Theater counts: Mufasa holds on as widest release for another weekend

January 23, 2025

Last weekend’s box office race was tight as expected, with just over $1.1 million separating the top film from the third place finisher. Despite two new entries making their chart debuts, Mufasa: The Lion King once again found itself at the top of the heap, biting off over $12 million in its fifth weekend on the big screen and crossing the $200 million mark domestically. The film also passed the $600 million worldwide threshold on Wednesday, currently enjoying $600.99 million in global receipts. As another batch of wide releases make their way into theaters, Mufasa will once again take the crown as the widest release in the land.

Arriving new to cinemas this week is the Mel Gibson-directed action-thriller, Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg. Beginning its run in 3,161 locations, the movie follows a pilot who is transporting an Air Marshal accompanying a fugitive to trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions soar and trust is tested, as not everyone on board is who they seem. Gibson has not directed a feature film in nine years, since he helmed the World War II epic, Hacksaw Ridge, a film that earned over $168 million at the worldwide box office. Co-starring alongside Wahlberg is Michelle Dockery and Topher Grace.

Also making its first foray to the big screen is Angel Studios’ drama, Brave the Dark. The film, based on a true story, follows a high school teacher in the 1980s who, after helping one of his students out of trouble, quickly finds himself in a desperate fight to save the boy from his own demons. The Damian Harris-directed film will make its theatrical debut in 2,230 movie houses.

Starting out in 1,750 venues this weekend is the supernatural-horror feature, Presence. The film portrays a family who, after moving into their new home, soon becomes certain that they are not alone, paying particular and unusual attention to their teenage daughter, Chloe. Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, and Julia Fox headline the Steven Soderbergh movie.

Also entering theaters this weekend is the thriller, Inheritance. The movie follows a girl who, after learning her father was once a spy, suddenly finds herself at the center of an international conspiracy. The Neil Burger-directed film will be available in 627 cinemas throughout North America.

Rounding out the top five widest releases this weekend is one of last weekend’s newcomers, Wolf Man, as it retains its opening count of 3,354 locations. Still showing in a wide 3,097 venues is the $220 million domestic earner, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as that film also begins its sixth weekend on the big screen. Lastly, One of Them Days, which took second place on the weekend box office chart, holds steady this weekend, playing in 2,675 locations.

Looking ahead to next weekend, we witness a trio of films making their freshman effort. These include the Jack Quaid and Sophie Hatcher led thriller, Companion, the Dreamworks animated Dog Man, and lastly, North Korean set escape thriller, Valiant One. The former is expected to debut in approximately 3,200 theaters.

Filed under: Theater Counts, The Lion King, Sonic The Hedgehog, Mel Gibson, Mark Wahlberg, Topher Grace, Lucy Alexis Liu, Steven Soderbergh, Jack Quaid, Chris Sullivan, Michelle Dockery, Damian Harris, Sophie Thatcher, Julia Fox