Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King continues its strong box office run, raking in $671 million worldwide after eight weekends.
The photorealistic prequel added $8.5 million over the weekend, bringing its domestic earnings to $235 million and its international total to $432.9 million. With little competition in its way, the film is inching closer to the $700 million mark.
While Mufasa’s numbers are impressive, they fall far short of its predecessor, The Lion King (2019), which soared to $1.66 billion globally.
Still, the film’s rebound from a sluggish start is crucial for Disney, considering its hefty $200 million production budget and an additional $100 million spent on marketing.
‘Paddington in Peru’ Crosses $100M Before U.S. Debut
Meanwhile, Paddington in Peru, the third entry in the beloved Paddington franchise, has reached a major milestone with $104 million in international earnings. The film is yet to release in the U.S. and Canada, where it is set to premiere on February 14.
Like its predecessors, Paddington in Peru is performing exceptionally well overseas, solidifying its place as a global favorite. StudioCanal fully financed the film, with Sony handling distribution in key markets, including North America and Latin America.
Box Office Struggles for ‘Love Hurts’ and ‘Dog Man’
Not all films are enjoying box office success. Universal’s action-comedy Love Hurts, starring Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, had a disastrous debut, earning just $1.075 million from 31 international markets.
Combined with its weak $5.8 million domestic opening, the film has grossed only $6.8 million worldwide. With an $18 million production budget, Love Hurts may struggle to break even.
Similarly, Universal’s animated film Dog Man failed to make a strong impact, collecting $6.5 million from 41 overseas markets.
While it performed decently in the UK and Ireland with a $4 million opening, it struggled elsewhere. The film has now earned $54.1 million domestically and $66 million globally, which is just above its $40 million budget.
Looking Ahead
With Mufasa nearing the $700 million milestone and Paddington in Peru showing strong international momentum, the box office remains dynamic. However, misfires like Love Hurts and Dog Man highlight the unpredictability of theatrical releases.
As February unfolds, upcoming films will test whether box office momentum can continue or if audiences will hold off for bigger spring releases.
