Lion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.Lion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.Lion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 43 wins & 35 nominations total
Matthew Broderick
- Simba
- (voice)
Jeremy Irons
- Scar
- (voice)
James Earl Jones
- Mufasa
- (voice)
Whoopi Goldberg
- Shenzi
- (voice)
Rowan Atkinson
- Zazu
- (voice)
Niketa Calame-Harris
- Young Nala
- (voice)
- (as Niketa Calame)
Jim Cummings
- Ed
- (voice)
- …
Robert Guillaume
- Rafiki
- (voice)
Moira Kelly
- Nala
- (voice)
Nathan Lane
- Timon
- (voice)
Zoe Leader
- Sarafina
- (voice)
Cheech Marin
- Banzai
- (voice)
Ernie Sabella
- Pumbaa
- (voice)
Madge Sinclair
- Sarabi
- (voice)
Frank Welker
- Lion Roars
- (voice)
- …
Judi M. Durand
- Additional Voices
- (voice)
- (as Judi Durand)
Summary
Reviewers say 'The Lion King' is celebrated for its timeless themes, stunning animation, and iconic soundtrack. The film's powerful message about the circle of life and its Shakespearean-inspired plot are highly praised. Voice acting, especially by James Earl Jones and Jeremy Irons, is commended for emotional depth. Despite minor criticisms about pacing and character depth, it remains a beloved cinematic masterpiece.
Featured reviews
This is truly one of the best Disney movies ever. I really enjoyed it when I first seen it, about when I was 6, and since then I watched it over and over again. I simply LOOOOVED the music. It's one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard. And, speaking of soundtrack, I just can't tell in words how much I love the song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight". Is one of my favorite songs ever. I truly believe that this motion picture could easily be nominated for The Best Picture, but The Best Song and the Best Original Score is really enough. I wonder if they will ever think to make a prequel of this movie in order to understand who is Mufasa, Scar, Sarabi and the other characters. In short, this movie will be remembered in the next 100 years. Truly.
Delightful animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures about a naive young lion cub destined for greatness. Born the son of a beloved and authoritative king he's groomed to be the next ruler of the kingdom, but along the way he encounters tragic detours at the hands of his villainous uncle and scheming hyena henchmen. Years later—as an adult—he decides to embrace his destiny and take his proper place in the Circle of Life. Warm, intelligent, laugh-out loud funny film is a triumph in every aspect; unforgettable songs, snappy dialogue, remarkable animation, and a stellar cast of voices make this a treat for all ages. A rousing adventure that you can enjoy again and again, and arguably one of the finest animated films ever made. ****
I watched the film today and I have come to the conclusion that this Disney film is one classic that will keep on delivering to Disney fans like myself...TLK is a wonderful film with great characters and songs with a powerful message that you can always find your way back no matter how hard the journey...
I think The Lion King is one of the best Disney animated films matching with the power of Bambi and Brother Bear.
I love how Disney Works hard to deliver the best in Animation,Song,And Magic
I do believe that 2006 and many years from now The Lion King will Shine and still Roar with Success...
Thank-You Disney For The Lion King
I think The Lion King is one of the best Disney animated films matching with the power of Bambi and Brother Bear.
I love how Disney Works hard to deliver the best in Animation,Song,And Magic
I do believe that 2006 and many years from now The Lion King will Shine and still Roar with Success...
Thank-You Disney For The Lion King
This is a film that can entertain anyone young or old, I usually don't care for animated movies but this film is the real deal, this is one of disney's best animated movies. The animation is top notch and flawless. This film also features superb work from the vocal cast James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg. This is a standout.
Released Christmas Day in 2002 to IMAX and large format screens, The Lion King makes a triumphant return to the screen after eight years. Its every bit as majestic and great as it has been before.
