As a long-time Disney enthusiast who grew up with the original “The Lion King”, I can’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension about the upcoming release of “Mufasa: The Lion King“. Having fond memories of Mufasa, Scar, Simba, and all the other characters from the 1994 animated classic, I was eagerly awaiting this prequel/sequel. However, upon hearing the box office estimations for its opening weekend, I find myself a little disappointed but not entirely surprised.
The projected earnings for the movie “Mufasa: The Lion King” have been released, and while it’s expected to perform well during the upcoming holidays, it’s anticipated to experience a notable drop compared to its 2019 counterpart. Directed by Barry Jenkins, “Mufasa: The Lion King” serves as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019’s “The Lion King,” delving into the transformative friendship between Mufasa and Scar, which ultimately leads to their rivalry and affects Simba’s daughter, Kiara. Disney has planned to launch this film during their traditional holiday season for major releases, previously reserved for Star Wars and Avatar films.
According to Deadline, the Quorum tracking service predicts that Mufasa: The Lion King is expected to generate between $59 million and $66 million during its opening weekend. Notably, this prediction was made prior to the release of the latest trailer, which will be attached to major November films like Wicked, Gladiator II, and Moana 2. This additional promotion should increase interest and visibility among cinema-goers. On Quorum’s ‘Pay to See’ scale, Mufasa: The Lion King received a score of 62, placing it alongside the highly anticipated Thanksgiving releases, tied with Moana 2 and only one point below Gladiator II (63) and two points below Wicked (64).
On December 20, 2024, Mufasa: The Lion King will be releasing alongside Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It appears that these two movies are targeting distinct demographics. Mufasa: The Lion King is expected to appeal more to female viewers, while Sonic the Hedgehog 3 seems to be attracting a mostly male audience. Furthermore, Mufasa: The Lion King is aiming for audiences over 35 and older moviegoers who may have cherished memories of the 1994 animated The Lion King. Conversely, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is focusing on a younger audience. With both films releasing just five days before Christmas and eleven days before New Year’s Eve, there should be ample opportunity for audiences to watch both Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Mufasa Will Have to Wait To Be Box Office King
Speaking as a Supporter: I’m reminded that when The Lion King roared back in 2019, it made a staggering $191 million in its first three days, eventually grossing an astounding $1.66 billion globally. But let me be clear, this new version isn’t aiming to replicate that opening weekend triumph. Instead, it’s projected to underperform the opening weekends of The Jungle Book ($103 million), Aladdin ($91.5 million), and The Little Mermaid ($95 million). However, it’s important to note that it’s doing significantly better than Disney’s other two sequels to remakes of animated classics, Alice Through the Looking Glass ($26 million) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($36 million).
Disney is optimistic that the release of Mufasa: The Lion King will capitalize on the extended holiday season between Christmas and New Year’s, as well as the limited movie options in early January. The week preceding Christmas has seen some remarkable opening weekends, such as those for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Spider-Man: No Way Home. However, this period has also proven to be a time when films can achieve large openings and maintain their popularity over extended periods. For instance, Aquaman opened with $67 million in its first three days and eventually grossed $335 million domestically and $1.15 billion globally. Similarly, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle had a small opening weekend of $35 million but managed to keep audiences engaged for months, ultimately grossing $404 million domestically and $962 million worldwide, making it the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2017. Disney is hoping that Mufasa: The Lion King will perform well in order to conclude 2024 on a strong note for them, following the impressive box office performances of Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, and potentially Moana 2.
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2024-11-10 21:02