The Lion King roars with $23 million from Thursday night shows

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

This summer hasn’t seen quite the level of success as past years, what with plenty of expensive tentpole movies limping to make $100 million domestically (GODZILLA), if at all (sorry DARK PHOENIX…and MEN IN BLACK). But movies like TOY STORY 4 and SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME have brought a bit of a pick-me-up to movie theaters, and now THE LION KING is expected to bring in the biggest numbers yet, and the Disney remake is on its way to that kingly sum thanks to a whopping $23 million from Thursday night screenings (via Deadline).

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The total is the best so far for the recent string of Disney remakes, making far more than THE JUNGLE BOOK’s $4.2 million in 2016, and over triple ALADDIN’s $7 million back in May. The nearest comparison is 2017’s live-action BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, which made $16.3 million before making $174 million it's opening weekend. As of right now, the estimates have KING on track for anywhere between $180-$200 million for this weekend, albeit Disney is being a bit more cautious with around $150-$175 million.

While Disney’s remakes have come out to varying degrees of commercial and critical success, LION KING has always been expected to be in a league of its own. Not “live-action” like the rest, but instead entirely CGI, the movie offers something audiences have never seen before on the big screen (for better or worse, some would say). Mix that in with the fact LION KING is the highest-grossing Disney film of its era, and perhaps even the most beloved, and you have a movie destined to bring in the crowds, if also the most dissection and scrutiny.

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On that note, the movie hasn’t fared as well in the review department as the last Disney movie from director Jon Favreau, JUNGLE BOOK, and currently sits at a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, ALADDIN has the same score, and it’s had huge success, crossing well above $300 million domestically and almost to $1 billion around the world. As well, the audiences score for ALADDIN were terrific, boasting a 94% audience score and an “A” Cinemascore. THE LION KING is on the same track as well, currently at a 90% audience score, meaning there should be a strong word of mouth, at least at the start.

There isn't much competition for the movie this weekend, with A24's THE FAREWELL expanding to more locations and holdover business from FAR FROM HOME and TOY STORY. Even if I think THE FAREWELL is worth more of your time and money, LION KING will for sure be the movie people are seeing not only this weekend but for perhaps a few to come. 

THE LION KING is in theaters now, and THE FAREWELL has expanded to more locations.