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The Lion King

Play trailer 1:13 Poster for The Lion King G 1994 1h 28m Kids & Family Musical Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 172 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).
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The Lion King

The Lion King

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Bernard Zuel Sydney Morning Herald Apr 29, 2026
The beauty and precision of the animation in this Disney film is its most obvious feature. You find yourself praising the lighting and cinematography before realising it's all in the drawings. Go to Full Review David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture Dec 20, 2024
The grandeur of the Serengeti Plain comes through the animation, and the young audience may actually feel something like amazement. Go to Full Review Rob Salem Toronto Star Dec 19, 2024
4/5
The unique matching of voice to visual makes each of the characters sing, in the figurative as well as the literal sense. Go to Full Review Jeffrey Gantz Boston Phoenix Dec 20, 2024
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. Go to Full Review Nanciann Cherry Toledo Blade Dec 20, 2024
4/4
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. Go to Full Review Michael D. Reid Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada) Dec 20, 2024
Apart from the brilliant, incredibly-detailed animation, the film's most overwhelming asset is the inspired vocal casting. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ben W Oct 11, 2023 Great! Classic! Amazing music and touching story. See more A Oct 2, 2023 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. See more Matthew W @Mattrocks704 2 hrs ago My first time watching The Lion King in 2026! Finally seeing a movie with the hype and popularity surrounding one of the biggest film franchises in Hollywood. This animation still holds up and lives up to the legend. Animated films like this one will never be what they are today. It’s a fantastic lesson about learning who you are and how your loved ones who are gone are still with you in your heart. If you’re seeing this review and haven’t seen it, this is a must-watch! See more Bret M @BretM-3 5 days ago This is another awesome movie from what many consider to be Disney’s Renaissance era that I haven’t seen in years. And I have to admit, it is still fantastic! This is some of my favorite 2D animation ever, and it’s easy to see why people consider this to be a part of the renaissance. It also has great characters. Timon and Pumbaa are great comic relief characters, Nala makes for a great female protagonist, Scar is an amazing, pure evil villain, and Simba is a great protagonist. Watching him start out as a child, so curious about the world, to a young man who wasted a good portion of his life with Timon and Pumbaa, to finally returning home to clear his name and claim his birth right as king, his character progression throughout the film is what makes his character enjoyable and memorable. Overall, this is an amazing movie that, reminds you how great Disney used to be and how far they’ve fallen. This movie has something everyone. You definitely need to watch it! See more Robert P @Superbad 6 days ago This is not the best movie in Disney's possession but still a great movie! See more Charles T @CharlesGaming1000 Aug 30, 2026 Should not be at 92%, not 98, not 100 either..! Should be like, above 200% See more Read all reviews
The Lion King

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Cast & Crew

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Roger Allers

Director

Rob Minkoff

Director

Matthew Broderick

Adult Simba the Lion

Jeremy Irons

Scar the Lion

James Earl Jones

King Mufasa the Lion

Madge Sinclair

Queen Sarabi the Lioness

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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 Now Playing The Lion King: Trailer 1 The Lion King: Trailer 1 1:13 Now Playing View more videos
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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)
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