Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Lion King

Play trailer 1:13 Poster for The Lion King G Released Jun 24, 1994 1h 28m Kids & Family Musical Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 176 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Matthew Broderick) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella).
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Lion King

The Lion King

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, The Lion King is a pride within Disney's pantheon of classic family films.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (176) Critics Reviews
David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture The grandeur of the Serengeti Plain comes through the animation, and the young audience may actually feel something like amazement. Dec 20, 2024 Full Review Rob Salem Toronto Star The unique matching of voice to visual makes each of the characters sing, in the figurative as well as the literal sense. Rated: 4/4 Dec 19, 2024 Full Review Rob Lowing Sydney Morning Herald Visually exciting, verbally amusing entertainment with detailed quality animation which makes its peers look like flicker books. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 19, 2024 Full Review Jeffrey Gantz Boston Phoenix Best of all is Scar: his sly treachery is worthy of Shakespeare's master overreacher, and Jeremy Irons responds as if born to play Richard III. Dec 20, 2024 Full Review Nanciann Cherry Toledo Blade A superb movie, with a timeless story, many levels of humor, and artwork that conveys images and themes that real-life movies could only hint at. Rated: 4/4 Dec 20, 2024 Full Review Michael D. Reid Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada) Apart from the brilliant, incredibly-detailed animation, the film's most overwhelming asset is the inspired vocal casting. Dec 20, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Ben W Great! Classic! Amazing music and touching story. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/11/23 Full Review A it's a wonderful movie. I didn't get to watch it in Theaters because I was too young at the time. it's a great movie and all the kids and parents will love it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/23 Full Review Audience Member The best movie in existence and if you don’t see it that’s a mistake Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Mr A I love this 🎥. First watched it when I was very little but didn't remember much of the 🎥 back then until I watched it again in third grade. The 🦁 King is one of the most memorable 🎥's I ever saw. I've heard the famous theory about this 🎥 and The Jungle 📘 being the same story. In my opinion, they're not exactly the same but there are similar aspects in both 🎥's. For Example, they're both animal stories animated by Walt Disney. In addition, they teach similar life lessons such as safety. Furthermore, characters from The Jungle 📘 and The 🦁 King have similar characteristics. For Example, Simba and Mowgli learn that safety is important and that means avoiding dangerous territory. In addition, Mufasa and Bagheera are very wise and know what's best for Simba and Mowgli. Finally, Scar and Shere Khan are both evil and menacing as they share similar goals such as killing the protagonists Simba and Mowgli. These facts prove the similarities between The 🦁 King and Jungle 📘 characters. However, there are differences between the two 🎥's. For Example, The Jungle 📘 has humans in it whereas The 🦁 King does not. In addition, The Jungle 📘 takes place in the Indian Jungles whereas 🦁 King takes place in the African Planes. Furthermore, Simba has a biological family whereas Mowgli was adopted by Wolves and then adopted by a family from a village across from the jungle called The Man Village. Therefore, Jungle 📘 and 🦁 King is not exactly the same story. Also, I'd like to say that Mufasa's the best father Simba could have. Mufasa is always ensuring Simba's safety and teaching him life lessons about being king. For Example, he teaches Simba that being king is not all about having everything one's way. Mufasa reminds me of my dad because they share similar characteristics. Simba became my favorite character because I have a stuffed Simba at my 🏡 since childhood. This 🎥 is a legend and always will be. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/25 Full Review Caden D I always liked watching The Lion King like a hundred times as my favorite Disney movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Audience Member Easily the best Disney movie ever Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Lion King

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Tarzan 90% 75% Tarzan Watchlist TRAILER for Tarzan Pocahontas 58% 64% Pocahontas Watchlist TRAILER for Pocahontas Brother Bear 37% 66% Brother Bear Watchlist TRAILER for Brother Bear Aladdin 96% 92% Aladdin Watchlist TRAILER for Aladdin Hercules 83% 76% Hercules Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, 20th Century, And Searchlight RT Fans Crown The Shawshank Redemption the Best Movie of 1994 Film Critic Breaks Down the Iconic Disney Films of Your Childhood
View All videos

The Lion King

Film Critic Breaks Down the Disney Films of Your Childhood Film Critic Breaks Down the Disney Films of Your Childhood 26:42 The Lion King: Trailer 1 The Lion King: Trailer 1 1:13 View more videos
View All The Lion King photos

The Lion King

A pungent warthog named Pumbaa (Bottom) and his fast talking meerkat friend, Timon (Top) become unlikely guardians to an angst ridden lion cub named Simba. Simba (left) falls in line with Timon (right) and Pumbaa's (center) "hakuna matata" philosophy as he grows from cub to adult lion. King Mufasa (left) shows his son Simba (right) the extent of the kingdom he will one day inherit. A young lion named Simba (left) gets some valuable life lessons on surviving in the jungle from his father, the mighty King Mufasa (right). (left to right) A trio of hysterical hyenas - Ed, Shenzi and Banzai - try and get the last laugh as they do Scar's dirty work. Simba (right) returns home after a long absence to contront his evil Uncle Scar (left) and reclaim his royal right to the throne. Simba (left), a lion on the lam, finds a happy home with the carefree duo of Pumbaa (right), an pungent warthog, and Timon (center), a fast talking meerkat. Simba (left) and Nala (right) welcome a newborn cub (center right) into their family as a wise baboon named Rafiki (center left) lends a hand. Timon (center right) and Pumbaa (left) have an uneasy feeling that Simba's (center left) reunion with childhood pal, Nala (right) is giong to put a crimp in their "hakuna matata" way of life. A pungent warthog named Pumbaa (left) and his fast talking meerkat friend, Timon (right) become unlikely guardians to an angst ridden lion cub named Simba. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Matthew Broderick) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella).
Director
Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Producer
Don Hahn
Screenwriter
Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co
Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Musical, Adventure, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1994, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 12, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$95.6M
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, SDDS, DTS-ES, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now