“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” Races Ahead, “Mufasa” Looks to Roar Back
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” zooms into theaters this weekend, projected to debut to a strong $60 million, according to studio estimates. Meanwhile, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” aims for a roar, but early previews fall short of expectations. Paramount’s “Sonic” earned impressive $6.5 million in Thursday previews, overshadowing Disney’s Lion King prequel, which clocked in at $3.3 million.
Concerns linger for “Mufasa” as its opening weekend projection falls short. Initial forecasts predicted a opening weekend north of $50 million, but initial previews are closer to rival films like “Wonka” ($3.5 million preview, $39 million opening) and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” ($3.5 million preview, $35.4 million opening). Directed by Barry Jenkins, “Mufasa” is scheduled for 4,100 theaters.
“Sonic” enjoys a notable advantage with critics, earning an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to “Mufasa’s” 57%. Audience scores further favor “Sonic 3”, boasting a healthy 98%.
Despite potential roadblocks, Disney remains optimistic about “Mufasa’s” performance beyond the opening weekend. A surge in moviegoing following Christmas Day, traditionally dominated by mega-tentpoles, is anticipated. Hits like “Star Wars: Force Awakens,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” demonstrated the holiday season’s box office potential.
Compelling factors include 13% of K-12 students currently enjoying holiday breaks, with that figure rising to 95% by Monday, alongside 81% of colleges currently off for the holidays. These trends suggest a significant boost for moviegoing throughout the week leading up to Christmas, potentially propelling “Mufasa” towards the projected target.
The Rest of the Box Office Landscape:
- “Wicked” (Universal) 3,698 theaters, Thursday $2.46 million, -11% from Wednesday, Week $33.8 million, Total $370.4 million/Week 4
- “Kraven the Hunter” (Sony) 3,211 theaters, Thursday $543 thousand (-24%), Week $14.3 million/Week 1
- “Gladiator II” (Paramount) 3,224 theaters Thursday $802 thousand (-12%), Week $11.3 million, Total $149.4 million/Week 4
- “Interstellar” (rerelease) (Paramount) 321 theaters, Thursday $144 thousand (-89%), Week $6.7 million, Total $15.1 million/Week 2
Will “Sonic” sustain its momentum, or can “Mufasa” roar back? Stay tuned for updates throughout the weekend!
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