Adapted by:
John Tones
WriterI've been writing about culture for twenty-something years and, at Xataka, I cover everything related to movies, video games, TV shows, comics, and pop culture.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
The initial box office numbers of Mufasa: The Lion King, the prequel to the 2019 hit, weren’t very impressive. Following the Dumbo and Pinocchio flops, they seem to confirm that Disney’s live-action remakes had lost their appeal. However, Mufasa has ultimately become a huge success for the company, largely thanks to a strategy that many considered outdated: maintaining its presence in theaters.
Ups and downs. Mufasa faced stiff competition from Wicked, Moana 2, and particularly Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The Paramount Pictures film has grossed nearly $500 million, making it the second most successful video game adaptation in history. It’s also the best-performing title in the franchise, with a bright future ahead.
Sonic 3 had a strong debut. Meanwhile, Mufasa fell significantly short of expectations despite topping the charts with $35 million from its opening weekend. The sequel grossed $200 million less than the original film when it premiered, a 30% decrease from what Disney had anticipated.
Gaining momentum. Concerns quickly arose at Disney: Was it franchise fatigue? Notably, The Lion King is one of the most popular musicals of all time, while Simba and his friends are very popular among Disney Park visitors.
Fortunately for Disney, Mufasa soon followed the expected trend, contributing to a successful year for the studio. Disney experienced a triumphant Thanksgiving weekend with Moana 2 and set records with Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Thanks to positive word of mouth, Mufasa topped the charts for five weeks and started 2025 with $600 million in total earnings.
This success was largely attributed to a well-thought-out strategic decision.
Contrary to expectations. Disney made the strategic decision not to release Mufasa on Disney+ for Christmas. This choice likely had some executives on edge, especially given the film’s weak opening at the box office. However, if it had been released on Disney+ during that time, it wouldn’t have topped the charts for five weeks. Overall, the film has grossed $712.9 million, making it the seventh highest-grossing film in 2024.
The company will finally release Mufasa on Disney+ on March 26.
A perfect storm. After Christmas, Mufasa benefited from the release of films not aimed at children, such as Wolf Man, and the fact that the songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda went viral on TikTok. Most importantly, there was a noticeable recovery in confidence in theaters, where movies could perform well again rather than being seen merely as a precursor to streaming releases.
A thing of the past. The newly recovered confidence in theaters marks a significant shift away from one of the pandemic’s biggest stigmas. Many used to believe that the industry wouldn’t regain pre-COVID attendance levels. Although 2024’s $8.75 billion in domestic box office falls short of the pre-pandemic levels of more than $11 billion, it’s clear that the industry is rebounding. The confidence in theaters, bolstered by successful releases like Mufasa, reinforces that positive outlook.
Image | Disney
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