Yahoo Lifestyle ‘Mufasa’ Underperforms As Big Cat Has Sleepy $122M WW Start; Still Room To Grow – International Box Office
SUNDAY UPDATE: The big new cat this weekend landed with more of a meh than a roar as Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King pounced on a $122.2M worldwide start. That’s way below our pre-weekend projections, and just slightly under where we saw this prequel yesterday. The international box office bow was $87.2M, 29% ahead of Wonka.
There are combined factors here; among them: it’s a prequel and it’s not a rush-out for families busy with holidays. Domestically, Mufasa was outrun by Sonic the Hedgehog 3 which doesn’t open internationally until Christmas Day. It’s likely we see some Mufasa uptick across the holiday frame, and a potential $600M global finish.
More from Deadline
Disney Tops $5B Global Box Office In 2024, First Studio To The Mark Post-Pandemic
Walter Salles' 'I'm Still Here' Nears $11M In Brazil; 7th Biggest Local Title This Century
Breaking it down, Mufasa was the top opener in all Euro markets (except Norway). Across Latin America, Mufasa: The Lion King opened at No. 1 in every market, ahead of both Wonka and Jumanji: The Next Level in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina as well as across the region as a whole in like-for-like markets at current rates.
In APAC, it was No. 1 non-local everywhere.
While China’s start was muted, the film had solid social scores with Maoyan at 9.2, TPP at 9.5 and Douban 6.7 (vs Lion King’s 8.8/8.7/7.2). The opening weekend is 583% ahead of Wicked and 157% ahead of Gladiator II.
Overall, excluding China, the international opening is 23% ahead of Wonka and -19% behind Jumanji: The Next Level and Aladdin in like-for-like markets at current rates.
Here are the Top 5 bows: China ($7.8M), France ($7.7M), Mexico ($7.1M), UK ($5.5M) and Germany ($5M).
In better and continuing news for Dis, Moana 2 is closing in on $800M global. The worldwide total through Sunday is an estimated $790.2M. Overseas, Moana 2 is about to pass Dune: Part Two, to become the No. 4 studio release of 2024. The international weekend was $32.8M (-44%) for a running cume of $431.1M.
Here are Moana 2’s Top 5 so far: France ($46M), UK ($37.6M), Germany ($29M); Mexico ($26.2M) and Brazil ($24M).
Universal’s Wicked added another $12.6M in 81 overseas markets, reaching an international cume of $187.4M. This lifts global to $571.3M. In 46 markets, the movie is now the No. 1 stage musical adaptation of all time. The offshore weekend hold was -34% with continued strong play in the UK, Germany and Australia, notably.
The Top 5 to date are the UK ($60.8M), Australia ($22.5M), Korea ($13.1M), Mexico ($9.6M) and Germany ($8M).
Also, huzzahs to Paramount’s Gladiator II passing $400M global this weekend, now with $416.2M.
MISC UPDATED CUMES/NOTABLE
Kraven the Hunter (SNY): $5.8M intl weekend (62 markets); $25.4M intl cume/$42.8M
Gladiator II (PAR): $5.4M intl weekend (65 markets); $262.3M intl cume/$416.2M global
Conclave (FNE): $3.1M intl weekend (29 markets); $23.2M intl cume/$54.3M global
Red One (WB): $2M intl weekend (70 markets); $86.6M intl cume/$182M global
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (WB): $1.2M intl weekend (64 markets); $8M intl cume/$15.4M global
I’m Still Here (SNY): $324K intl weekend (Brazil only); $10.7M Brazil cume
PREVIOUS, SATURDAY: Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King is not as regal as hoped in its global debut. The cume through three days of international box office play is $33M, which, with the domestic outlook, portends a $125M worldwide start through Sunday. That’s far off pre-weekend projections of a $180M worldwide debut.
Domestically, as Anthony has detailed, is leaning hard into Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3. That movie doesn’t begin rollout internationally until next weekend, so Mufasa has offshore markets to itself this session.
But the lion is not roaring from the get-go offshore, and there is still a lot of family play to go around (ie Dis’ own Moana 2 as well as Wicked). Nevertheless, holiday distractions are an overall factor and the hope is for more traction as time frees up.
The current through-Friday of $33M is 28% ahead of last year’s Christmas release, Wonka; and on par with Disney’s Aladdin (which ended up with magic carpet legs) on a like-for-like basis.
Mufasa so far has opened as the No. 1 non-local movie in all markets (it’s notably being beat by the second frame of a Korean movie in that market).
The top starts on the prequel through Friday are Mexico ($3.3M), France ($3M) and UK/Brazil/Germany at $2M apiece. China looks set for $8M through Sunday; not a patch on the previous Lion King, but perhaps enough to win the weekend there.
Social scores are solid in many markets and there is runway ahead.
We’ll have a full update on Sunday.
Best of Deadline
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
