Mufasa’s Box Office Success Boosts Chances for Another Live-Action The Lion King Film

The remarkable success at the box office of Mufasa: The Lion King has paved the way for Disney to consider a follow-up to its live-action Lion King series. Directed by the acclaimed Barry Jenkins, this film delves into the backstory of Mufasa, Simba’s father, alongside the narrative of Scar, Mufasa’s misguided brother. The film features a diverse cast, including Aaron Pierre (from Rebel Ridge), Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and Thandiwe Newton.

Although Mufasa: The Lion King has not achieved the staggering global box office totals of its 2019 predecessor, it has still emerged as one of 2024’s leading blockbusters. The original 2019 rendition of The Lion King, helmed by Jon Favreau, amassed a monumental $1.662 billion, securing its spot as one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Interestingly, it did not even clinch the top-performing film title in that groundbreaking year, as Avengers: Endgame took the crown with an astonishing $2.8 billion.

Mufasa: The Lion King on Track to Profitability for Disney

Projected to Exceed $600 Million Worldwide and Rank as 2024’s 7th Highest-Grossing Film

As of now, Mufasa: The Lion King has garnered approximately $542.3 million globally, positioning it strategically to surpass Kung Fu Panda 4 ($547.7 million) and possibly reach Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ($571.8 million). With a production budget of $200 million, films typically need to earn about 2.5 times their budget to break even, marking $500 million as the threshold for profitability that Mufasa has already crossed. The upcoming weeks will determine if it can reach the $600 million milestone, although surpassing Wicked’s anticipated $700 million may prove challenging.

Mufasa’s current projection indicates profitability for Disney based solely on its box office performance. This figure does not account for additional revenue streams, such as streaming rights and merchandise—a hallmark advantage for beloved franchises like The Lion King. Even if Mufasa doesn’t reach $700 million, its anticipated earnings of $600 million or above is a noteworthy success that reinforces Disney’s confidence in producing another live-action Lion King installment before the decade concludes.

Confidence in Future Lion King Installments After Mufasa’s Success

Mufasa as a Success Story Even Without Top Box Office Rankings

Mufasa, Rafiki, Sarabi, and Taka viewing a breathtaking mountain landscape in Mufasa The Lion King

While Mufasa’s potential $600 million earnings may seem modest compared to the $1.6 billion achieved by 2019’s adaptation, its overall performance signals a continued substantial interest in the Lion King franchise. This interest justifies the creation of new live-action adaptations. While prequels have found favor in franchise expansions, they often do not match the box office success of sequels, as illustrated by the less-than-stellar performance of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Given that The Lion King 2 already has a classic animated sequel from 1998 to draw from, a live-action version could very well be on the horizon.

Source & Images