LION KING 3D Earns $29.3 Million

The Walt Disney Co. pulled off its most successful re-release this past weekend as its 3D version of 1994′s The Lion King earned an estimated $29.3 million in its return to theaters.

Disney had planned to give it a two-week theatrical release to generate favorable word-of-mouth before putting the film out on Blu-ray disc next month.

The $29.3 million figure was more than twice what Disney's re-release of the first two Toy Story movies brought in ($12.5 million) when they were re-released together in 2009. Over the Christmas holiday in 2002, The Lion King was released on 66 IMAX screens and earned $1.8 million over the three-day period and collected $2.8 million over the five-day holiday.

Contagion earned about $14.5 million, placing second while Film District's Drive placed third as it opened with around $11 million.