Mufasa: The Lion Kinghas just crossed a new box office milestone, beating Emma Stone’s Oscar-winning film to enter a prestigious top-10 list. Directed by Barry Jenkins, theLion Kingprequel movie chronicles Mufasa’s origin as he embarks on an epic journey with fellow lion Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline.Mufasareviewshave been mixed from critics, but the film has fared generally well with audiences, becoming a box office success.
New data fromThe Numbersnow reveals thatMufasahas grossed $542 million worldwide, surpassingLa La Land($506M) to become the tenth highest-grossing movie musical of all time. This worldwide total comprises $189 million domestic and $352 million from overseas territories. TheLion Kingprequel currently falls short of titles likeThe Little Mermaid,Mamma Mia!, andWonka. Check out the full top 10 list and their worldwide totals below:
1
2019
2
2013
3
Beauty and the Beast
2017
4
5
2024
6
2016
7
2023
8
2008
9
10
What Mufasa’s Box Office Means For The Movie
How It Compares To The Lion King
Mufasawas made on an estimated production budget of $200 million, putting its break-even point between $400 million and $500 million, using the traditional Hollywood rule of thumb. Purely from a financial perspective, then, theLion Kingprequel is a success. When looking at its predecessor and the reviews, however, a slightly more complicated picture emerges.
15 Mufasa: The Lion King Easter Eggs, References & Franchise Callbacks Explained
Mufasa: The Lion King is full of references and Easter eggs from not only the 2019 and 1994 movies, but the Broadway musical and book series as well.
As of writing, the Disney film has only a 56% onRotten Tomatoes, with critics praising some of the songs and voice performances from theMufasavoice cast, but taking issue with the photoreal animation style and certain story choices. This score puts it just ahead of 2019’sThe Lion King, which has a 51% score, but the prequel falls short when it comes to box office.The 2019 movie, which was directed by Jon Favreau, was a massive hit, grossing $1.656 billion, a numberMufasawill clearly not be reaching.
Our Take On Mufasa’s New Box Office Milestone
What Other Musical Movies The Prequel Could Beat
It’s coming up on a month sinceMufasawas released in theaters, meaningits major earning window is winding to a close. Though it will surely continue a steady performance over the next month, it won’t be hitting $1 billion. When all is said and done, theLion Kingprequelcould end up beatingThe Little MermaidandMamma Mia!,but beatingWonkais looking like a stretch.
In any case, it’s clear thatMufasahas done its job for Disney, andit ultimately marks a strong end to 2024 for the company after a disappointing 2023. Even though reception to the movie hasn’t been glowing from critics, the 89% RT audience score suggests its connecting with its target audience, which is all that matters.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
