Mufasa: The Lion King
Animation & Family Disney PG 1h 58m Released Dec 20, 2024 Discussed 2024–2025
Opening weekend
$35.4M
4,100 theaters
Per-theater average
$8,636
opening weekend
Domestic total
$254.6M
7.2× its opening
Worldwide total
$722.6M
35% domestic
Production budget
$200.0M
3.6× worldwide
RT critics
56%
RT audience
88%
+32 vs critics
Metacritic
56
Where it turns up
Friday, December 20, 2024 Third weekend of December 2024
On the chart Mufasa: The Lion King (opening): $35.4M
Expected 'A weekend in the high 30's with a shot at 40, a very good result for the date'; watch for a Jumanji-style Christmas Day pop Actual: $35.4M
In the note
In fact, just the grosses from Sonic and Mufasa should best the total from 2023, however Christmas Eve was on Sunday last year so that drove the numbers down a little.
Thursday, December 26, 2024 Christmas Day 2024
On the chart Mufasa (wk 2): $36.8M weekend, UP 4%; the Jumanji bounce
Expected 'Cue the Jumanji bounce... a really positive day of $13 million or so' Actual: Second weekend UP 4% to $36.8M, the bounce materialized
In the note
7 years ago, Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle opened to a number very similar to what Mufasa opened to this year, and received the same ’shouldn’t this be better?’ treatment from the press.
Friday, January 10, 2025 Second weekend of January 2025
On the chart Mufasa (wk 4): $14.2M, -39%
Expected Both down about 50% Actual: -39% / -47%
Friday, January 17, 2025 MLK weekend 2025
On the chart Mufasa (wk 5): $12.1M 3-day, -15%; retakes #1
Expected Down only ~10%, 3-day about $13M Actual: $12.1M, -15%
Friday, January 24, 2025 Fourth weekend of January 2025
On the chart Mufasa (wk 6): $8.6M, -29%
Friday, January 31, 2025 Final weekend of January 2025
On the chart Mufasa (wk 7): $6.3M, -27%