‘Mufasa’ leads holiday box office with $26.7 million

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King dominated the holiday box office, securing the top spot with a two-day total of $26.7 million. It edged out Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which grossed $22 million over the same period, maintaining the heated race for Christmas season supremacy.

Holiday spending boosts box office

The 2024 holiday box office saw a modest increase compared to 2023, with a two-day total of $116 million. However, this figure remains far below pre-pandemic levels. From 2016 to 2019, similar periods grossed between $138 million and $177 million, adjusted to today’s prices, reflecting attendance drops of up to 50%.

‘Nosferatu’ and ‘A Complete Unknown’ impress

Nosferatu (Focus Features) and A Complete Unknown (Searchlight) exceeded expectations. Nosferatu garnered $19.1 million in two days, with strong action-oriented appeal despite a lower Cinemascore. A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, earned $11.5 million, signaling potential longevity bolstered by its Oscar buzz.

Holiday holdovers stay strong

Universal’s Wicked added $12.4 million over two days, crossing the $400 million domestic mark and solidifying its position as the third-highest-grossing film of 2024. Disney’s Moana 2 followed closely, earning $10.1 million and surpassing $376 million domestically.

Smaller titles struggle

Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl (A24) and Amazon MGM’s The Fire Inside underperformed, earning $2.9 million and $2.3 million respectively over two days. Meanwhile, Paramount’s A Better Man, a Robbie Williams biopic, struggled in limited release, grossing only $17,000 in five theaters.

Weekend outlook

With December 26 figures offering a better forecast, the holiday weekend box office could see further reshuffling. Films like Mufasa, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Nosferatu are expected to lead, while audience favorites like Wicked and Moana 2 continue their strong runs.

Two-Day Box Office (Dec. 25-26)

1. Mufasa (Disney) – $26.7 million
2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Paramount) – $22.0 million
3. Nosferatu (Focus) – $19.1 million
4. Wicked (Universal) – $12.4 million
5. A Complete Unknown (Searchlight) – $11.5 million
6. Moana 2 (Disney) – $10.1 million
7. Babygirl (A24) – $2.9 million
8. Gladiator II (Paramount) – $2.8 million
9. The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM) – $2.3 million
10. Homestead (Angel) – $2.2 million

As the holiday season progresses, the box office performance offers a mixed picture, with a few standout hits balancing underwhelming results for smaller releases.