Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

'Mufasa' is N. America box office king at start of 2025

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736116228510MUFASA_Teaser_Digital_1Sheet_v1_lg.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Mufasa is the Lion King. Handout </span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES - Disney&#x27;s animated drama &quot;Mufasa: The Lion King&quot; reigned over North America&#x27;s box office this weekend, surpassing &quot;Sonic the Hedgehog 3&quot; to start the new year with an estimated $23.8 million take, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.</p><p>The showing pushed &quot;Mufasa&quot; to a domestic total of $168.6 million over three weekends, propelling it into the top 15 of 2024 releases, Variety reported.</p><p>With an additional $307 million earned internationally, the Barry Jenkins-directed film appears on track to reach the half-billion-dollar mark.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2024/12/20/ben-ben-s-miguel-and-paolo-interview-cast-director-of-mufasa-the-lion-king-1930">Ben&amp;Ben&#x27;s Miguel and Paolo interview cast, director of &#x27;Mufasa: The Lion King&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2024/12/20/movie-review-mufasa-is-both-a-sequel-and-prequel-of-lion-king-1517">Movie review: &#x27;Mufasa&#x27; is both a sequel and prequel of &#x27;Lion King&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;Sonic,&quot; the Paramount action comedy about a speedy blue hedgehog, slowed a bit as the year-end holiday season wound down in the United States and Canada, taking in $21.2 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.</p><p>The videogame-based film has now compiled $187.5 million in domestic ticket sales and $148 million abroad, for a total of $333.5 million.</p><p>Focus Film&#x27;s vampire pic &quot;Nosferatu&quot; -- the latest remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by Bram Stoker&#x27;s &quot;Dracula&quot; -- held tight in third place at $13.2 million.</p><p>Down one spot from last weekend was Disney blockbuster &quot;Moana 2,&quot; at $12.4 million.</p><p>With accumulated ticket sales of $425 million domestically and $535 million overseas, its $960 million total puts it on the verge of passing &quot;Despicable Me 4&quot; ($969 million) as the third top-grossing release of 2024 and brings it close to the $1 billion milestone.</p><p>In fifth place, also down one spot from last weekend, was Universal&#x27;s musical fantasy &quot;Wicked.&quot; This latest take on the magical world of Oz logged ticket sales of $10.2 million, even after becoming available for on-demand video viewing.</p><p>Rounding out the top 10 were:</p><p>&quot;A Complete Unknown&quot; ($8.1 million)</p><p>&quot;Babygirl&quot; ($4.5 million)</p><p>&quot;Gladiator II&quot; ($2.7 million)</p><p>&quot;Homestead&quot; ($2.1 million)</p><p>&quot;The Fire Inside&quot; ($1.2 million)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Disney's animated drama "Mufasa: The Lion King" reigned over North America's box office this weekend, surpassing "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" to start the new year with an estimated $23.8 million take.</p>

Disney's animated drama "Mufasa: The Lion King" reigned over North America's box office this weekend, surpassing "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" to start the new year with an estimated $23.8 million take.