“Mufasa” Roars to Box Office Victory as “Sonic” Franchise Hits $1 Billion Milestone

“Mufasa” Roars to Top Spot in Third Weekend, “Sonic” Speeds Past $1 Billion Globally

In a weekend dominated by holdovers, Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” maintained its reign at the North American box office, earning $23.8 million in its third weekend. The photorealistic prequel to the beloved franchise has now amassed a total of $169.2 million domestically.

Hot on its heels, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” raced to a close second with $21.2 million, pushing its domestic total to $187.5 million. The speedy blue hedgehog’s latest outing has propelled the franchise past the $1 billion mark worldwide, cementing its status as a box office powerhouse.

Robert Eggers’ remake of “Nosferatu” continued to draw audiences, earning $13.2 million in its second weekend. The film experienced a modest 39% drop and has now surpassed its $50 million production budget with a running total of $69.4 million since its Christmas debut.

With no new wide releases, the box office was dominated by familiar faces. “Moana 2” secured fourth place with $12.4 million, inching closer to the $1 billion mark globally. Searchlight’s “A Complete Unknown” saw a slight dip but still managed to earn $8.1 million, making it the distributor’s highest-grossing film since 2019.

“Wicked,” now available on VOD and up for several Golden Globe awards, conjured up $10.2 million. Meanwhile, an IMAX re-release of the classic thriller “Seven” earned over $1 million from just 200 locations.

Industry analysts note that the 2025 box office year has started strong, up 20% from the same period in 2024. Final domestic figures are expected to be released on Monday, providing a clearer picture of the weekend’s performances.

As the industry continues to recover and adapt, these results demonstrate the enduring appeal of established franchises and the potential for well-crafted remakes to find success in a competitive marketplace.