‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Outpaces ‘Mufasa’ in Box Office Debut

The Sonic sequel leads with a $70.5 million domestic opening, while Disney’s Lion King prequel struggles at $35 million.

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ achieved a franchise-best $6.5 million in Thursday previews and is projected to surpass $70 million domestically in its opening weekend.
Disney’s ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ fell short of expectations with a $35 million domestic debut, significantly lower than the 2019 Lion King remake’s $191 million opening.
Critics and audiences have responded more favorably to ‘Sonic 3,’ which boasts an 85% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and an A CinemaScore, compared to ‘Mufasa’s’ 57% and A-, respectively.
‘Sonic 3’ is yet to release internationally, while ‘Mufasa’ is banking on global markets to boost its performance, with an estimated $130 million overseas opening.
Both films are competing in a crowded holiday box office landscape that includes strong performers like ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Wicked.’