Paramount's third Sonic the Hedgehog film is off to a fast start, earning $6.5 million in Thursday previews - the best ever for the movie franchise.

Why it matters: The strong preview numbers put Sonic 3 on track for a $60 million-plus opening, continuing the series' box office success.

By the numbers: Sonic 3 outpaced the 2022 movie sequel, which earned $6.25 million in previews before a $72.1 million opening.

  • The first Sonic film brought in $3 million in previews, leading to a $58 million debut.
Date Sonic 1 (2020) Sonic 2 (2022) Sonic 3 (2024)
Thursday $3,000,000 $6,250,000 $6,500,000
Friday $20,924,364 $26,381,096 $0
Saturday $41,476,989 $53,279,481 $0
Sunday $58,018,348 $72,105,176 $0

Meanwhile, Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King posted $3.3 million in previews, despite premium IMAX availability.

  • Mufasa was initially projected to open north of $50 million, but its preview numbers suggest a more modest debut, per Deadline.

What to watch: Sonic 3 has an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 98% audience score. Mufasa sits at 57%.

  • While Sonic 3 is expected to dominate the weekend, Disney is banking on strong holiday legs for Mufasa, with Christmas Day historically driving a surge in ticket sales.