The highly anticipated film Mufasa, which dives into the origins of The Lion King, is unlikely to dominate the box office in its opening weekend. Instead, projections indicate that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to claim the top spot.
To appreciate the excitement surrounding Sonic, it’s essential to revisit the tumultuous journey of the franchise since the release of the initial live-action Sonic film in 2019. That first teaser was met with widespread criticism due to Sonic’s unsettlingly humanoid appearance, prompting the studios, SEGA and Paramount Pictures, to redesign the character.
The revamped second trailer was received enthusiastically, leading the original movie to break the notorious video game film curse. Opening to over $320 million globally, it garnered positive critical acclaim. The sequel, released during global lockdowns, surprisingly outperformed expectations, earning over $400 million despite market limitations.
Sonic 3 Projected to Dominate Box Office
Sonic 3 is projected to earn approximately $55 million during its opening weekend, surpassing the anticipated $50 million for the Mufasa prequel. This projection is remarkable considering Disney’s The Lion King (2019) not only became a blockbuster hit, pulling in $191 million domestically during its debut but also amassed $466 million globally in just its opening weekend.
The mere fact that Sonic is being compared to a new live-action Disney film, known for their consistent box office success—you might recall Aladdin earning $1.05 billion, or The Little Mermaid raking in nearly $570 million—serves as a testament to Sonic’s popularity.
‘SONIC 3’ is tracking to earn $55M domestically for its opening weekend. ‘MUFAASA: THE LION KING’ which releases the same day, is tracking to earn $50M (via: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/mNI0smDcu1
This trajectory underscores the strong enthusiasm for the Sonic franchise, as demonstrated by the first film’s opening of $58 million and the sequel’s $72 million debut. While these numbers are higher than what Sonic 3 is projected to achieve, it’s worth noting that its release is positioned within a notably competitive theater landscape in 2024.
Alongside Mufasa, Sonic 3 will be contending with other anticipated titles such as Moana 2, which is expected to maintain strong ticket sales through the holiday season, alongside Wicked, and recently debuting films like Kraven the Hunter and The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim.
One factor to watch is Disney’s imminent ramp-up of its marketing for Mufasa as Moana 2 gains traction, which may shift the competitive landscape in the weeks following their releases.
Both Sonic 3 and Mufasa are scheduled to premiere on December 20.
For further details, visit the source: Dexerto.
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