Key Takeaways
- Sonic The Hedgehog 3 ahead in box office projections, outpaced Mufasa: The Lion King by $50-55 million.
- Disney’s 2019 live-action Lion King was a blockbuster, while Sonic franchise saw steady growth in box office earnings.
- Both movies have star-studded casts, with Sonic 3 introducing Shadow; Paramount’s marketing hit the mark for audience appeal.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King are two of the most highly anticipated movie releases this year, with audiences eagerly awaiting what both will offer. With each set to release in time for the December 20, 2024, holiday season, they’re sure to prove popular with families looking to spend time together and unwind, even though significant differences exist between Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King. While there will be plenty of crossover in the audiences that view these films, both shall hope they can outdo the other to be the most successful movie to wrap up the year.
However, both are part of major franchises and have lots of hype due to the worlds that surround them. There are already two movies in the Sonic franchise that have been well-received, while The Lion King remains one of Disney’s most popular animated films of all time. Disney has already created a live-action movie based on the property, but this time, it will be a prequel focusing on the life of Mufasa before he becomes the character that fans are initially introduced to in the original.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is racing ahead of Mufasa: The Lion King when it comes to box office projections, which is a positive situation for Paramount Pictures given that Disney’s live-action will be their main competition. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is expected to overtake Mufasa: The Lion King by $50 to $55 million for the opening weekend, which will be an impressive effort for the video-game-based movie that will see Shadow enter the franchise for the first time. However, Disney hasn’t fully kickstarted the marketing campaign for the upcoming live-action film, as the focus has been placed on Moana 2.
Disney’s 2019 live-action adaptation of The Lion King was a blockbuster success at the box office, making $1.6 billion worldwide and $543.6 million domestically. In comparison, the original Sonic the Hedgehog made $319.7 million worldwide, while the sequel increased by making $405.4 million worldwide. The figures prove that there is a genuine interest in both properties, which will likely be the case again during this holiday season.
Both of these movies boast incredible casts that will showcase their voice-acting chops to bring the characters they portray to life in slightly different ways. Mufasa: The Lion King will feature the likes of Beyonce, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and Aaron Pierre. Meanwhile, Keanu Reeves will join the Sonic franchise as Shadow alongside Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Idris Elba. The casts certainly have plenty of star power, and that’s something that aids the interest in watching them as people know they will see good quality performances.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 outperforming Mufasa: The Lion King at the box office would be a brilliant achievement for those involved, especially considering the characters’ popularity and the franchise it’s competing against. However, it also showcases that Paramount has got things right with their marketing for the movie and that there is still a genuine desire to see the likes of Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails on the big screen. It also highlights that the previous two Sonic The Hedgehog movies were a hit, and people want to see that story extended.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sets up a new threat for Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails by introducing Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow presents such a big danger to planet Earth, that the heroes have to team up with Dr. Robotnik.