On Friday, Dec. 30, people witnessed two of the biggest CGI mammals go head-to-head. Sonic 3, the much-anticipated sequel to Sonic 2, was put head-to-head with the long-awaited Lion King prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King. Though Sonic did indeed make more money on opening weekend, Mufasa has more than caught up, now having a lead of over $100 million. Despite the lead in ticket sales, it is still subjective concerning which film was truly better.
“If you have not seen the new Sonic movie or the new Mufasa movie, go watch them. The Sonic movie is probably cooler,” Jackson Norwood, sophomore, said.
Although many will sing Sonic’s praises, Mufasa is not without its supporters. For years, people have wanted more from the beloved Lion King franchise, and this film has brought just that. Mufasa and Scar’s relationship before Simba’s birth and what led to their hatred for each other is told on a grand scale. Despite dying in the original film, Mufasa and Scar have lived on in pop culture as icons in the Disney catalogue. Many people grew up watching this animated classic, so it is no surprise that people are excited for the new feature.
“I am very excited to see Mufasa. I heard the music in it is good, and I think it will be better than Sonic 3,” Dree Kelava, junior, said.
Mufasa may have amused its audience, but Sonic 3 was a dream come true for fans. Miraculously it managed to improve on every single part of the first two films. The action, characters and plot were all at their best. It honored the deep lore of the video games it is based on while remaining entertaining for newer audiences.
“I saw both and I much more enjoyed Sonic. Mufasa was alright but Sonic was sick,” Lilah Cottone, freshman, said.
Despite all these different opinions, there are some objective victories each film took over the other. Sonic has the higher Rotten Tomatoes score with an 85%, while Mufasa is trailing behind with 55%. Mufasa has reigned victorious when it comes to earnings. In the first two weeks of release, Sonic made $211 million opposed to Mufasa’s $327 million.
“After a close holiday battle with Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King safely pulled ahead to win,” Pamela Mcclintock, reporter for Hollywood Reporter, said here.
Although neither movie was a failure, it is certain that the blue blur has won over the public favor. Since the summer of 2023, people have been anticipating a big-screen clash like Barbie vs Oppenheimer. Wait and see which titans will battle for the Box Office next.
