Fri Dec 27 19:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Sonic Speeds Past Competition, While “Kraven” Crashes and Burns at Box Office

**Hollywood, CA** – The holiday box office is a mixed bag, with some titles soaring while others plummet. Leading the charge is *Sonic the Hedgehog 3*, which zipped to a $62 million opening weekend, marking Paramount’s best December debut ever and demonstrating the enduring power of the blue blur. The film’s strong performance suggests a potential billion-dollar run for the franchise.

In stark contrast, Sony’s *Kraven the Hunter* continues its disastrous run, grossing a mere $3.1 million in its second weekend, bringing its worldwide total to a paltry $42.8 million. This colossal failure significantly underperforms even other recent Sony Marvel Universe entries like *Morbius* and *Madame Web*, and is considered one of the biggest box office bombs of 2024. Even Dwayne Johnson’s *Red One* is fairing poorly, struggling to reach $100 million domestically, marking his first sub-$100 million international gross since 2016.

Disney’s *Mufasa: The Lion King* prequel opened to $35.5 million domestically, a significant drop from its predecessor’s $191.7 million debut in 2019. While the holiday season traditionally boosts box office numbers, the film’s high production cost ($200 million) raises concerns about its overall profitability despite strong international sales. However, the film’s performance is not expected to be as disastrous as *Lightyear*.

*Wicked: Part One*, meanwhile, continues its strong performance, exceeding $380 million domestically and inching closer to $700 million worldwide. *Moana 2*, another Disney success, is already past $790 million globally, although it’s unlikely to reach initial projections. Other films like *Gladiator 2* and *Homestead* are showing moderate success, while smaller releases are finding success in limited theatrical runs.

The disparity in performance highlights the unpredictable nature of the box office, where even high-profile projects can falter while others defy expectations. The holiday season remains a crucial period for studios, with the final two weeks expected to tell a more definitive story for several of these titles.

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