Movies

Sonic 3 tramples Lion King with impressive box-office debut

BBG News

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming history under my belt, I can confidently say that the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has been nothing short of electrifying! The first two movies were already fun rides, but this one seems to have upped the ante significantly. I remember playing the original Sonic games as a kid and the nostalgia factor is through the roof with this latest installment.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has secured the box-office top spot, as it bested Mufasa: The Lion King.

In North America, the third installment of Sonic surpassed projections by earning more than anticipated; it was expected to earn anywhere from $55 million to $60 million, but it ended up making more than that.

In theaters now, featuring Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey, this new movie has garnered a whopping $62 million in its initial release across 3,761 theaters within the U.S. market. This opening is more successful than the first Sonic the Hedgehog film from 2020 ($58 million in February), and it falls slightly short of the sequel that premiered in March 2022, earning $72 million (according to Variety).

During the holiday season, the release of Sonic 3 could have attracted more viewers, as Paramount Pictures strategically chose to distribute it in December following the strong box office performance of the initial sequel’s follow-up.

According to Paramount’s head of domestic distribution, Chris Aronson, as our franchise has been attracting a larger audience, we spotted an opportunity in December where we believed we could make a strong impact. And indeed, we have managed to do so. Sonic is expected to rule the holiday season.

Currently, the prequel to “The Lion King,” directed by Barry Jenkins, is lagging behind its target with earnings of $35 million from 4,100 cinemas. Contrary to the initial predictions of a $50 million opening, it has only managed to bring in a fraction of that amount, barely reaching a tenth of the total cost of production and marketing, which is around $300 million.

In Rotten Tomatoes, Mufasa received a mix of opinions, with reviewers commenting that the director’s unique writing style seemed to lose some of its depth within the context of the Disney movie.

Regarding the latest “Sonic the Hedgehog” film, it’s presently receiving high praise from critics, impressing them with its clever, lively humor and captivating visual effects.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King are out now in cinemas.

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2024-12-23 16:48

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