Mufasa: The Lion King’ dominates box office amid new Hollywood releases

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King reclaimed the top spot at the box office during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, earning an estimated $17 million over the four-day frame as reported by Variety. Now in its fifth weekend, the prequel has surpassed $200 million domestically, solidifying its place among 2024’s top 10 North American releases. Strong word-of-mouth and minimal week-to-week drops have sustained its momentum, with Friday’s $2.5 million marking only a 13% decline from the previous week.

In new releases One of Them Days and Wolf Man struggled to dethrone the Disney powerhouse. Sony’s R-rated comedy One of Them Days, starring SZA and Keke Palmer, opened with $4.3 million on Friday, and is projected to earn over $14 million in its debut weekend. With a modest $14 million budget, strong reviews, and an A- CinemaScore, the comedy could achieve steady growth.

Universal’s horror remake Wolf Man, directed by Leigh Whannell, slightly edged out One of Them Days in early earnings, with $4.4 million on Friday, but is expected to gross just $12 million over four days, falling short of its $17 million projection. Mixed reviews and a C- CinemaScore pose challenges for the film’s $25 million budget.

Other highlights include Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which added $1.7 million Friday, bringing its domestic total to $218 million after 31 days, and Lionsgate’s Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which dropped 53% from its debut, earning $7 million for a $27 million total.

Despite competition, Mufasa: The Lion King continues to reign supreme, driven by nostalgia, compelling visuals, and strong family audience turnout, securing its position as a box office success of 2024.