Disney’s 17-year-old ‘Lion King’ continues to roar

“The Lion King” is proving to be far more ferocious than Hollywood imagined.

A 3-D version of the classic 1994 animated film claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office for a second consecutive weekend, beating out four new films. Ticket sales for the re-release dropped only 27% this weekend to $22.1 million, bringing the movie’s domestic tally to $61.7 million, according to an estimate from distributor Walt Disney Pictures.

“Moneyball,” a baseball drama with Brad Pitt, grossed a respectable $20.6 million, just barely edging out another family film at the box office. “Dolphin Tale,” an inspirational story in 3-D about an injured sea creature, debuted to a solid $20.3 million.

-- Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times

Photo: The protagonist Simba in “The Lion King.” Credit: Disney