• Paramount announced "Sonic the Hedgehog 4," just as the third movie is about to release.
• "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is projected to have a bigger domestic opening than "Mufasa: The Lion King."
• 2019's "The Lion King" remake made $1.6 billion worldwide, but the prequel has far lower expectations.

Paramount announced that a new Sonic movie is already in development ahead of the opening weekend for "Sonic the Hedgehog 3."

The announcement came as revenue projections for "Sonic 3" came in surprisingly strong — and ahead of Disney's anticipated "Mufasa: The Lion King."

The franchise is based on the beloved Sega video games about the blue speedster, who has been starring in games for more than 30 years. Paramount brought Sonic into live-action in 2020's "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie and a 2022 sequel.

"Parks and Recreation" star Ben Schwartz voices Sonic in the movie franchise, and Jim Carrey plays his nemesis, Dr. Robotnik.

Combined, the two films have made $707 million, according to TheNumbers.com. And Paramount seems to have faith in the third film as Variety reported that the studio has already greenlit "Sonic the Hedgehog 4" for Spring 2027 ahead of the threequel's release on December 21.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is competing with the Disney prequel "Mufasa: The Lion King" over the holidays.

The Hollywood Reporter estimated that "Sonic" would come out on top, with $60 million from its first weekend versus $50 million from "Mufasa."

The outlet sources its estimates from theater chains and major analytics companies like Nielsen and Comscore, and is widely respected in the movie industry.

The difference is a shock, given the historic power of the "Lion King" story. The 2019 remake of "The Lion King" raked in $1.6 billion worldwide, making it one of Disney's greatest financial successes.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" earned a healthy 87% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its release, while "Mufasa" got a "rotten" 54% rating.

• "Mufasa: The Lion King," directed by Barry Jenkins, opens in theaters on Friday.
• It's a prequel and sequel to Jon Favreau's 2019 remake of the 1994 animated movie "The Lion King."
• The movie has a 60% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" is the latest addition to Disney's growing collection of modern films, and critics have mixed reviews about it.

The movie, in theaters this Friday, comes five years after Jon Favreau's "The Lion King" remake was widely criticized for its uncanny, photorealistic animation.

In "Mufasa," Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins ("Moonlight" and "If Beale Street Could Talk") tells the origin story of the two lions and adoptive brothers Mufasa, Simba's dad; and Taka, who will become the "Lion King" villain known as Scar. The story is framed around the wise mandrill named Rafiki recounting the history to Kiara, voiced by Blue Ivy Carter.

Jenkins tries to infuse the film with his signature style, but the limitations of photorealistic visuals, unmemorable original songs, and cheap attempts at nostalgia and laughs hinder the movie.

Ultimately, Clarisse Loughrey wrote at The Independent, the movie is "yet another damning case study of the fragility of the artist's voice in the modern studio machine."

At the time of publication, "Mufasa" has a critics score of 60%, with some calling it a "contrived cash-in" and "blankly corporate" film.

But despite its shortcomings, "Mufasa" is likely to perform well at the box office this holiday season. Variety and Deadline reported that the movie is tracking for a global opening of $180 million. Only time will tell if it'll catch up to the success of Favreau's "Lion King" remake, which made $1.6 billion globally despite middling reviews (it holds a 51% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes).

Here's what critics are saying about "Mufasa."

The movie begins with a touching homage to the late James Earl Jones, who voiced Mufasa in the beloved 1994 animated movie "The Lion King."

"'Mufasa' opens with a brief, but effective tribute to the icon. As a result, his presence lingers over the whole project." — Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant

"That it opens by paying tribute to the late, great James Earl Jones, known to several generations as the booming voice of Mufasa, rather than simply closing with a dedication, is an early sign that reverence for what came before will be the name of the game." — David Fear, Rolling Stone

Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. deliver great performances as the voices of Mufasa and Taka, respectively, while Mads Mikkelsen excels as the villain Kiros.

"Pierre and Harrison are strong actors committed to the material, and while it'd be nice for Disney to imagine a villain not played by Mikkelsen for once, he's yet to turn in an ineffective performance." — Clarisse Loughrey, The Independent

"Whilst Pierre is no James Earl Jones (but then again, who is?), at least he makes the character his own to feel invested in Mufasa's journey as a reluctant leader who becomes the king we know and love." — Kelechi Ehenulo, Total Film

The visuals are better than the 2019 movie's emotionless and lifeless animals, but they still cross the uncanny valley.

