I bet you weren’t aware that there was a classic David vs. Goliath battle during the 2024 Christmas season: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 versus Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.
On one side, a video game franchise on the rise, driven by heart and fan service. On the other, Disney’s latest “live-action” (I mean, it’s still animation made to look real) attempt to recapture nostalgia with a prequel to The Lion King, focusing on Mufasa.
From the start, this was an uphill battle for Disney. The Lion King (1994) remains a classic, a standout of the Disney Renaissance. Its 2019 “live-action” remake, however, sparked heated debates. Critics called it a soulless rewarming of a classic, swapping vibrant animation for photorealistic visuals that lacked emotional depth. But Disney doubled down and came back with Mufasa.
Sonic 3, on the other hand, leaned into its strengths. The film embraced its roots, adapting the beloved Sonic Adventure 2 video game storyline by bringing Shadow, one of the franchise’s most iconic characters, to the big screen.
Unlike Disney, Paramount has worked hard to listen to its audience. From redesigning Sonic in the first film to improving storylines in sequels, the franchise has evolved into a crowd-pleaser for both casual moviegoers and hardcore fans. Most importantly they had Jim Carey playing two characters in the film.
Both movies came out on the same day (December 20, 2024).
The box office numbers reflect this battle for the holidays. Over the Christmas weekend, Mufasa edged out Sonic 3, earning $23.8 million to Sonic’s $21.2 million. However, as the week progressed, Sonic 3 gained momentum, with audiences praising its mix of fun and nostalgia.
Globally, as I write this, Mufasa leads with $626 million, but much of that came from its full international release at a very early stage. Meanwhile, Sonic 3 sits at $446 million.
So, you’re thinking Mufasa won. Here’s the kicker: Sonic 3 was released globally much later than Mufasa. In fact, it hit most of the global market in mid-January. And there’s another reason, Sonic 3 beat Mufasa in the domestic market (US): Sonic 3 made $226 million, while Mufasa made $221 million.
So, you’re probably sitting there thinking, oh, this was only financial. No, there’s more—it’s cultural. Disney, once a giant of innovation, now faces criticism for its reliance on remakes. Audiences are growing tired of the same stories with a fresh coat of paint, and Mufasa feels emblematic of that fatigue.
In contrast, Sonic is coming into its own by leaning into its playful, self-aware tone. The lighter approach, paired with Shadow’s darker narrative, strikes a balance that appeals to audiences looking for both heart and action.
Disney’s recent struggle with critical flops and declining interest in its reboots signals a need for change. On the other hand, the success of video game adaptations like Sonic shows that audiences are hungry for fresh takes on familiar IP's.
Even though we all know that Mufasa is going to make a lot of money, let’s not kid ourselves, Disney still has younger audiences in their mouse palm, what’s becoming clear is that audiences want more than nostalgia. Some want stories with heart and innovation, while others just want respect for their source material. All in all, I’m just glad that Sonic is giving the king of the jungle a run for his money.
Personally, Sonic 3 is a far superior cinematic experience than Mufasa and this is just looking at from an entertainment point of view.
