Sonic vs. Mufasa box office/ Nosferatu Christmas debut/ holiday box office winners/ 2024 top box office movies/ Disney and Paramount holiday race/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The holiday box office saw “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” narrowly beat Disney’s “Mufasa” with $38 million compared to $37.1 million in weekend earnings. “Nosferatu” debuted strong in third, while long-running hits like “Wicked” and “Moana 2” continued their success. The season’s overall revenue reflects a robust but slightly declining theater market.
Holiday Box Office: Quick Looks
- Weekend Leaders: “Sonic 3” ($38M) edges “Mufasa” ($37.1M) for the top spot.
- Surprise Hit: “Nosferatu” debuted with $21.2M for third place.
- Fan Favorites: “Wicked” ($19.5M) and “Moana 2” ($18.2M) maintain momentum.
- Award Contenders: “A Complete Unknown” shines with $11.6M opening.
- Season Revenue: Domestic box office projected at $8.75B for 2024, down 3.3% from 2023.
Holiday Box Office: ‘Sonic 3’ Edges Out ‘Mufasa’
Deep Look: Holiday Box Office Sees Tight Race Between ‘Sonic 3’ and ‘Mufasa’
The holiday box office delivered excitement as Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” narrowly claimed the top spot over Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” during the three-day weekend. Sonic sped to $38 million in earnings, just edging Mufasa’s $37.1 million, according to studio estimates.
Over the five-day holiday period, however, “Mufasa” led with $63.8 million, reflecting strong mid-week performance during a Christmas season packed with blockbusters.
Box Office Breakdown
- Sonic vs. Mufasa:
The race between two family-friendly favorites highlights the enduring appeal of established franchises. Both films attracted large audiences, with “Mufasa” leveraging its Disney legacy and “Sonic 3” building on the success of its predecessors. - ‘Nosferatu’ Emerges as a Surprise Hit:
Robert Eggers’ reimagining of the classic vampire tale “Nosferatu” debuted in third place, earning $21.2 million over the weekend and $40.3 million across five days. Released by Focus Features, the R-rated horror film defied holiday norms by appealing to the coveted 18-34 demographic.“It was a risky move, but we knew we had a great film,” said Lisa Bunnell, head of Focus Features’ distribution. The sarcophagus-themed popcorn buckets tied to the film have become collector’s items, reselling for over $100. - Ongoing Favorites:
Thanksgiving releases continued their dominance:- “Wicked” took fourth with $19.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $424.2 million. The musical’s home release on Tuesday has drawn criticism for potentially cannibalizing theater revenue.
- “Moana 2” remained a global sensation, rounding out the top five with $18.2 million for a total of $882.5 million worldwide.
- Prestige Films and Smaller Releases:
- “A Complete Unknown,” a Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, earned $11.6 million in its debut weekend and $23.2 million over five days. It set a five-day record for Searchlight Pictures under Disney ownership.
- A24’s “Babygirl,” starring Nicole Kidman, earned $4.4 million, while Amazon MGM’s “The Fire Inside” struggled with $2 million over the weekend.
Industry Trends
The domestic box office for 2024 is projected to close at $8.75 billion, down 3.3% from last year’s $9 billion and well below the pre-pandemic norm of $11 billion.
Despite this decline, Christmas Day itself saw $61 million in ticket sales, with Thursday adding $50 million, illustrating strong audience interest during the holidays.
Top 10 Box Office Performers (Dec. 27–29):
- “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”: $38M
- “Mufasa: The Lion King”: $37.1M
- “Nosferatu”: $21.2M
- “Wicked”: $19.5M
- “Moana 2”: $18.2M
- “A Complete Unknown”: $11.6M
- “Babygirl”: $4.4M
- “Gladiator II”: $4.2M
- “Homestead”: $3.2M
- “The Fire Inside”: $2M
Looking Ahead
The holiday box office showcased the strength of beloved franchises and bold counter-programming strategies. As the industry navigates shifting viewer habits, upcoming 2025 releases will seek to build on this momentum.
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