THE LION KING Roars To Record-Breaking $185 Million Domestic Debut; Tops $531 Million Worldwide

Walt Disney Studios' The Lion King has gotten off to a roaring start at the domestic box office with a gargantuan $185 million opening weekend, setting the record for biggest July opening ever, topping previous record-holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 ($169.2M in 2011). The film now also holds the record for biggest opening weekend ever for a Disney live-action remake. 

Worldwide, the Jon Favreau-directed feature earned another $269.4 million and has now topped $531 million ($185M domestic; $346M foreign) globally, which puts it on course for a likely billion-dollar finish. If it hits the milestone, it will be the third - possibly fourth - Disney title to cross $1 billion this year, joining Marvel's Captain Marvel, Marvel's Avengers: Endgame - and maybe Aladdin.

While reviews have been decidedly mixed (54% RT), the audience reception has been leaning considerably more positive as it's earned an impressive "A" CinemaScore.  

Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man: Far From Home finished second with $21 million in its third frame, taking its domestic total to $319.6 million. Worldwide, the critically-acclaimed Jon Watts-directed sequel has now earned over $970.7 million ($319.6M domestic; $651.1M foreign) and is inching closer and closer to becoming the first Spidey film to become a billionaire. 

Additionally, in case you missed it, Marvel's Avengers: Endgame has officially topped Avatar to become the highest-grossing movie of all-time globally with a jaw-dropping $2,790,216,193 haul.

As for the rest of the box office, 

WKND #BoxOffice:#TheLionKing $185M#SpiderManFarFromHome $21M/$319.7M#ToyStory4 $14.6M/$375.5M#Crawl $6M/$23.8M#Yesterday $5.1M/$57.6M#Stuber $4M/$16.1M#Aladdin $3.8M/$340M#AnnabelleComesHome $2.7M/$66.6M#Midsommar $1.6M/$22.5M#SecretLifeOfPets2 $1.5M/$151.6M

— Gitesh Pandya (@GiteshPandya) July 21, 2019

To view every photo at once, simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!

Director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into theaters on July 19, 2019.

The Lion King features:
Director: Jon Favreau
Donald Glover as Simba
Beyoncé as Nala
James Earl Jones as Mufasa
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar
Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
John Oliver as Zazu
John Kani as Rafiki
Billy Eichner as Timon
Seth Rogen as Pumbaa
Florence Kasumba as Shenzi
Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari
Eric Andre as Azizi
Amy Sedaris in an undisclosed role
JD McCrary as young Simba
Shahadi Wright-Joseph as young Nala

The Lion King roars into theaters July 19