Paramount’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 and Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING led the way this weekend with opening totals of $62.0M and $35.0M respectively. The overall box office came in at $143.0M, which compares favorably to $94.4M on the pre-Christmas weekend last year when AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM led all films with $27.7M in its opening. It also was higher than the same weekend in 2022 which generated $94.7M, but well short of the spectacular pre-Christmas weekend of 2021 when the overall total was $282.9M on the strength of the smashing $260.1M debut from SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.
On Wednesday, SONIC 3 and MUFASA will be joined by NOSFERATU, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, BABY GIRL and THE FIRE INSIDE for Christmas Day, ending the year on a high note as opposed to the lump of coal that Hollywood’s studios left under the tree in the last two years.
Paramount’s SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 is the third feature in the Sonic series, based on SEGA’s flagship video game released originally on June 23, 1991. Since then, over 1.5B copies of Sonic the Hedgehog video games have been sold, making it one of the best-selling titles in history, in the same league as Super Mario Bros., Pokémon, and Call of Duty. Forays into other media have further boosted Sonic’s popularity, including a successful animated TV series and a series of live-action movies that began in 2020. Here is a look at the performance of the three Sonic movies to-date.
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG Franchise History
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (2/14/2020) – Domestic Opening $58.0M (4,167 Locations), Domestic Total $149.0M, Worldwide Total $319.7M, Budget $85M, RT Critics/Audience 64%/93%
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (4/8/2022) – Domestic Opening $72.1M (4,234 Locations), Domestic Total $190.9M, Worldwide Total $405.4M, Budget $110M, RT Critics/Audience 69%/96%
- SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 (12/20/2024) – Domestic Opening $62.0M (3,761 Locations), RT Critics/Audience 86%/98%
The box office from SONIC 3’s opening weekend landed right in the middle of the two earlier movies, based on domestic box office results. The combined worldwide total for SONIC 1 and SONIC 2 was $725.1M, with a total production budget of $195M for the two, making for a 3.7 to 1 multiple. This is well beyond the industry benchmark of 2.5 to 1 which is the rule-of-thumb benchmark for the point when movie turns profitable. Based on the success of the first two movies, it was obvious that Paramount would make more SONIC movies, with SONIC 3 arriving as the third feature in slightly over four years. After this weekend’s successful opening, the Sonic parade will surely continue.
The inspiration for SONIC 3’s story comes from the video games Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). Gamers may even notice that SONIC 3’s title reveal features an orchestral arrangement of “Live and Learn” by Crush 40, used in the soundtrack of Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. Jeff Fowler is back to direct the third chapter, after working his magic in the first two movies. James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, and Tom Butler also return, as well as Jim Carrey who reprises his role as Sonic’s arch-nemesis Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Previously, Carrey had hinted at his possible retirement from the SONIC series but he jokingly blamed financial reasons for coming back. It is the first time in Carey’s career that he has played the same character in more than two films.
Reviewers were iffy about the first two SONIC movies, giving Rotten Tomatoes scores of 64% and 69% respectively, but SONIC 3 has fared better with a series-high 86% critics’ rating. Keanu Reeves’s portrayal of Shadow has been highlighted as a standout, praising his ability to bring depth and empathy to the character. Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik together with his portrayal of Robotnik’s grandfather has been described as “gloriously deranged,” adding a “can’t-look-away” humorous element to the film. Jeff Fowler has also been commended for delivering entertainment at a streamlined pace, effectively balancing the movie’s chaotic and disparate elements. However, some point out that while it is certainly fun, the film lacks the sophistication of its predecessors. Frankly, it’s a surprise to learn that there are some reviewers who feel that sophistication is a feature of the SONIC franchise. An overwhelmingly positive reaction from audiences is the backbone of the series, with the first two movies scoring Rotten Tomatoes audience scores of 93% and 96% and SONIC 3 coming in at a franchise-high 98%.
Disney’s MUFASA: THE LION KING came in second this weekend with $35.0M in its opening. The photorealistic animated film is both a prequel and sequel to Disney’s 2019 remake of THE LION KING. This movie delves into Mufasa’s origins, showing his journey from an orphaned cub to the revered king of Pride Rock. The story is framed through Rafiki’s narration of Kiara, Simba, and Nala’s daughter, with Timon and Pumbaa providing lighthearted commentary. Mufasa’s early life story is told, including his adoption into a new pride and his complex relationship with Taka, who later becomes known as Scar. This dynamic is central to the plot, shedding light on the brothers’ bond and the events leading to their eventual estrangement. New characters and environments are also introduced, enriching the lore of The Pride Lands.
In comparison to the 2019 THE LION KING, which was a direct remake of the 1994 animated classic, MUFASA: THE LION KING has an original storyline that expands the franchise’s mythology. A fresh musical perspective is also offered, with Lin-Manuel Miranda composing seven new songs for the film. Here is a chart to show the box office performance of THE LION KING movies.
