Mufasa: The Lion Kingis continuing to roar its way to success. ThelatestLion Kingmoviehas thrived in a slow January, competing against a small field consisting ofSonic the Hedgehog 3,Nosferatu,Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, and several other new releases.Wolf ManandOne of Them Dayswere poised to top the box office over the holiday weekend. Even with Martin Luther King Day offering a chance for a booming box office, it has been a slow week. Still, despite only a trickle at the box office, Disney’s lions are thriving.
According to a report byVariety, theLion Kingprequel isexpected to end the weekend with$209.8 million domesticallyand $588.4 million worldwide. With that total, it has officially become the10th 2024 movie to reach the $200 million milestonedomestically. It sits ahead ofGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which earned $196 million, and just behindSonic3’s $218 million total.
What Does Mufasa’s Milestone Mean For The Box Office?
2024 Was A Recovery For The Box Office
Having 10 movies earn $200 million domestically at the box office is a serious sign of recovery.That milestone has not been achieved by 10 movies since 2019. While Hollywood has been slow to recover from the pandemic, this accomplishment marks a return to the theatrical explosion of the 2010s. Still, there is more room to grow. While 2018 had 14 movies earn over $200 million, perBox Office Mojo, 2024 just barely managed to achieve 10. Theaters are still dominated by a few choice successes, while everything else is falling further behind. Check out this year’s top 10:
$653 million
$1.7 billion
$637 million
$1.3 billion
$462 million
$701 million
$437 million
$1 billion
$361 million
$969 million
$294 million
$451 million
$282 million
$714 million
$278 million
$371 million
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
$218 million
$420 million
$210 million
$588 million
The top-heavy nature of the box office in recent years could be changing, as more movies are achieving these massive milestones. While these calculations do fail to account for inflation, it is still a sign that Hollywood could be preparing for a return to normal. The adjustment has been slow, partly driven bythe SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, but the reliance on recognized properties has contributed to the recovery. Of these top 10 domestic movies, not a single one is an original project.Every movie is a sequel or prequel to a beloved franchise.
Our Take On Mufasa’s Box Office Milestone
This Will Likely Encourage Hollywood To Continue Its Trajectory
This is a massive accomplishment forMufasa: The Lion Kingand for Disney.Disney’s live-action remakeshave been strong successes overall, and it will likely encourage the company to continue developing these photo-realistic movies. Even outside the live-action movies,Moana 2andInside Out 2each earned $1 billion or more this past year.2024 wasan excellent year for Disney, and it should be enough to convince Hollywood that these are the types of movies that audiences are interested in. As theaters continue to recover, these $200 million movies will be crucial lessons in audience expectations and interest.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