"Jenkins at least addresses of the central issues of Jon Favreau's 'The Lion King,' namely, that lions aren't very expressive animals." — Witney Seibold, Slash Film

"As opposed to Favreau's cast in 'The Lion King,' the elephants, giraffes, and birds here don't look like pieces of melted plastic." — Robert Daniels, IGN

"The characters in 'Mufasa' look plausible, but more expressive. The camerawork takes full advantage of the animated medium, flying across the screen with energy and wonder instead of limiting itself to what might have been possible in real life." — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

"Impressive though it may be intellectually, the reality of watching these animals for two hours is a somewhat numbing and dull experience despite the best efforts of director Barry Jenkins." — Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

"Jenkins calls for far more nuance and expressivity in the virtual animals' facial performances, which helps us identify with their emotions, even as it pushes the characters toward the uncanny valley — especially when they speak or open their mouths to sing." — Peter Debruge, Variety

"There is just no way for the face of a photorealistic lion — 'live action,' in Disney's controversial parlance — to convey the pain of a brother's deep betrayal, or express a moving grief over a lost family." — Petrana Radulovic, Polygon

The tonal shift to Timon (Billy Eichner ) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) as comedic relief kills the movie's momentum and the jokes don't land.

"The framing device feels like a mistake, serving mostly to delay and interrupt the main attraction, which is Mufasa's origin story." — Peter Debruge, Variety

"Though they add comedic relief to a surprisingly heavy story, their meta jokes and constant asides break up the flow of Rafiki's earnest storytelling in the present day." — Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant

"The story Rafiki tells Kiara is so thematically rich that the frequent shifts back to present day, usually involving some lighthearted Timon jokes, don't do the narrative momentum many favors." — Brian Truitt, USA Today

"Nothing in 'Mufasa' plays more like a desperate studio note than these comic relief characters, who inject self-aware jokes and gross-out humor in a shameless attempt to entertain immature audience members who can't focus on a well-told story without constant reassurance that they're being pandered to and the filmmakers haven't forgotten about 'Hakuna Matata.'" — William Bibbiani, TheWrap

"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's original songs are adequate but largely forgettable.

"Even Lin-Manuel Miranda's new songs play like off-brand substitutes for each of Elton John's originals — and only one, the 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' stand-in, makes an impression on its own terms." — Robbie Collin, The Telegraph

"While the visuals during these sequences are solid, the songs themselves follow a trend in recent Disney musicals in the sense that all the songs are just...OK. None of the seven original songs in the film are flat-out terrible, but they're also not particularly memorable either." — Aidan Kelley, Collider

"None of the songs here are overtly terrible, but they all blur into an indistinguishable 'Lin-Manuel Miranda Presents: The Lion King!' concept album, with all Miranda's stylistic hallmarks. He sure has a signature style, but it's hard to reconcile that style into a movie that already has its own iconic soundtrack. The new songs feel forced and out of place." — Petrana Radulovic, Polygon

There are glimmers of Barry Jenkins' visual style in the film, but his vision seems at odds with the demands of a big studio.

"The studio obligation for brand reassurance and nostalgia bait is constantly at odds with Jenkins' vision, especially when they're not emotionally earned." — Kelechi Ehenulo, Total Film

"It's a shame Jenkins wasn't able to personalize it more, but, as they say, that's just the nature of the beast." — Dan Jolin, Empire

"Jenkins' pivot to a big-budget, kid-friendly project for a major studio was always intriguing. But in hindsight, it's hard to imagine he ever really stood a chance at revolutionizing from within Disney's so-called 'live-action' money machine." — Alison Foreman, IndieWire

"The Barry Jenkins-directed project is mostly a site of strained encounters between a visionary helmer and his corporate shareholders." — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

• The "Mufasa: The Lion King" premiere was hosted in Hollywood on Monday night.
• Celebrities like Beyoncé looked stunning on the red carpet in designer outfits.
• Others like Heidi Klum could have arguably made better fashion choices for the event.

The holidays might be on the horizon, but Hollywood is celebrating a different occasion: the upcoming release of "Mufasa: The Lion King."

Stars gathered at the Dolby Theatre on Monday night for the movie's red-carpet premiere, and many wore themed gowns and suits.

While some celebrities like Beyoncé stunned in their ensembles, others missed the mark.

Here are the best and worst looks of the night.

Beyoncé stunned in a golden gown with a plunging, tear-drop neckline.

Designed by Balmain, the form-fitting piece was strapless, floor-length, and decorated with reflective circle pieces.

The daring gown also featured an above-the-thigh slit down one side of its skirt.

The outfit's bold design stood out on the red carpet, and its golden hues complemented the movie premiere's yellow and orange decor.

Beyoncé's wavy blonde hair completed the look.

Heidi Klum's white gown didn't make much sense for the event.

She donned a white halter piece from Manish Malhotra that was covered from top to bottom in more than 100,000 pearls and crystals, as the designer said on Instagram.

The dress was stunning and would have been perfect for a holiday event.

However, its stark white color didn't match the event's aesthetic, making Klum's outfit appear out of place.

Chloe Bailey looked chic in a simple yet sentimental outfit.

She walked the red carpet in a strapless, shimmering gown crafted from sparkling blue fabric. The material was ruched across its bodice and extended into a floor-length skirt with a train.

