Disney’s animated drama “Mufasa: The Lion King” topped the North American box office this weekend, earning an estimated $23.8 million and outperforming “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations. This strong performance places Mufasa at the peak of the North American box office rankings.
With this weekend’s earnings, Mufasa now holds a domestic total of $168.6 million after three weekends, securing its place among the top 15 releases of 2024 in the North American box office. As reported by Variety, the film’s success is noteworthy, and it continues to dominate the North American box office.
Additionally, the film has pulled in an extra $307 million from international markets, positioning Mufasa on track to hit the half-billion-dollar milestone globally. The North American box office continues to show its importance as the driving force behind many of the year’s top films.
Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the Paramount action comedy featuring the iconic fast blue hedgehog, saw a slight dip as the holiday season ended in the U.S. and Canada. It earned $21.2 million over the weekend, which still made it a strong contender in the North American box office. So far, the video game adaptation has grossed $187.5 million domestically, contributing to a total of $333.5 million when including international earnings.
In third place was Focus Film’s “Nosferatu”, a remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which secured $13.2 million at the North American box office. The film performed better than expected and is attracting a strong audience in North American theaters.
Disney’s “Moana 2” dropped one spot from last week, earning $12.4 million. Its combined total of $960 million globally includes a substantial $425 million from the U.S., making it a key player in both the North American box office and international markets. As it nears the $1 billion milestone, Moana 2 continues to shine at the North American box office.
In fifth place, Universal’s “Wicked“ earned $10.2 million despite being available for on-demand viewing, proving that audiences are still flocking to theaters for big-name releases in the North American box office.
The rest of the top 10 in the North American box office included:
- “A Complete Unknown” ($8.1 million)
- “Babygirl” ($4.5 million)
- “Gladiator II” ($2.7 million)
- “Homestead” ($2.1 million)
- “The Fire Inside” ($1.2 million)
The North American box office continues to thrive as major films like Mufasa lead the charge, while smaller productions also find success in this ever-competitive market.
