Disney's Mufasa's ending, audiences understand Mufasa and Scar in a new light, while the movie teases potential future stories through Kiara.

The Lion King franchise as a whole is incredibly loved by Disney fans, and the fact that both Mufasa and its 2019 predecessor have been successful retellings proves that Disney's live-action remakes can be lucrative when done right. At the time of writing, Mufasa has grossed $721.6 million worldwide, more than making back its $200 million budget (via highest-grossing movies of 2024, highlighting just how much better the movie was received than Disney's recent remake attempt with Snow White.

Mufasa: The Lion King Had A Lower Box Office Opening Weekend Than Snow White

Snow White Bested Mufasa For Just 4 Days

Mufasa received its wide release alongside Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on December 20, 2024, and came in second of the two during its opening weekend. Going into the holidays, Mufasa was initially expected to gross $50 million during its opening weekend, which was later lowered to $36 to 38 million (via Deadline). Mufasa ultimately ended up opening at $35.4 million. The movie received mixed reviews and projections did not look great in its initial days, but it went on to be far more successful than anyone predicted.

Movie

Budget

Opening Weekend Gross

Current Worldwide Gross

Mufasa: The Lion King

$200 million

$35.4 million

$721.6 million

Snow White

$240-270 million

$42.2 million

$168.6 million

In contrast, Snow White, which struggled to overcome controversy leading up to its release, actually had a better opening weekend. The film was initially predicted to gross $63 to 70 million in its opening weekend, which (like Mufasa) was later lowered to $45 to 55 million (via Deadline). Snow White managed to gross $42.2 million in its first weekend and topped the box office, but it fell off sharply during its second weekend.

How Mufasa: The Lion King Still Became A Box Office Success

Mufasa Maintained Its Popularity Well

Mufasa having a worse opening weekend than Snow White is incredibly unusual given how successful it later became, especially when Snow White will certainly not be able to follow its lead. While Mufasa did not fare too well during its opening weekend, the movie did have great legs that allowed it to retain its popularity. It was a holiday release that was family-friendly, and, importantly, it got a lot of good press from social media where the movie's new songs and story gained attention.

Mufasa with his parents in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Related
Disney’s Follow-Up Movie To The Lion King’s 2019 Live-Action Remake Is Now Streaming, 3 Months After Making $719 Million In Theaters

After its very successful box office run, Mufasa: The Lion King has finally arrived on streaming, ing the previous The Lion King film on Disney+.

Compared to other movies with similar opening weekends, Mufasa is far above what would typically be expected, while Snow White has fallen slightly below. Mufasa grossed more domestically by its third week than Snow White has currently, but the biggest difference is how well the two have done globally. Internationally, Mufasa earned $466.2 million during its theatrical run, whereas Snow White has only grossed $91.3 million so far (via The Numbers). Thus, it seems audiences both in the U.S. and abroad favored Mufasa: The Lion King, leaving Snow White far behind.

Source: Box Office Mojo, Deadline, The Numbers

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    Mufasa: The Lion King
    PG
    Adventure
    Family
    Animation
    7/10
    155
    8.4/10
    Release Date
    December 18, 2024
    Runtime
    118 minutes
    Director
    Barry Jenkins

    Cast

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    • Headshot Of Aaron Pierre
      Aaron Pierre
      Mufasa (voice)
    • headshot Of Kelvin Harrison Jr.
      Kelvin Harrison Jr.
      Taka (voice)

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    Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.

    Writers
    Jeff Nathanson
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    Snow White
    PG
    Family
    Fantasy
    5/10
    333
    3.5/10
    Release Date
    March 21, 2025
    Runtime
    109 Minutes
    Director
    Marc Webb
    Writers
    Erin Cressida Wilson, Wilhelm Grimm
    Producers
    Callum McDougall, Marc Platt

    Cast

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    • Headshot Of Rachel Zegler
      Rachel Zegler
      Snow White
    • Headshot Of Gal Gadot
      Gal Gadot
      Evil Queen

    A live-action adaptation of the classic fairy tale. The film follows Snow White as she escapes into the forest and seeks refuge with seven dwarfs to elude her jealous stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is threatened by Snow White's suring beauty.