Mufasa: The Lion King roars to the top of North America box office

Los Angeles, California - Disney's animated film 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, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.

Beyoncé (l.) and Blue Ivy Carter (r.) attend the world premiere of Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 09, 2024.
Beyoncé (l.) and Blue Ivy Carter (r.) attend the world premiere of Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 09, 2024.  © Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney/AFP Jesse Grant / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

The showing pushed Mufasa to a domestic total of $168.6 million over three weekends, propelling it into the top 15 of 2024 releases, Variety reported.

With an additional $307 million earned internationally, the Barry Jenkins-directed film appears on track to reach the half-billion-dollar mark.

Sonic, the Paramount action comedy about a speedy blue hedgehog, slowed a bit as the year-end holiday season wound down in the US and Canada, taking in $21.2 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce react to Jason and Kylie Kelce welcoming baby no. 4!
Taylor Swift Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce react to Jason and Kylie Kelce welcoming baby no. 4!

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.

Focus Film's vampire pic Nosferatu – the latest remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula – held tight in third place at $13.2 million.

Down one spot from last weekend was Disney blockbuster Moana 2, at $12.4 million.

With accumulated ticket sales of $425 million domestically and $535 million overseas, its $960 million total puts it on the verge of passing Despicable Me 4 ($969 million) as the third top-grossing release of 2024 and brings it close to the $1 billion milestone.

In fifth place, also down one spot from last weekend, was Universal's musical fantasy Wicked.

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.

Cover photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney/AFP Jesse Grant / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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