In the realm of cinematic earnings, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 has outshone The Lion King's Mufasa, securing the coveted title of box office king.
The pre-Christmas period might seem tranquil before the box office storm, but it's proving to be more than expected for films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2, and Wicked. The former two are predicted to gross over $70 million and $35-40 million in their domestic debuts, bolstering their blockbuster totals to approximately $760 million and $560 million respectively.
'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' Leading the Pack
This weekend is relatively low-key at cinemas (to illustrate, the top 5 box office performer of the past week was the 10th anniversary re-release of Interstellar), but it's surpassing expectations and indicating a robust turnout ahead for Christmas.
As anticipated, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is dominating the box office during its debut weekend, securing an advantage for the coming weeks and setting itself up in the lead position in the race for the holiday season's highest-grossing film.
By mid-Saturday, tie-breaker sales have left no doubt in Sonic the Hedgehog 3's triumph, thanks to family audiences and franchise enthusiasts. While it's uncertain if it has the speed to outrun Sonic the Hedgehog 2's 2022 opening weekend record of $72 million, it won't matter in the long term.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has the Christmas holiday and New Year's holidays ahead, giving ample opportunity for further growth from families on vacation. I'd be surprised if Sonic 3 fails to surpass at least $350 million in domestic earnings by the end of its run, if not $400 million.
This bodes well for Sonic the Hedgehog's global box office prospects and its bid for the crown as the largest Christmas release of 2024.
'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' vs 'Moana 2': Christmas Rivals
Unless it experiences a remarkable international performance and a post-Christmas rebound, Mufasa: The Lion King might lose the title of the year's biggest holiday release.
At present, it seems unlikely that Mufasa: The Lion King will even reach $300 million in domestic earnings, although its domestic performance seems on track for a powerful foreign premiere and extended legs thanks to its A-audience grade via Cinemascore. So, despite an initial stumble in North America, there's still ample time and room for Mufasa to make a comeback.
Meanwhile, it appears that Moana 2 retains the lead and momentum in the Christmas season box office race, but it's slowing enough to allow Wicked to catch up and potentially surpass Moana 2's daily earnings.
As others slow down, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sharpens its claws and gains ground rapidly. On current trends, I suspect it will do so faster than even I, a self-proclaimed optimist, anticipated.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 launched its international rollout during Christmas week, so it won't start its ascent up the global box office charts until next week. However, it's promising a fantastic run and some much-needed good news for Sony in the wake of Kraven the Hunter's underwhelming performance last weekend. If Sonic 3 delivers the Christmas victory I think it can, it will serve the studio well.
Whether Sonic the Hedgehog 3 becomes as popular and a repeat draw for families as I predict remains to be seen, but I'm banking on the film crossing at least $800 million and aiming for $1 billion, depending on Christmas turnout and the following weekend's performance.
- Despite the success of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' and 'Mufasa: The Lion King', fans of classic video games are eagerly awaiting the release of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' on multiple platforms, including Sony's PlayStation, as a part of the Sonic Series' 30th anniversary celebration.
- The pre-release buzz for the animated musical 'Wicked' has been compared to Disney's 'The Lion King' adaptation, with critics drawing parallels between Mufasa and the Wicked Witch of the West's impact on their respective stories.
- The success of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' on the box office has generated conversations about potential spin-offs and collaborations, such as a crossover film between 'Sonic the Hedgehog' and 'Mufasa: The Lion King', which fans have aptly named 'Mufasa's Speedway'.
- In the realm of video games, 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles' was released in 1994, and its impending arrival on modern platforms has sparked nostalgia amongst gamers, while 'Moana 2' will also be available on Disney+ with Premier Access for an additional fee, following its cinema run.
- Market watchers are closely monitoring the performance of 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' at the box office, as its success could serve as a catalyst for similar releases in the future, such as 'Moana 2' or a potential 'Lion King' sequel, both of which are anticipated releases on the horizon.
