NEW YORK — Here’s something the folks at Disney can take real pride in: “The Lion King” is the top ticket of all time.
With a worldwide gross of over $6.2 billion, “The Lion King” stage musical has now achieved the most successful box office total of any work in any media in entertainment history, The Associated Press has learned.
The show quietly took over the top spot from the $6 billion-earning “The Phantom of the Opera” late this summer, according to representatives from both shows. “Phantom” producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group congratulated “The Lion King” in a statement, calling their rival show “The Pride of Broadway.”
The total makes “The Lion King” more valuable than any single Harry Potter film, “Titanic” or any of the “Star Wars” movies. The highest-grossing film in history is “Avatar,” with nearly $2.8 billion.
“It’s difficult not to become emotional at this realization of the show’s impact,” said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer at Disney Theatrical Productions.
