- Georgians hold anti-government protest on Orthodox Christmas
- Japan actor fired from beer ad after drunken escapade
- Nvidia ramps up AI tech for games, robots and autos
- Blinken says US-Japan ties solid despite rift over steel deal
- Taiwan says Chinese-owned ship suspected of damaging sea cable goes dark
- Sinner turns focus to Australian Open defence after 'amazing' year
- Ostapenko begins Adelaide title defence with comeback win
- Pace of German emissions cuts slows in 2024: study
- McDonald's rolls back some of its diversity practices
- Giannis triple-double propels Bucks over Raptors
- S. Korea rival parties form plane crash task force despite political turmoil
- Olmo situation overshadowing Barca bid for Spanish Super Cup
- Hewitt's son Cruz out of Australian Open qualifying at first hurdle
- Quake in China's Tibet kills 32 with tremors felt in Nepal, India
- Osaka splits with rapper Cordae ahead of Australian Open
- Sabalenka to Andreeva: Five women to watch at the Australian Open
- Sabalenka eyes Australian Open hat-trick but Swiatek, Gauff lurk
- Asian markets mostly rise after tech-fuelled Wall St rally
- Blinken in Japan after rift on steel deal
- Ex-England skipper Vaughan backs shake-up 'to keep Test cricket relevant'
- S. Korea investigators seek new warrant to arrest President Yoon
- North Korea's Kim says new missile will deter 'rivals'
- France to remember Charlie Hebdo attacks 10 years on
- 'Comeback' queen Demi Moore 'has always been here,' says director
- Homes talk and tables walk at AI dominated CES
- Kyrgios set for Davis Cup return after five years
- Golden Globes ratings edge up past 10 million
- USA striker Vazquez joins Austin in club record deal
- Meta Names UFC boss Dana White, a Trump ally, to board
- Forest tame Wolves to maintain unlikely Premier League title challenge
- Mavs' Irving out with back sprain, could reportedly miss two weeks
- Scheffler to skip La Quinta as hand heals
- Late Abraham winner gives Milan Italian SuperCup win over Inter
- US Steel and Nippon Steel sue over Biden's decision to block merger
- Packers receiver Watson ruled out of playoffs
- Harris gracious in defeat as Congress certifies Trump's election
- Canada's Trudeau: Liberal star who dazzled then fizzled
- 'Dozens' of Ukraine soldiers deserted while training in France
- Dakar Rally champion Sainz pulls out after Baciuska wins marathon stage
- Zendaya and Tom Holland engaged: US media
- US envoy says Israeli forces begin pullout from 2nd south Lebanon town
- Tschofenig snatches Four Hills title in Austrian sweep
- Irish legend Robbie Keane appointed new boss of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros
- England urged to boycott Afghanistan match by British politicians
- Baciuska, Sanders win 48-hour stages at Dakar Rally
- US lawmakers certify Trump win, four years after Capitol riot
- Jaguars fire head coach Pederson
- Eastern US hunkers down in major winter storm
- Caracas vows to arrest opposition's Gonzalez Urrutia if 'sets foot' in Venezuela
- Wounded Arsenal hit by Nwaneri injury blow
'Mufasa' roars to top of N.America box office
Disney's animated drama "Mufasa: The Lion King" reigned over North America's box office this weekend, surpassing "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" to start the new year with an estimated $23.8 million take, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday.
The showing pushed "Mufasa" to a domestic total of $168.6 million over three weekends, propelling it into the top 15 of 2024 releases, Variety reported.
With an additional $307 million earned internationally, the Barry Jenkins-directed film appears on track to reach the half-billion-dollar mark.
"Sonic," the Paramount action comedy about a speedy blue hedgehog, slowed a bit as the year-end holiday season wound down in the United States and Canada, taking in $21.2 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period.
The videogame-based film has now compiled $187.5 million in domestic ticket sales and $148 million abroad, for a total of $333.5 million.
Focus Film's vampire pic "Nosferatu" -- the latest remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by Bram Stoker's "Dracula" -- held tight in third place at $13.2 million.
Down one spot from last weekend was Disney blockbuster "Moana 2," at $12.4 million.
With accumulated ticket sales of $425 million domestically and $535 million overseas, its $960 million total puts it on the verge of passing "Despicable Me 4" ($969 million) as the third top-grossing release of 2024 and brings it close to the $1 billion milestone.
In fifth place, also down one spot from last weekend, was Universal's musical fantasy "Wicked." This latest take on the magical world of Oz logged ticket sales of $10.2 million, even after becoming available for on-demand video viewing.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
"A Complete Unknown" ($8.1 million)
"Babygirl" ($4.5 million)
"Gladiator II" ($2.7 million)
"Homestead" ($2.1 million)
"The Fire Inside" ($1.2 million)
F.Carias--PC