The first weekend of 2025 has been a solid one for the US box office, driven largely by two heavy hitters: Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic 3. Both films, which have been riding high since their December releases, continue to compete fiercely, maintaining a tight race for the top spot.
A Strong Start for 2025 at the Box Office
The US box office experienced a notable boost during the first weekend of January 2025, generating $105.5 million across all films. This represents a 23% increase from the same period in 2024, which brought in $85.9 million. When compared to the post-COVID box office, this is a strong performance—though the record still stands at $106.2 million from 2022, a figure bolstered by the success of Avatar 2 and the surprise hit M3GAN.
As expected, much of the strong box office performance is thanks to the holiday heavyweights, which are still holding steady in theaters. Interestingly, no new films were released in the US over the January 3–5 weekend, giving the battle between Sonic 3 and Mufasa more time to unfold.
Mufasa vs. Sonic 3: The Ongoing Duel
In its third weekend, Mufasa: The Lion King finally took the lead at the domestic box office, bringing in an additional $23.8 million. Sonic 3, which had previously dominated, came in second with $21.2 million. The two films have been neck-and-neck ever since their simultaneous releases on December 18, each competing for dominance in the family blockbuster category.
When Sonic 3 first hit theaters, it appeared poised to crush its competition. With a $60 million opening weekend, far outpacing Mufasa’s $35 million debut, it looked like the blue hedgehog from Sega was on track for a massive success. And indeed, the film ruled the first two weekends. However, Mufasa has shown impressive resilience, with its drop-off between the second and third weeks only 35%, a marked improvement in the world of blockbuster cinema.
As of now, Mufasa has grossed $168 million domestically, while Sonic 3 has earned $187 million. Notably, Sonic 3 has reached a significant milestone, passing the $1 billion mark globally, driven by its $336 million earnings outside the US. The film has already outpaced the original Sonic the Hedgehog (which grossed $319 million, affected by the pandemic in 2020), but it still has some ground to cover if it hopes to surpass the $405 million earned by Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Surprises in the Top 5: Nosferatu and More
The top three may be dominated by these family films, but there’s another contender that continues to impress: Nosferatu, the chilling remake from Robert Eggers. The horror film, which has found an audience during the holiday season, earned an additional $13.2 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to $69.4 million. More importantly, the film has crossed the $100 million mark globally, an impressive feat for a niche horror remake.
Other films rounding out the top five include Vaiana 2 and Wicked, with $12.4 million and $10.2 million, respectively. These films have also proven to be solid contenders in a crowded market, with Vaiana 2 continuing the success of its predecessor and Wicked attracting theatergoers with its musical magic.
Looking Ahead: Will Mufasa or Sonic 3 Finish on Top?
As the box office battle continues, the coming weeks will be crucial for both Mufasa and Sonic 3. Will the lion prequel continue to claw its way forward, or will the Sega icon maintain its lead? One thing is certain: the race between these two juggernauts is far from over, and the stakes remain high for both.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.