Box Office Summary

In a thrilling Christmas Eve box office battle, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" stole the spotlight with a remarkable $7.5 million across 3,700 theaters in North America. This latest installment of the beloved franchise is anticipated to sweep in a total of around $50 million during the holiday weekend. So far, the animated film has accumulated $60 million domestically and is set to make its international debut on Christmas Day, making it a must-see for fans around the globe!

Closely trailing behind is Disney's "Mufasa: The Lion King," which brought in an impressive $7.1 million on Christmas Eve. This prequel has now reached a notable $49.6 million in North America and surpassed $150 million globally. Expectations suggest it could rake in an additional $45 million this extended holiday period as audiences flock to theaters.

New Releases and Competition

As we dive deeper into the festive movie releases, three new contenders are climbing into the ring: Searchlight’s Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” Focus Features’ horror remake “Nosferatu,” and A24’s provocative thriller “Babygirl.” While only the first two of these newcomers hosted afternoon previews, all three will officially open on Wednesday. With no massive blockbuster on the calendar this holiday season—unlike past hits such as “Avatar,” “Star Wars,” or “Spider-Man”—the theaters are counting on sustained interest in previous hits like "Moana 2," "Wicked," and "Gladiator II" to bolster ticket sales.

Spotlight on 'A Complete Unknown' and Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet leads “A Complete Unknown” as the iconic Bob Dylan, bringing in $1.4 million from 1,880 locations on Christmas Eve. This figure accounts for early screenings in select Imax and Alamo Drafthouse cinemas. Directed by James Mangold, known for his work on “Walk the Line,” the film is projected to gross around $15 million over the holiday frame. However, with a production budget estimated between $60 million and $70 million, it faces a challenging road to profitability—though its musical biopic genre has seen notable successes recently with films like “Elvis” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

'Nosferatu' and 'Babygirl' in the Mix

Meanwhile, director Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” a gothic retelling of the classic vampire tale, is set for a strong opening and is projected to earn approximately $25 million over its first five days. With a talented cast including Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, and Lily-Rose Depp, this horror flick aims to capture audiences during the festive season and justify its $50 million budget.

In another intriguing entry, “Babygirl,” featuring Nicole Kidman as a high-powered CEO entangled in a scandalous affair, is also joining the competition without any advance previews. The film will premiere in approximately 2,100 theaters and is hoped to earn around $7 million through Sunday.

Returning Favorites and Overall Outlook

As for the returning favorites, “Wicked” and “Moana 2” are each eyeing roughly $3 million from Tuesday’s box office and are expected to tally between $20 million and $22 million throughout the holiday stretch. Universal’s “Wicked” has already amassed close to $400 million domestically and $577 million worldwide, while “Moana 2”—originally intended for streaming—has transformed into a box office sensation with $366 million in the States alone and a staggering $800 million globally.

As the holiday box office race heats up, moviegoers have plenty of exciting options, ensuring a festive viewing experience this season! Stay tuned for more updates on how these films perform as the weekend unfolds!