“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” emerged as the top performer at the box office on Christmas Eve, earning $7.5 million from 3,700 theaters across North America. The film, part of an animated trilogy featuring the beloved blue hedgehog, is projected to gross around $50 million during the five-day holiday weekend, having already accumulated $60 million domestically. It is set to officially release on Christmas Day.
Following closely was Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which earned $7.1 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to $49.6 million and exceeding $150 million globally. This prequel of the iconic “Lion King” is expected to reach approximately $45 million over the same holiday span.
New releases entering the box office competition include “A Complete Unknown,” a Bob Dylan biopic, “Nosferatu,” a remake of the classic horror, and “Babygirl,” an erotic thriller. “A Complete Unknown,” starring Timothée Chalamet, made $1.4 million in previews. It is anticipated to gross around $15 million in its opening weekend, but the film carries a production budget of $60 million to $70 million.
Meanwhile, “Nosferatu” has generated significant interest and is on track to earn $25 million in its initial five days after its release. Directed by Robert Eggers and featuring a star-studded cast, the film’s estimated production budget is around $50 million.
“Baby Girl,” starring Nicole Kidman, opens in 2,100 theaters and is projected to gross approximately $7 million by the weekend’s end.
Other films like “Wicked” and “Moana 2” are anticipated to earn about $20 million to $22 million through the holiday. “Wicked” has already grossed around $400 million domestically, while “Moana 2,” initially intended for streaming, has become a box office success, grossing $366 million in the U.S.