Mufasa: The Lion King took the top spot with moviegoers on Christmas Day. After failing to win at the opening weekend box office, Mufasa brought in $14.7 million and took first place on the holiday. This brought the film’s domestic total to $64.3 million. Globally, the film has brought in $197.7 million.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which had held the top box office spot on its opening weekend, dropped to third place on Christmas. It brought in $10.3 million. However, its North American haul has already reached $88 million. Searchlight Pictures’ A Complete Unknown followed Sonic and on Christmas (also its opening day) earned $7.2 million. This included $1.4 million in opening night receipts from Christmas Eve. The film stars Timothee Chalamet as Bob Dylan and was directed by James Mangold.
The success of Mufasa: The Lion King on Christmas Day should be a welcome bit of news for Disney. The first live-action version of The Lion King brought in over $1 billion at the box office. The film continued Disney’s trend of re-making its animated films in live-action form. In this case, the film was remade with CGI to look like live-action.
About Mufasa: The Lion King
Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
The film features an all-star roster of talent, including Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Blending live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, the all-new feature film is directed by Barry Jenkins, produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen. Featuring songs by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Mufasa: The Lion King” opens only in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024.
What do you think of how Mufasa: The Lion King is doing at the box office? Did you see the film yet? What did you think? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
