Christmas Box Office: ‘Mufasa’ Tops ‘Sonic 3’ With $14.7 Million, ‘Nosferatu’ Opens Strong With $11.5 Million

by

As a seasoned film enthusiast who’s spent countless hours in the dimly lit theaters of yesteryears and the state-of-the-art multiplexes of today, I can confidently say that the cinematic landscape over the holidays has been nothing short of captivating.

Over the holidays, numerous audiences flocking to watch Christmas movies also chose Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” causing it to soar to the number one spot on the box office charts. This family-oriented adventure has been a huge hit, taking in $14.7 million and securing the top position at the box office. As a result, its domestic earnings have now reached $64.3 million. Worldwide, the prequel to “The Lion King” has amassed an impressive $197.7 million after earning another $18.8 million in international markets on Wednesday. In the U.S., the film is expected to bring in over $50 million during the five-day holiday period.

In a stark contrast, the horror movie “Nosferatu” by Focus Features, featuring a vampire character reminiscent of Dracula, attracted audiences distinct from those drawn to “Mufasa.” On its debut day, it managed to secure the second spot with earnings of $11.5 million. Directed by Robert Eggers, who is known for critically acclaimed films like “The Witch” and “The Lighthouse,” the film boasts an impressive cast including up-and-coming actors such as Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgård, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, alongside veteran actors like Willem Dafoe. With a substantial production budget of $50 million, it must continue to thrive during the Christmas season as gruesome entertainment to warrant its expense.

Moving up to third place, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” from Paramount, leading the weekend box office, surrendered its position to “The Lion King’s Mufasa” on Wednesday. Showing in over 3,700 North American cinemas, it garnered $10.3 million, raising its total domestic earnings to $88 million. With a sequel already in the works for 2027, Paramount seems optimistic about this spiky-haired character. “Sonic” is adapted from the Sega video game series that has been popular since the early ’90s.

Finishing in fourth position, the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold (of “Walk the Line” fame), was premiered on Wednesday with a total earnings of $7.2 million, including $1.4 million from Tuesday previews. Starring Timothee Chalamet as the iconic music legend, the film has received critical acclaim and is generating buzz for awards season. Anticipated to gross $22 million in its first five days, it’s a substantial sum for an adult-oriented movie. Given its positive reception and Chalamet’s growing box office appeal following successful films like “Wonka” and the upcoming “Dune: Part Two,” there is optimism that it may buck trends and make a profit. In fact, each of his screenings has gone viral on social media.

Over the holiday season, Universal’s “Wicked” landed at number five, taking in $5.4 million on Christmas alone. This movie adaptation of a widely acclaimed Broadway musical has been one of the year’s blockbusters, raking in an impressive $397.9 million domestically since its release just before Thanksgiving. As a follower who loves this musical, I couldn’t be happier about its success!

Besides “A Complete Unknown,” the festive period is welcoming several potential award winners. A24’s “Babygirl,” an erotic drama featuring Nicole Kidman, has been receiving rave reviews from critics, earning $1.5 million on its debut after being screened on over 2,000 screens. Halina Reijn directed “Babygirl,” which also stars Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas. A24 is keeping busy during the holiday season as they are also handling “The Brutalist,” a 3-hour historical epic starring Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, directed by Brady Corbet. It earned $74,965 from six theaters, bringing its domestic gross to $429,580 since its limited release last weekend.

In the group of recent releases, Amazon MGM Studios’ “The Fire Inside”, a motivational sports drama centered around American professional boxer Claesssa “T-Rex” Shields, generated $1.7 million in its North American debut on Wednesday across 2,006 theaters. The film is projected to accumulate approximately $6 million within its initial five days. Rachel Morrison, the acclaimed cinematographer from “Mudbound”, takes her first step into directing with Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry headlining the cast.

Read More

2024-12-26 19:47