He’s the fastest thing alive, after all. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is rolling around on top of the box office in its North American opening, collecting $25 million from 3,761 locations across Friday and preview screenings. Meanwhile, “Mufasa: The Lion King” will land in second place, having earned $13.3 million from 4,100 sites so far across the same time frame.
In what some expected to be a more even box office match-up between two family-friendly features starring CG critters, Paramount’s “Sonic” sequel has broken out far ahead of “Mufasa” in its debut. While mid-December weekends can often seem like a calm before a storm, with the public putting off moviegoing as it prepares for the holidays, that’s not slowing down the Blue Blur here. “Sonic 3” nearly bested the $26 million opening day nabbed by “Sonic 2” back in April 2022. The film should have no trouble out-pacing its projections, which had forecast an opening between $55 million and $60 million.
It’s a strong start for the $122 million production. And, even better, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” has a few weeks ahead where kids are out of school and pent-up parents are eager for outside family activities. The end of the year is often the calendar slot when theatrical releases multiply best, and “Sonic 3” has franchise-best reviews on its side along with a glowing response from fans. Moviegoer pollster Cinema Score turned in a glowing A grade for the film, indicating an enthusiastic response from fans.
Jeff Fowler returned to direct the third “Sonic,” which sees the Ben Schwartz-voiced hedgehog teaming with Tails the Fox (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba) and his human father figure (James Marsden) to take on the truly edgy Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves) and mustachioed Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey, returning in dual roles this time).
Banking much harder on a healthy holiday season multiplier is Disney’s “Mufasa,” which is settling for a distant second at a much heftier production budget north of $200 million. Directed by “Moonlight” Oscar winner Barry Jenkins in his long-awaited follow-up to “If Beale Street Could Talk,” the effects-heavy feature serves as an original prequel to the photo-realistic “Lion King” remake from 2019, directed by Jon Favreau.
While December opening weekends are rarely as booming as summer ones, “Sonic 3” proves that audiences will still prioritize a new event film around the holiday season if they are compelled to. Rivals now have “Mufasa” projected for a $35 million opening weekend, which would mark a profound decline from the $191 million domestic debut of its 2019 predecessor.
Rather ho-hum reviews haven’t added any hype either, though audiences are much friendlier, with an A- grade from Cinema Score (though that’s also down from the A grade that the 2019 “Lion King” clawed up). Even with a strong holiday multiplier still in the cards after this weak start, Disney is largely banking on international audiences to make “Mufasa” a theatrical success. The “Lion King” is seen as a global brand. The 2019 remake roared to over $1 billion overseas and this prequel is expected to top the international box office this weekend (“Sonic 3” doesn’t open in most territories until Christmas).
Disney at least doesn’t have to sweat “Moana 2,” which is now vying for third place after adding another $3 million on Friday. The animated musical sequel is now past $350 million in North America and could surpass “Despicable Me 4” ($361 million) by the end of the weekend, which would make it the fourth-highest grossing domestic release of the year. Worldwide, “Moana 2” has now cleared $725 million.
It’s contending against Universal’s “Wicked” for bronze on domestic charts. The bifurcated adaptation of the smash Broadway musical is expecting another $14 million in its fifth weekend, pushing its domestic haul north of $384 million. With the holiday season about to enter full swing, the $400 million milestone isn’t far off.
Fifth place will go to Angel Studios’ “Homestead,” a faith-based drama that follows an encampment surviving after an apocalyptic attack on the United States and that — spoilers — serves as a stealth pilot of sorts for a new television series, which it proudly showcases at the end of the film. That may have had a souring impact on audiences; Cinema Score turned in a B grade, much lower than the usual A-range for Angel Studios releases. “Homestead” earned about $2.8 million on Friday from 1,886 locations and hopes to get north of $5 million in its three-day opening.
