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      The Lion King

      1994, Kids & family/Musical, 1h 27m

      137 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

      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 critic reviews

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      The Lion King  Photos

      The wise baboon, Rafiki (right), takes part in nature's "circle of life" ritual by presenting the future "King" of the jungle. Simba (left) visits with his "strange" Uncle Scar (right) who is preparing for the day when he might rule the Pride Lands. A young lion named Simba returns home to Pride Rock following a heroic journey to take his rightul place as King. Right to left: Ed, Banzai, shenzi, Scar, Mufasa, Simba, and Timon. 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. Legendary musician Elton John (left) and lyricist Tim Rice (right). 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. 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 (Bottom) and his fast talking meerkat friend, Timon (Top) become unlikely guardians to an angst ridden lion cub named Simba. 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. Director Rob Minkoff. Producer Don Hahn. Director Roger Allers.

      Movie Info

      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).

      • Rating: G

      • Genre: Kids & family, Musical, Adventure, Animation

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

      • Producer: Don Hahn

      • Writer: Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Rerelease Date (Theaters):

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $422.8M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

      • Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures

      • Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, SDDS, DTS-ES, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital

      • Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

      Cast & Crew

      Matthew Broderick
      Jeremy Irons
      James Earl Jones
      Madge Sinclair
      Moira Kelly
      Nathan Lane
      Rowan Atkinson
      Ernie Sabella
      Niketa Calame
      Jonathan Taylor Thomas
      Jim Cummings
      Whoopi Goldberg
      Cheech Marin
      Robert Guillaume
      Zoe Leader
      Jason Weaver
      Joseph Williams
      Laura Williams
      Sally Dworsky
      Cathy Cavadini
      Don Hahn
      Elton John
      Hans Zimmer
      Hans Zimmer
      Thomas Schumacher
      Sarah McArthur
      Alice Dewey Goldstone
      Tom Finan
      Christopher Sanders
      Andy Gaskill
      Dana Axelrod
      Richard L. Anderson

      News & Interviews for The Lion King

      Critic Reviews for The Lion King

      Audience Reviews for The Lion King

      • Mar 26, 2016

        A film that only get better with repeat viewings and age, The Lion King is a fantastic animated masterpiece that is among Disney's finest achievements. Stellar voice work, great musical score, beautiful to look at and emotionally complex and riveting.

        Super Reviewer
      • Feb 22, 2016

        It had been so long since I watched this movie and I'm glad, because it reminded me of how truly amazing this film is. From the breathtaking animation that holds up still to this day, to Hans Zimmers Oscar winning score this is with out a doubt one of Disney animations crowning achievements.

        Super Reviewer
      • Jan 20, 2013

        The 1990's were a great decade for Disney. They churned out a string of popular, traditionally animated movies that had children and adults alike flocking to the cinema like never before. Movies like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame to name but a few. For my money The Lion King is the pick of the bunch or the pick of the pride if you will. The Animation was groundbreaking, the songs were catchy (Elton John's imput was top-notch), the humour was for adults too and the vocal cast was astounding. You have; James Earl Jones, Matthew Boderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg and the list goes on. The "choices for voices" were spot on and delivered very effectively. Although the setting is somewhat different, the story itself is nothing new from Disney. The tried and tested formula, used from Snow White right through to modern movies today was the same. Becoming seperated from one's family, rediscovering the meaning of family and finding ones own identity through regaining family. But the formula works and audiences connect with it. Besides, each time Disney attempt to break or bend the rules the movie tends to be pretty lame i.e. Home on the Range ~ case closed. There are so many memorable moments in The Lion King. From the opening sunrise "NNAAAAAA SSOOOPENNYAA TUMA LEEKI MA LAAD", to the Gopher who pops up and reports to Zazu "News from the under ground", to the stampede, to can you feel the love tonight, to everything that Timon and Pumbaa say. My personal favourite part is Scars song, be prepared. I love The Lion King. It is as much a part of my childhood as the sweet smell of a new pencilcase or the rough feel of a new school jumper. I have enjoyed it at the cinema, been ill with it at home (on VHS) and will no doubt introduce my own children to it some day. I feel thst it sends out great messages to children such as; your past may be painful but you must face it and learn from it to move forwards and also the mini-lesson on the circle of life. It's not just me that feels this way either, walk into any Disney store and you will see a lot of Lion King merchandise on sale (for high prices) all year round and the movie is still being re-released at cinemas (now in 3D) and on DVD (now on Blue ray or diamond edition). Maybe my opinion is biased? Biased because i love animals, biased because I love animation and biased because I love great movies. In all seriousness this is both Disney and animation at its best. P.S. The SNES game was great too!

        Super Reviewer
      • Dec 26, 2012

        Very much the most popular of all Disney films thanks to it's revolving hand-drawn animation, famous and catchy musical numbers like "Circle of Life" and "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", and the Hamlet-inspired story that stirs up emotions all the way through for both kids and adults alike. I can't really imagine any other Disney Renaissance film as memorable as this or Beauty and the Beast.

        Super Reviewer

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