THE LION KING Franchise History
- THE LION KING (6/15/1994) – Domestic Opening $1.6M (2 Locations), Domestic Total $425.0M (2,552 Locations), Worldwide Total $981.7M, Budget $45M, RT Critics/Audience 92%/93%
- THE LION KING (7/19/2019) – Domestic Opening $191.8M (4,725 Locations), Domestic Total $543.6M, Worldwide Total $1.662B, Budget $260M, RT Critics/Audience 51%/88%
- MUFASA: THE LION KING (12/20/2024) – Domestic Opening $35.0M (4,100 Locations), RT Critics/Audience 57%/89%
THE LION KING’s first two movies were huge successes, with the 1994 movie earning $425M domestic to make it the ninth highest-grossing animated movie ever and the 2019 movie doing even better with $543.6M to rank fourth on that list. The worldwide gross for the two films together is $2.644B, on combined production budgets of $305M, giving it an enormous 8.7 to 1 ratio of worldwide box office to production budget. After adding in $1.9B from ticket sales to the Broadway musical version and $7.6B from worldwide shows, one can only marvel at the profits Disney has generated from this story.
The cranky critics have had a mixed response to this movie, giving it only a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some of the harshest critiques have focused on the music, which some feel falls short of the memorable original soundtrack by Elton John and Tim Rice. Of course, that was an impossible standard to meet, considering that the 1994 soundtrack won Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Original Score. Audience reaction is the biggest factor in the success of a movie, and this series is no different. The first two films had audience scores of 93% and 88%, and the new movie is in the same range, with an 89% ranking. The prospect for ticket sales to MUFASA and SONIC is bright, with a relative open field for the next month.
Universal’s WICKED finished in third place with $13.5M, a drop of 40%. This brings its total run to $383.9M domestic and $554.7M worldwide. The race between MOANA 2 and WICKED to be the top-grossing movie of the fourth quarter remains close, with WCKED maintaining a slight lead.
WICKED vs. MOANA 2 – Domestic Box Office as of 12/22/24
- WICKED (11/20/2024) – Domestic 31-Day $383.9M, Budget $150M, RT Critics/Audience 88%/95%
- MOANA 2 (11/25/2024) – Domestic 26-Day $359.1M, Budget $150M, RT Critics/Audience 62%/87%
Together, these two movies have powered a surge in moviegoing since Thanksgiving, with a combined domestic box office of $743.0M to-date.
Disney’s MOANA 2, the top movie over the last three weekends, fell into fourth place this weekend with $13.1M, a decline of 51%. After 26 days, the sequel has earned $359.1M domestic and $749.7 worldwide, making it the second animated movie of the year, after INSIDE OUT 2.
INSIDE OUT 2 vs. MOANA 2 – Domestic Box Office after 26 Days
- INSIDE OUT 2 (6/14/24) – Domestic Opening $154.2M, Domestic 26-Day $543.5M, Domestic Total $653.0M, Budget $175M, RT Critics/Audience 91%/95%
- MOANA 2 (11/25/24) – Domestic Opening $135.5M, Domestic 26-Day $359.1M, Budget $150M, RT Critics/Audience 62%/87%
While INSIDE OUT 2 set records as the highest grossing movie of 2024 and the top animated movie of all time, MOANA 2 has also enjoyed an impressive run, ranking 18th on the all-time list of animated movies. Ironically, it just passed the original INSIDE OUT on that list that earned $356.5M in 2015. MOANA 2 still has a number of productive weeks ahead to fill out its final numbers.
Angel Studio’s HOMESTEAD finished in fifth place in its opening weekend, with a total of $6.1M. The faith-focused movie explores themes of family through a tale of survival in the aftermath a nuclear catastrophe. It was directed by Ben Smallbone, known for his work on films exploring moral challenges such as PRICELESS from 2016. The movie stars Neal McDonough, who also starred in Angel’s THE SHIFT last year. This movie was shot in Utah, with its awe-inspiring landscape serving an important role in the portrayal of post-apocalyptic life. The screenplay is based on “Black Autumn,” a 10-volume book series by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross. The books offer so much content that the movie is a mere table-setter for the upcoming TV series Homestead which will begin streaming on Angel.com in early 2025. Critics have struggled to get behind the film, giving it a disappointing 38% score on Rotten Tomatoes. As with most movies Angel Studios movies, the target audience is showing more interest than the critics, giving it a 77% grade. Having spent only $8M to make the movie, it will certainly be profitable, especially since the funds were sourced from Angel’s legion of passionate fans and followers.
Where Are We as of 12/19/2024
After 50 weeks the 2024 box office is 93% of 2023 and 76% of 2019 totals.
