Disney’s highly anticipated prequel film “Mufasa: The Lion King” is the focus of attention as the box office approaches the crucial holiday season. According to the latest projections from the Quorum tracking service, the Barry Jenkins-directed origin story is eyeing a powerful $59 million to $66 million opening weekend when it hits theaters on December 20th.
A Roaring Start In The Works
This six-week-out forecast is certainly an encouraging sign for the film, which will be facing off against Paramount’s “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” on the same weekend. On Quorum’s “Pay to See” scale, which measures audience intent to shell out money to see a film, “Mufasa” is scoring a stellar 62, putting it right up there with other Thanksgiving blockbusters like “Wicked,” “Gladiator II,” and “Moana 2.”
The data suggests “Mufasa” is resonating strongly with female audiences, while “Sonic 3” skews more toward male moviegoers. Additionally, “Mufasa” looks poised to capture the crucial over-35 demographic, a key segment of the moviegoing population.
An All-Star Voice Cast
Audiences are clearly eager to learn the untold origin story of Simba’s father, the beloved King Mufasa. The film boasts an impressive voice cast that includes Aaron Pierre as the titular lion, Donald Glover as the young Simba, Thandiwe Newton as Sarabi, and Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as the iconic duo Pumbaa and Timon.
Capitalizing On The Holiday Corridor
The weekend before Christmas has historically been home to some of the biggest box office openings of all time, with films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” posting a staggering $260 million debut in this coveted corridor.
While the opening weekend is crucial, it’s the film’s long-term performance that truly matters, with movies in this December timeframe typically enjoying a 5–6x increase from their initial bow. This year, with Christmas falling on a Wednesday, the post-holiday period promises to be a feast for moviegoers, with many attending 2-3 films in the first few weeks of the new year.
Building On The Success Of The 2019 “Lion King” Remake
“Mufasa: The Lion King” serves as a prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 photorealistic remake of the Disney classic. That film opened to a massive $191.7 million and went on to gross $543.6 million domestically and $1.66 billion globally.
While Disney declined to comment on the latest projections, the studio will no doubt be hoping that “Mufasa” can tap into the same well of nostalgia and audience enthusiasm that propelled the 2019 film to such lofty heights.
An Expansive Journey Of Misfits
According to the official synopsis, “Mufasa: The Lion King” will “enlist Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick.” Told through flashbacks, the story will introduce Mufasa as an orphaned cub who crosses paths with a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline.
This chance encounter sets in motion an “expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny” as they work together to “evade a threatening and deadly foe.” With its blend of live-action filmmaking techniques and state-of-the-art computer-generated imagery, “Mufasa: The Lion King” promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally resonant addition to the beloved Disney franchise. Audiences will have their chance to experience the epic tale when the film opens in theaters on December 20, 2024.
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