Disney's live-action sequel to The Lion King, titled Mufasa, had a solid opening weekend, grossing $122 million globally. However, this figure fell significantly short of pre-release expectations, which projected a worldwide total of $180 million.
In the United States, Mufasa debuted with only $35 million, placing it second behind Paramount's Sonic 3, which earned $62 million. Notably, Sonic 3 will not release in international markets until December 25, potentially overshadowing Mufasa further.
China emerged as the largest market for Mufasa, contributing $7.8 million, followed by France with $7.7 million, Mexico with $7.1 million, and the UK with $5.5 million.
With these numbers, many industry insiders are skeptical about Mufasa surpassing its predecessor, which grossed over $1.66 billion globally despite mixed reviews from critics. In contrast, Sonic 3 is enjoying positive audience reception, boasting an 86% critic score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.