Mufasa: The Lion KingandSonic the Hedgehog 3continue their battle for box office dominance. Both debuted in theaters on the same day, June 11, 2025, and thrived over the holiday weekend as the latest juggernauts in their respective franchises.Sonic the Hedgehog 3erupted from the video game franchise and serves as a sequel to the 2020 and 2022 movies.Mufasa, on the other hand, serves as the sequel toDisney’s live-action remake,The Lion King(2019), which earned $1.65 billion at the worldwide box office.
According to a report byDeadline,MufasaandSonic the Hedgehog 3reached the $230 million domestic milestonein the same weekend. Both remain neck-and-neck despite having been in theaters for roughly seven weeks.Sonic the Hedgehog 3is slightly ahead ofMufasa, having earned $230.5 million toMufasa’s $230 million. Still,Mufasaearned $6.6 million this weekend, and its rival earned just $3.25 million.
What The Box Office Race Means For Sonic And Mufasa
Sonic Is Losing Momentum, While Mufasa Roars To Victory
This box office battle seems to be a classic example of the tortoise and the hare.Mufasainitially opened with just $35.4 millionat the domestic box office, whileSonicenjoyed a strong $60.1 millionin its opening weekend. Since then,theLion Kingprequelgradually gained speed in the following weeks, ultimately catching up with the Paramount movie. This also comes asMufasaenjoyed minimal weekly drops, indicating its appeal to families during the holidays and slow January release. At this rate, the Disney movie is very likely to surpass the thirdSonicmovie by next week. Check out the chart below, which showcases the momentum swing:
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
$60.1 million
$230.5 million
~$220.5 million
~$450 million
$35.4 million
$230 million
~$406.5 million
~$640 million
On the other hand,Mufasahas been dominant overseas, ushering in over $400 million. Meanwhile,Sonic the Hedgehog 3sits under $225 million, which is not too shabby but doesn’t reach the level that theLion Kingprequel achieved. This makes sense since the Disney franchise may have a broader appeal internationally. Thus, the ultimate battle has been at home, withMufasanow thousands of dollars away from overtakingSonic 3.
Our Take On Mufasa And Sonic’s Competition
Both Are Still Complete Successes
Even thoughMufasais likely to win internationally and domestically,both movies are successful by studio standards. With a budget of $200 million,Mufasaneeded $500 million to achieve box office success after subtracting marketing costs and theater cuts. With over $600 million already, it is easily profitable.Sonicthe Hedgehog 3enjoyed similar success, closing in on the $450 million milestone while on a $122 million budget. Both Disney and Paramount should be happy with their results, even ifMufasa: The Lion Kingdid have a slow start.
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
