MLK Weekend Box Office Disappoints: Mufasa Edges Out One of Them Days, Wolf Man Flops

(Updated January 20, 2025: These figures are preliminary estimates. Final box office numbers are pending and will be updated upon release.)

The 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, typically a robust frame for theatrical releases, proved surprisingly soft, delivering one of the lowest grosses in recent memory. While Mufasa: The Lion King secured the top spot, its victory felt more like a whimper than a roar. The overall underperformance raises questions about audience trends and the industry’s health.

Mufasa’s Muted Roar

Mufasa: The Lion King claimed the weekend’s top spot with an estimated $16.5 million over the four-day holiday frame. While respectable, this marks one of the weakest MLK weekend wins since 1997 (excluding the pandemic-affected 2021). The film’s domestic total now sits at roughly $210 million, a far cry from the 2019 remake’s $1.6 billion global haul. The muted performance begs the question: did Mufasa fail to capture the magic of its predecessor, or is this a symptom of broader franchise fatigue?

One of Them Days Overperforms

In a welcome surprise, One of Them Days exceeded expectations, landing in second place with an estimated $14-15 million over the four-day weekend. Strong reviews (a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score) and positive word-of-mouth, particularly among Black moviegoers (who comprised 46% of Friday’s audience), likely fueled its performance. The film’s success suggests that quality content can still find an audience, even in a challenging market. It also marks a notable win for female-led Black comedies, a genre that hasn’t seen such success since Girls Trip (2017).

Wolf Man Whimpers

Wolf Man proved to be the weekend’s biggest disappointment, debuting with an estimated $12 million against a $25 million production budget. Pre-release buzz failed to translate into ticket sales, likely hampered by mixed reviews (53% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a C- CinemaScore. This contrasts sharply with director Leigh Whannell’s previous horror success, The Invisible Man (2020), which opened to $28.2 million. The poor showing raises concerns about the viability of Universal’s monster movie reboot strategy.

Other Releases and Overall Analysis

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 added $10 million in its fifth weekend, while Den of Thieves 2: Pantera secured an estimated $8-10 million in its second. Moana 2 quietly crossed the $1 billion mark globally. However, the overall weekend box office represents the second-lowest MLK weekend gross in the past decade (excluding 2021).

Several factors may have contributed to the sluggish performance. The current economic climate could be impacting consumer spending, leading to fewer discretionary purchases like movie tickets. The increasing popularity of streaming services might also be drawing audiences away from theaters. Some experts suggest the quality of the films themselves may have played a role. It’s likely a complex interplay of these and other factors.

The industry will undoubtedly be analyzing this weekend’s results closely. While it’s too early to declare a crisis, the soft numbers certainly suggest a need for adaptation and innovation. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this is a temporary blip or a sign of more significant changes in audience behavior.