Two family-oriented films took center stage at the holiday box office this week, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” edging out “Mufasa” by a slim margin.
According to estimates released by studios on Sunday, Paramount’s latest Sonic installment grossed $38 million, while Disney’s “Mufasa” garnered $37.1 million from theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Typically, such numbers would clearly indicate a winner for the three-day weekend. However, due to the Christmas holiday occurring midweek, studios analyze both the three-day weekend earnings and the five-day total. In this case, “Mufasa” took the lead with a five-day haul of $63.8 million.
The holiday box office appears to be thriving, benefitting from the impressive performance of films like “Wicked” and “Moana 2,” both in their sixth and fifth weekends, respectively.
In addition, the release of the vampire horror film “Nosferatu” marked a successful debut as it stood out among a lineup of Christmas Day newcomers. Directed by Robert Eggers, this modern take on the classic 1922 silent film features stars Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp. “Nosferatu” secured third place at the box office with $21.2 million for the weekend, accumulating $40.3 million over its first five days. Notably, it set a record for the highest Christmas Day opening for a genre film with an impressive $11.6 million.
Opening “Nosferatu” on Christmas was a strategic gamble, as family films often dominate during this time. Nevertheless, it effectively attracted the sought-after demographic of 18 to 34-year-olds to theaters.
“It was a risky choice, but we had confidence in the film,” stated Lisa Bunnell, who oversees distribution for Focus Features. “Many believed we were making a mistake, but perhaps that doubt only reinforced our belief in the decision.”
The film’s unique approach has proved rewarding, with themed popcorn buckets inspired by the film selling for over $100.
Bunnell articulated the need to innovate to entice audiences back into theaters. “To draw people back in, we need to mix things up,” she remarked. “You can’t keep offering the same type of content repeatedly.”
The Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, also had a strong opening, raking in $11.6 million for the weekend and totaling $23.2 million since Christmas. Its five-day total is a record for Searchlight Pictures post-acquisition by Disney in early 2019, receiving acclaim from both critics and audiences.
The A24 film “Babygirl,” directed by Halina Reijn, opened across 2,115 screens, earning $4.4 million over the weekend and $7.2 million since Christmas. The film stars Nicole Kidman as a married CEO who starts a relationship with a young intern, played by Harris Dickinson. Kidman’s performance has already brought her accolades, winning the best acting prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Meanwhile, “The Fire Inside,” from Amazon MGM Studios, struggled to gain traction despite favorable reviews, accumulating $4.3 million overall, with $2 million from weekend screenings in 2,006 theaters.
Thanksgiving’s releases continued to attract audiences during the Christmas timeframe, with “Wicked” securing fourth place by earning an additional $19.5 million, which elevated its domestic total to $424.2 million. The lavish musical will be available for home rental or purchase soon, a decision that has faced criticism regarding potential profit impact.
Rounding out the top five, “Moana 2” earned $18.2 million and has reached a worldwide total of $882.5 million, nearing $400 million domestically.
Christmas Day itself was exceptional for the box office, amassing $61 million in ticket sales, while the day before also produced impressive results with $50 million.
“Every day felt like a Saturday at the box office due to the way the holidays unfolded,” remarked Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore.
Comscore projects that the annual domestic box office will total around $8.75 billion, reflecting a decline of 3.3% from the previous year, which surpassed $9 billion, and a decrease from the pre-pandemic average of $11 billion.
Final domestic figures will be available shortly. For now, estimated ticket sales for the weekend from U.S. and Canadian theaters show:
1. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” $38 million.
2. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” $37.1 million.
3. “Nosferatu,” $21.2 million.
4. “Wicked,” $19.5 million.
5. “Moana 2,” $18.2 million.
6. “A Complete Unknown,” $11.6 million.
7. “Babygirl,” $4.4 million.
8. “Gladiator II,” $4.2 million.
9. “Homestead,” $3.2 million.
10. “The Fire Inside,” $2 million.
