Having played in theaters worldwide for less than three weeks, Disney’sMufasa: The Lion Kingis closing in on its biggest global box office milestone yet. The big-budget movie, which serves as both a prequel and sequel toJon Favreau’s 2019 remake ofThe Lion King, had a slow start at the box office, but seems to be stabilizing as the days go by. In fact, it ended up topping the weekend charts for the first time in its third frame, after coming in second behindSonic the Hedgehog 3twice in a row. The movie has significantly out-grossedSonic 3, which debuted on the same day with a much greater haul domestically.
Mufasahas now made $172 million domestically and another $307 million from overseas markets, fora cumulative global haul of $480 million. The movie will likely pass the $500 million mark worldwide this weekend. While this is a remarkable comeback and achievement,Mufasawill not even come close to matching its predecessor’s $1.6 billion global haul. But considering the film’s lukewarm debut, it’s worth celebrating the fact that it didn’t turn out to be anotherJoker: Folie à Deux. Produced on a similar budget of over $200 million,Mufasaprobably has enough gas left in the tank to pass a few more milestones.
The movie is directed by the Oscar-winnerBarry Jenkins, who remains best-known for having made the Best Picture winnerMoonlight; Jenkins has also directed the acclaimed dramaIf Beale Street Could Talkand the ambitious Prime Video seriesThe Underground Railroad. He didn’t seem too pleased with his experience on the visual effects-heavyMufasa, and said in an interview withVulturethat he would like to go back to his roots next.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Earned Mixed Reviews
Mufasais Jenkins' lowest-rated project according to the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, where it holds a 55% score. But it’s by far the most successful movie that Jenkins has made. Thanks to their performance, the two photo-realistic The Lion King movies have generated over $2 billion worldwide. The movie featuresAaron PierreandKelvin Harrison Jr.in the lead roles, alongside returning starsSeth Rogen,Billy Eichner,Beyoncé, andJohn Kani.
You can watchMufasa: The Lion Kingin theaters now, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Simba, having become king of the Pride Lands, is determined for his cub to follow in his paw prints while the origins of his late father Mufasa are explored.
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