Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sprinted ahead in Thursday night previews on December 19, earning a remarkable $6.5 million—marking the franchise's best preview performance to date. In contrast, Mufasa: The Lion King opened with a $3.3 million preview, setting the stage for a fierce weekend showdown.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic 3 is projected to dominate the domestic box office, with estimates indicating a $77 million opening weekend. The film had a strong $26 million opening day, placing it on track for a three-day total of $70.5 million across 3,761 theaters. Although the film won’t debut internationally until after Christmas, its early domestic success suggests it could continue to lead through the holiday season.
This impressive performance highlights the Sonic franchise's growing popularity and sets high expectations for its future releases.