Title: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Beats Mufasa: The Lion King at the Box Office, Secures Number One Spot
The highly anticipated $60 million opening weekend of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has vaulted the live-action video game franchise to the top spot at the box office. The 2022 comedy-adventure movie, directed by Jeff Fowler and starring Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Krysten Ritter, and Keanu Reeves, among others, outperformed Disney’s photorealistic CG-animated prequel Mufasa: The Lion King, which opened alongside it over the weekend.
According to reports, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 raked in a 3-day total of $60.1 million, while Mufasa: The Lion King grossed $35.4 million. Although Mufasa, with a reported budget of $200 million, is expected to eventually break even, its opening weekend fell short of initial projections of around $50 million, which is roughly one-quarter of the 2019 remake’s opening weekend of $191.8 million.
The success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 can be attributed to several factors, including its lower production budget of $122 million, which results in a lower break-even point of around $305 million. The movie’s ability to beat Mufasa in raw numbers during their mutual opening weekend also suggests that it may attract a broader audience.
Additionally, Rotten Tomatoes ratings for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 are franchise-best, which has helped boost its box office performance. Despite declining on Sunday, the movie is expected to maintain its pace and potentially reach a total of $340 million by the end of its run.
The success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also bodes well for the upcoming fourth installment in the franchise, which was announced ahead of the new movie’s debut, indicating confidence in the franchise’s future earnings potential.
