the top ten highest domestic openings of 2024, although it didn’t quite reach the $75 million earned by Chris Renaud’s Despicable Me 4 when it premiered in early July. However, it did surpass Wes Ball’s Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, which grossed $58.4 million during a relatively quiet May.
As a passionate cinephile, I must say that Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is unique among its predecessors. Paramount Pictures invested a substantial amount ($122 million, according to Variety) and opted for a prime December release, setting it apart from the earlier films that debuted in February and April. However, these strategic decisions didn’t translate into an impressive box office start for the video game movie sequel. In its opening weekend, it only managed to surpass the original by a slight margin ($58 million), and surprisingly, ticket sales are approximately $10 million lower than Sonic The Hedgehog 2.
In the information provided earlier, it’s clear that the movie still has plenty of time to be a major success in the upcoming weeks. However, its initial performance hasn’t been as spectacular as one might expect for a film that has received positive reviews from critics and an “A” rating from CinemaScore polls.
Given past performance, the movie Sonic The Hedgehog 2 has a substantial potential for great success. By the conclusion of its worldwide screenings, Sonic The Hedgehog 2 earned an impressive $405.2 million, placing it as the 12th highest-grossing film of 2022. Considering its strategic release timing, director Jeff Fowler’s latest project seems poised to achieve similar financial success; at this time last year, James Wan’s Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom made $27.7 million in its first three days, eventually earning a total of $433.8 million during its cinematic run.
Mufasa: The Lion King Doesn’t Get Off To A Sprinting Start, But Time Will Probably Be Its Friend
As a cinephile reflecting on the cinematic landscape of 2023, it’s worth noting that “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom” wasn’t the sole blockbuster gracing our screens in late December: when the DC film debuted, it nudged Paul King’s “Wonka” out of the top domestic spot, earning a modest $39 million during its opening weekend. However, it soon became evident that both films could coexist triumphantly within the realm of success. Despite initially favoring the superhero movie over the delightful musical, audiences ultimately found joy in both, as “Wonka” amassed a staggering $625.8 million worldwide.
Keeping this point in mind can help you stay positive even after the initial, somewhat sluggish performance at the box office by “Mufasa: The Lion King“, without writing it off just yet.
As a cinephile, I must confess that, despite having a budget reportedly over $200 million, the recent animated prequel only managed to rake in $35 million in its first three days. Compared to the anticipated earnings of Sonic The Hedgehog 3, it’s fair to say this film isn’t exactly giving tough competition.
Regarding popularity, critics haven’t given Mufasa: The Lion King as favorable reviews as Sonic 3 did, and it received a slightly lower grade (an “A-“) according to audience surveys. However, there are signs that audiences are enjoying the movie, which could lead to positive word of mouth and the film holding its spot among the Top 10 through January 2025. Though families might have watched the video game movie this past weekend, they may choose to switch to watching the Disney prequel the following weekend (with minimal overlap in audiences for the new Christmas releases: Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu and James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown).
As we approach the final weekend of 2024, there’s a possibility for a significant change in the Top 10 movies currently playing in theaters and those newly released in wide distribution. I’ll be here next Sunday to share the outcomes. Meanwhile, check out our 2025 Movie Release Calendar on TopMob to prepare for your upcoming movie excursions!
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2024-12-22 23:37