Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” topped the box office, outperforming Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” during its opening weekend.
Sonic 3 earned $62 million, buoyed by positive reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong audience ratings (A on CinemaScore). The film, made for $122 million, is expected to dominate the holiday season, continuing the success of its predecessors.
In contrast, Mufasa underperformed with just $35 million in ticket sales, despite opening in over 4,100 theaters.
The photorealistic prequel to The Lion King was met with poor reviews (56% on Rotten Tomatoes) but received a decent audience score (A- on CinemaScore). Disney may look to international sales, which grossed $87.2 million, to recover some costs.
The success of Sonic 3 highlights the growing strength of video game adaptations, a genre that has become a reliable box office draw. Meanwhile, Mufasa’s weak start contrasts with Disney’s overall strong year, with more than $5 billion in ticket sales globally.
As the holiday season continues, Sonic 3 is well-positioned to lead the box office, with no major competition until the release of A Complete Unknown on December 25.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
