box office

The Lion King Has Hunted, Killed, and Eaten Harry Potter’s July Box-Office Record

Photo: © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Despite some less-than-stellar reviews, Disney proved itself the true apex predator of the box office this week. The Lion King is set to take in $192 million dollars domestically this weekend, according to Deadline. Meaning it now holds the record for best domestic box-office opening in July, usurping the previous record-holder, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, which had held the record since opening in 2011 at $169.1 million. The Lion King also floated on the power of Beyoncé, Donald Glover, nonsexual nightmare-inducing CGI cats, and a heat wave that probably didn’t hurt, to be the ninth highest-grossing opening ever. It is also the second-highest opening of the year after Avengers: Endgame, the best domestic launch ever for a PG film, and your new president.

The Lion King Mauls Harry Potter’s July Box-Office Record