The Lion King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) just had a baby cub named Simba. All of the animals come to the ceremony, except for Mufasa's brother Scar (Jeremy Irons). Scar desperately wants to be King, but can't. As long as Mufasa and Simba are there. Soon Simba is able to walk and talk and is voiced by Jonathon Taylor Thomas. After hearing about an elephant graveyard from Scar, he and his friend Nala (Niketa Calame) visit it. They meet three bumbling hyenas: Banzai (Cheech Marin), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), and Ed (Jim Cummings), but they manage to leave unhurt. Scar is upset that the hyenas didn't do the job, so he orders a stampede to wipe out both of them, but it only takes care of Mufasa. Scar convinces Simba that he killed Mufasa, not Scar. So Simba flees into exile.
The Lion King really benefits from the larger screen. Its lavish landscapes will be able to capture you more, and you can really savor the animation. Disney didn't need any humans, so they could spend all of the time on a great story and lush landscapes. In fact, its camera movement was so majestic that you actually felt like you were part of the pride of lions.
The music boomed and really created the atmosphere. Although I had seen this picture before, I still was tense because of the way the music played out. Most of the time, I would just roll my eyes at the attempt to make me nervous. But Hans Zimmer's music really bowled me over and made my heart do calisthenics. Unlike such new Disney pics like Lilo and Stitch, the songs actually did some good. They took you out of a somewhat dreary mood and put a smile on your face and made your feet want to tap along. There were only a few, but they were very entertaining. And the Circle of Life song at the beginning was beautiful, with its perfect pictures and perfect sound.
I really like James Earl Jones (he's pretty diverse), and this time was no exception. He seemed to act like he didn't want to do this role, but he couldn't contain his excitement for wanting to do voice-overs again (he had done some work in The Simpsons before). Matthew Broderick redeemed himself for me (after the atrocious Ferris Bueller's Day Off) by showing a strong voicing as the adult Simba. Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jim Cummings really had good chemistry together, even though they didn't have much screen time. Irons was really good and creepy as Scar (one of those who you can't help but hate), and if that is him really singing, brava!
Be warned, The Lion King isn't really for youngsters. It had intense thematic elements that should have warranted a PG, instead of those that don't deserve it (Lilo and Stitch, again). The mood that the music and the script brought out could damper your day, so be warned.
This is one movie where you can feel for the characters. You don't say `haha, he's dead', you say `Gasp! I'm so sad!' If it weren't for the gifted scriptwriters, this movie would be kaput and a nothing, not the best Disney movie ever made.
The Lion King is a majestic movie, not without humor, that is for almost all to see.
My rating: 9/10
Rated G for intense thematic elements.
The Lion King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) just had a baby cub named Simba. All of the animals come to the ceremony, except for Mufasa's brother Scar (Jeremy Irons). Scar desperately wants to be King, but can't. As long as Mufasa and Simba are there. Soon Simba is able to walk and talk and is voiced by Jonathon Taylor Thomas. After hearing about an elephant graveyard from Scar, he and his friend Nala (Niketa Calame) visit it. They meet three bumbling hyenas: Banzai (Cheech Marin), Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), and Ed (Jim Cummings), but they manage to leave unhurt. Scar is upset that the hyenas didn't do the job, so he orders a stampede to wipe out both of them, but it only takes care of Mufasa. Scar convinces Simba that he killed Mufasa, not Scar. So Simba flees into exile.
The Lion King really benefits from the larger screen. Its lavish landscapes will be able to capture you more, and you can really savor the animation. Disney didn't need any humans, so they could spend all of the time on a great story and lush landscapes. In fact, its camera movement was so majestic that you actually felt like you were part of the pride of lions.
The music boomed and really created the atmosphere. Although I had seen this picture before, I still was tense because of the way the music played out. Most of the time, I would just roll my eyes at the attempt to make me nervous. But Hans Zimmer's music really bowled me over and made my heart do calisthenics. Unlike such new Disney pics like Lilo and Stitch, the songs actually did some good. They took you out of a somewhat dreary mood and put a smile on your face and made your feet want to tap along. There were only a few, but they were very entertaining. And the Circle of Life song at the beginning was beautiful, with its perfect pictures and perfect sound.
