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The Lion King

Play trailer 1:13 Poster for The Lion King G Released Jun 24, 1994 1h 27m Kids & Family Musical Adventure Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 139 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

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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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Hugo Davenport Daily Telegraph (UK) The film has an air of hollow grandeur. The music and songs are mostly pretty awful, the story single-stranded, and Scar's evil hyena henchmen hard to tell apart. Worst of all, the lions often look not so much noble as smug. Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Deborah Peterson St. Louis Post-Dispatch The Lion King is short on humor, long on melodrama and AWOL on fun. It was intended to be important and is pretentious instead. Dec 22, 2021 Full Review Jay Carr Boston Globe Make no mistake, the magnitude of the achievement here far outweighs any shortcomings. The Lion King is both populist blockbuster and royal treat. Dec 21, 2021 Full Review Brendan Cassidy InSession Film It’s the largest and most cinematic of Disney’s films, the animation is beyond breathtaking, and its notions on hiding from your past are admirable and poignant... Jun 18, 2024 Full Review Quentin Falk Sunday Mirror (UK) As spectacular as anything Disney has ever done. Rated: 4/5 Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Manuel São Bento MSB Reviews From the gorgeous animation to the beautiful score, from the emotionally compelling story to the life journey Simba goes through, from the chill-inducing tearful moments to the loud laughs… The Lion King is just perfect. A masterpiece! Rated: A+ Jul 24, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 One of my faves!! I could watch this movies many times and it would still make me cry. Best movie!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Jay W This was the first film I ever saw in theatres. I was 4 years old and the air conditioning didn't work in the theatre, my mom told me that they did that to make it feel like Africa. This is the movie that began my love for movie theatres. As hard as I may try, I cannot objectively review this film. I have far too much of a nostalgic connection to this movie. So, take this review with that grain of salt, whenever I watch this, the rose colored glasses are firmly in place. I love the animation of this movie. Me and my siblings would pause the VHS tape and try to draw the animation frames, with mixed results. The colors are vibrant. The characters expressive. The landscape is epic. This is Disney's most beautifully animated film. I love the music. I mean that for both the songs and the orchestral score. Hans Zimmer is second only to John Williams for being the most acclaimed film composer of all time. But this one won him his very first Oscar. Likewise, Elton John is one of the most decorated musicians ever. And this soundtrack earned 3 Grammys, went Platinum and was the highest selling soundtrack of the time. Likewise, this film was the highest grossing animated film of all-time, and highest grossing of 1994, eventually making over 1 billion dollars. I love the voice acting. Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane and too many to list. Just look up at the cast and know that they all did great. The movie has the greatest animated intro of any film. How many grand statements have I now made about this film? Best animation, music and intro. What helps make this film resonate all these years later are the themes of responsibility and living up to your potential. It is a film that I gain something new every time I watch it. It still hits home every time. An absolute epic. And, yeah, I'm going to say it...makes a better film than Shakespeare's Hamlet. Shakespeare wrote his plays as...well, plays. A motion picture is a visual medium. Shakespeare communicates all though the words. Lion King communicates more through the visuals. Can you feel my love for this film? It's enough to make kings and vagabonds, believe this is the very best. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Darío C Truly a masterpiece. One of the few kids movie that can make you cry. Very moving. Perfect movie for the family. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/18/24 Full Review Audience Member great classic about family values, exploration and betrayal Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/17/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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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 27m
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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