Box Office Update: ‘Mufasa’ Takes the Lead Over ‘Sonic 3’ in First Weekend of 2025

The holiday box office is winding down, but the excitement isn't over! "Mufasa: The Lion King" finally roared its way to the top spot this weekend, dethroning "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" and claiming the coveted number one spot.

While "Mufasa" has been steadily climbing the charts, this is its first three-day weekend win! The digitally-rendered animal musical, directed by the acclaimed Barry Jenkins, has already crossed $150 million in North America and is now among the top 15 highest-grossing films of 2024.

But hold your horses, "Mufasa" hasn't quite reached the heights of its predecessor. The 2019 "Lion King" remake earned a whopping $191 million during its opening weekend alone. Despite a hefty production budget exceeding $200 million, "Mufasa" has drawn substantial business, especially overseas, but it hasn't quite reached the blockbuster status of its predecessor.

Meanwhile, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is still speeding ahead, earning $6.9 million on Friday and projected to bring in around $20.7 million this weekend. The film has already surpassed $170 million in North America and is on track to outpace "Sonic 2" from 2022, which earned $190 million domestically. Get ready for more blue blur action, as a fourth installment is already in the works!

                                             

But it's not all about the big blockbusters! "Nosferatu," a horror classic from Focus Features, continues to impress, earning another $4.2 million on Friday and projected to reach $69 million by Sunday. This is proving to be one of Focus Features' most successful releases ever!

Disney's "Moana 2" is also sailing strong, adding another $4.1 million on Friday and surpassing $900 million globally! The sequel is on the verge of overtaking "Despicable Me 4" to become the third-highest grossing film of 2024, and it's not far off from reaching the $1 billion milestone.