As the holiday season approaches, two major films are set to dominate the box office: Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King. With Sonic 3 debuting to $6.5 million in Thursday previews, it is projected to lead the domestic box office with an opening weekend estimate of $55 million to $60 million.
Meanwhile, Mufasa is expected to earn around $50 million in North America but is poised to excel internationally, with forecasts of $130 million overseas, bringing its global launch to an impressive $180 million. This follows the trend of lower grosses typically associated with sequels and prequels.
Jeff Fowler returns to direct Sonic 3, which introduces Keanu Reeves as the villainous Shadow the Hedgehog. The film continues to follow the adventures of Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, alongside returning cast members like Jim Carrey and Idris Elba.
On the other hand, Mufasa, directed by Barry Jenkins, explores the backstory of iconic characters Mufasa and Scar, voiced by Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr., respectively. With both films generating significant buzz, this weekend promises to be a thrilling cinematic showdown.