Not only was the gown's shape flattering on Bailey, but its color was also a sweet nod to Blue Ivy, Beyoncé's 12-year-old daughter who made her voice-acting debut in the new Disney film.

"Blue for Blue 💙 i cried like a baby in my seat… loved this movie 🦁," Bailey wrote on Instagram after the premiere.

Jordyn Woods wore a dress that had potential but ultimately missed the mark.

Her custom dress from Minna Fashion had a single strap, a slit across its bodice, and a floor-length skirt with another cut that revealed her legs.

Her fuzzy coat was arguably the best part of her look. It added a few neutral shades and a contrasting texture to her sparkling dress.

The gown itself, however, was too light in color to stand out on the red carpet.

Fashion designer Olivier Rousteing brought his signature style to the movie premiere, and it worked.

Rousteing, the creative director of Balmain, was photographed at the event wearing a black blazer with sharp shoulder pads, a white button-up blouse, and baggy pants tucked into leather boots.

The outfit was memorable and perfectly represented both the fashion house and Rousteing's personal style.

It also blended classic menswear styles with fashion-forward accessory designs.

Billy Eichner's suit nodded to big cats — but not the ones featured in the movie.

The comedian stepped onto the carpet wearing an all-black ensemble comprised of trousers, a blazer, a T-shirt, and boots.

From afar, the outfit wasn't so bad, but Eichner's suit was subtly decorated with an animal print — leopard, to be exact.

The pattern didn't make perfect sense, considering "Mufasa" focuses on lions.

Tiffany Boone wore a colorful gown that looked like a piece of art.

Balmain created the red, yellow, and blue gown, which had a strapless neckline that extended above Boone's chest.

It was undoubtedly one of the most memorable outfits of the night.

The actor perfected her outfit with blue earrings, vibrant red lipstick, and a long ponytail that extended past her thighs.

• "Wicked" triumphed over "Gladiator II" in box offices this weekend after its international debut.
• It grossed $164 million, the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway show.
• Here's all the records "Wicked" broke and how it compares to other blockbuster musicals.

"Wicked" broke three records topping the box office this weekend with $164 million in ticket sales and surpassing its blockbuster rival "Gladiator II."

"Wicked" broke the record for the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway adaptation domestically and globally. It trumped the previous record-holders "Les Misérables" and "Into the Woods."

The new movie musical also has the best opening for a non-sequel film this year. "Wicked" was the third biggest domestic debut in 2024 coming in behind the two highest-grossing films this year: "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Inside Out 2."

"Gladiator II," pitted against "Wicked" because they share the same US release date, came second in box office charts this weekend, making $106 million in ticket sales.

If "Wicked" continues to succeed, it could become the only non-sequel film in the top 12 highest-grossing films list of 2024.

The Broadway adaptation's success has established the movie in Hollywood annals. Here's how it compares to cinema's biggest blockbuster musicals.

'Wicked' will need to make over a billion dollars to compete with the biggest movie musical

"Les Misérables," the highest-grossing film based on a Broadway adaptation, grossed $442 million, but other non-Broadway-based musicals have made more than that.

The 2019 live-action remake of "The Lion King" musical is the 10th highest-grossing film of all time, with $1.6 billion in ticket sales. "Frozen," "Frozen II," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin" have also grossed over a billion dollars.

All of these films, except "Frozen," grossed between $200 and $450 million in their debut weekend.

Rob Mitchell, the director of theatrical insights at film industry research firm Gower Street Analytics, told Business Insider that he expected "Wicked" to exceed "Mamma Mia," which made $611 million in worldwide ticket sales per Box Office MoJo. Mitchell doubted the Oz adaption will reach the same heights at "The Lion King."

He said the fanbase of the stage musical, Ariana Grande's star power, and the multi-generational appeal of the Oz story were behind the movie's success.

"The main reason will just be that it is a superb production," Mitchell added. "It's the type of big-screen spectacle that cinema was made for."

'Moana 2' may pose a threat to 'Wicked' this Thanksgiving

With "Moana 2" premiering this week, "Wicked" has a new competitor at the box office going into Thanksgiving weekend.

Disney movies have topped six of the last eight Thanksgiving box office weekends.

The first "Moana," which was the top-grossing film over the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend has become a children's classic. It brought in $643 million globally according to Box Office MoJo, putting it in the top 10 highest grossing musical movies.

Nielsen, an audience measurement firm, reported in January that Moana was the most-watched movie on a streaming platform in the US in 2023, with over 11.3 billion minutes streamed.

With three highly popular franchises in cinemas, consumers will likely be divided between them.

Regardless of incoming competition, Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore, told Business Insider via email that the success of "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" is a "gift" to theaters after a rocky year shadowed by release delays and underperforming movies.

"It has set into motion the potential for a very strong revenue generating month of December" he said, adding that both movies were well-positioned for "long-term playability on big screens."