Adding Keanu Reeves to the (voice) cast of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise pays off with a franchise-best opening weekend for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” The franchise-best was the first film, which opened at over $72 million. The third fiilm in this video game adapation series looked to be a world beater, but fell off dramatically Sat (Word of Mouth?) and will clear $62 million the weekend before Christmas, per Variety.

With Reeves playing “Shadow” in the Sonicverse, the sequel did $26 million in business Thursday and Friday, not shabby at all.

Reviews are as indifferent as you might expect, perhaps less negative than earlier outings. But then, most critics haven’t bothered to review it. It’s a hit, almost a blockbuster, but not a franchise best, a world beater or anything else. Look for “Sonic 3” to fall off a cliff next weekend.

“Mufasa,” the “Lion King” prequel that Disney CGI’d to life, is giving the House of Mouse a wakeup call. Wearing out intellectual property with CGI remakes of animated classics, repeating yourself to try and repeat the business of earlier smashes, has its limits.

“Mufasa” did half the box office of “Sonic” on Thursday and Friday, and may clear $35 million. Saturday will be the make or break day for it, even though this film was set up to be holiday-season smash. Ticket buyers may smell the cynicism in this project, or they may just be tired of “The Lion King” story, recycled and prequeled to death.

Holding “Moana 2” until Thanksgiving wasn’t the smartest move, and now Disney finds itself competing with itself — and “Sonic” — for that family audience it let “The Wild Robot” have all fall.

Critics weren’t any more thrilled to see it than audiences seem to be.

“Wicked” leapfrogged “Moana 2,” as Disney split the audience for animated family fare. “Wicked” nudged in at $13.5 million, with “Moana 2” slowing its roll to $13.1,

“Gladiator II” is running out of gas with a $4.6 million weekend, its last in the top five.

A lot of Oscar contenders are opening Christmas, although none of them are expected to suck the life out of “Sonic” and “Mufasa” — “A Complete Unknown” should crack the top five, and there’s that Nicole Kidman cougar sex games thriller “Babygirl” and “The Brutalist” going wide as well.