Holiday box office showdown kicks off with ‘Sonic 3’ and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

2 hrs ago

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Bast Bramhall (Editor)

The holiday box office race is heating up. Two major contenders, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” and “Mufasa: The Lion King,” are vying for the holiday crown.

In previews on Thursday, Dec. 19, “Sonic 3” sprinted ahead, earning $6.5 million, the franchise’s best preview performance yet. Meanwhile, “Mufasa” opened with $3.3 million, setting the stage for a weekend showdown.

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‘Sonic 3’ speeds ahead

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is projected to dominate the domestic box office, with estimates reported by The Hollywood Reporter showing between $60-70 million. The film won’t debut internationally until after the Christmas holiday, but early domestic success suggests it could upset “Mufasa.”

Fan-favorite cast members like Jim Carrey and Idris Elba return, with Keanu Reeves joining as Shadow the Hedgehog. The movie ups the stakes as Sonic and his crew face off against Shadow.

‘Mufasa’ roars with star power

“Mufasa: The Lion King” takes a different route, exploring the backstory of the beloved king. Voiced by Aaron Pierre, young Mufasa navigates life as an orphan striving to rise above his challenges.

Adding to the film’s appeal, Beyoncé and her daughter, Blue Ivy, bring their star power to the cast.

More holiday blockbusters

The holiday season isn’t just about these two heavyweights. Films like “Wicked,” “Moana 2” and “Gladiator 2” are still lighting up theaters. For “Wicked” fans, a singalong version debuts on Christmas Day in 1,000 theaters nationwide.

Tags: beyonce, Entertainment, film, holidays, movies

SONIC: “Try to keep up!”

[KENNEDY FELTON]

In a race between a blue hedgehog and the king of the jungle, it looks like Sonic is already pulling ahead.

The blue blur zipped past the competition in Thursday box office previews, achieving a franchise best.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sprinting to a 6.5 million dollar start, outpacing “Mufasa: The Lion King” which brought in 3.3 million. This positions Sonic’s third installment to potentially upset “Mufasa” at the box office this weekend.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Sonic” is projected to rake in at least 60 or 70 million dollars domestically, while “Mufasa” is expected to pull in 50 million.

The internet has been having a field day predicting this box office showdown for months. One meme circulating reimagines the “Long live the king” scene from “The Lion King” – but instead of Scar, it’s Shadow the Hedgehog pushing Mufasa off the cliff into an abyss labeled “box office disappointment.”

“Long live the king.”

“Sonic 3” brings back fan favorite cast members like Jim Carrey and Idris Elba. And joining the chaos this time? Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog – Sonic’s newest rival. The stakes are higher than ever as Sonic teams up with his friends for their newest battle.

SONIC: “There’s 2 Eggmen now?!” EGGMAN: “Double your villains, double your fun!”

Meanwhile, “Mufasa: The Lion King” roars back to the savanna with a prequel to the 1994 classic. This time, we follow young Mufasa – voiced by Aaron Pierre – as he navigates life as an orphan.

“THE KING WILL NEVER ACCEPT A STRAY.” “I’M NOT A STRAY, I’M JUST LOST.”

And if that’s not enough star power – the film features a mother-daughter duo, with Beyonce and her daughter, Blue Ivy.

Beyonce: “Give me a second, I just can’t believe that’s my baby.”

But these aren’t the only gifts Hollywood is delivering this holiday season.

If you’ve been holding out for the big screen, you’re in luck. Blockbusters like “Wicked” … “Moana 2” … and “Gladiator 2” are all still playing in theaters. And for those “Wicked” fans – now is your chance! Apparently, audiences didn’t need to hear Elphaba *and the person in row 7 trying to hit the high notes… “Wicked” the singalong is releasing in one thousand theaters nationwide on Christmas Day.