I really like James Earl Jones (he's pretty diverse), and this time was no exception. He seemed to act like he didn't want to do this role, but he couldn't contain his excitement for wanting to do voice-overs again (he had done some work in The Simpsons before). Matthew Broderick redeemed himself for me (after the atrocious Ferris Bueller's Day Off) by showing a strong voicing as the adult Simba. Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jim Cummings really had good chemistry together, even though they didn't have much screen time. Irons was really good and creepy as Scar (one of those who you can't help but hate), and if that is him really singing, brava!
Be warned, The Lion King isn't really for youngsters. It had intense thematic elements that should have warranted a PG, instead of those that don't deserve it (Lilo and Stitch, again). The mood that the music and the script brought out could damper your day, so be warned.
This is one movie where you can feel for the characters. You don't say `haha, he's dead', you say `Gasp! I'm so sad!' If it weren't for the gifted scriptwriters, this movie would be kaput and a nothing, not the best Disney movie ever made.
The Lion King is a majestic movie, not without humor, that is for almost all to see.
My rating: 9/10
Rated G for intense thematic elements.
Did you know
- TriviaFrank Welker provided all the lion roars. Not a single recording of an actual lion roaring was used because the producers wanted specific sounding roars for each lion.
- GoofsThe elephant skeletons would have to come from freakishly large elephants. Hyenas could not pass through the trunk socket of an elephant's skull.
- Crazy creditsThere are no opening credits.
- Alternate versionsThis film was re-released in IMAX and other large format theaters on December 25, 2002. The following changes were made to the film for this release: -This movie opens with "The Lion King: Special Edition" title card, following the Walt Disney Pictures logo(mistakenly orange and black instead of blue). -The pouncing lesson scene was replaced with an all-new song, "Morning Report", originally from the stage show. -The animation of crocodiles in the "I Just Can't Wait to be King" sequence was completely re-done. -The animation in some of the scenes went back through the clean-up animation department a second time, to correct problems such as wavering lines and missing details, which, while not very noticeable during a traditional 35mm showing of the film, would have been discomforting on a much large IMAX screen. Small details, such as the characters who had faces that were too small to be seen in the original had faces, were also added. -The waterfalls in the "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" sequence were enhanced. -The original scrolling version of the end credits is replaced with the static TV airing end credits and the memorial card to Frank Wells is moved to the end of the credits.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Lion King: A Musical Journey with Elton John (1994)
- SoundtracksCircle of Life
(1994)
Music by Elton John (uncredited)
Lyrics by Tim Rice (uncredited)
Arranged and Produced by Hans Zimmer
Performed by Carmen Twillie
African Vocals Performed by Lebo M.
Background Singer: Rodney Saulsberry (uncredited)
Chorus: Maxi Anderson, Terry Bradford, Johnny Britt, Baby Cele, Lucky Cele, Rick Charles, Gugwana Dlamini, Kevin Dorsey, Wendy Fraser, Linda Gcwensa, Clydene Jackson (as Clydene Jackson), Matoab'sane Jali, Luyanda Jezile, Bob Joyce, Faith Kekana, Sphiwe Khanyile, Faca Khulu, Stella Khumalo, Skhumbuzo Kubheka, Thembi Kubheka, Ron Kunene, James Langa, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Rick Logan, Tsidi Manye, Khanyo Maphumulo, Abner A. Mariri, Myrna Matthews, Batho Mhlongo, Vusi Mhlongo, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Thembi Mtshali, Bheki Ndlovu, Nandi Ndlovu, Bongani Ngcobo, Nini Nkosi, Bobbi Page, Phindile, Rick Riso, Philile Seme, Alfie Silas, Happy Skhakhane, Kipizane Skweyiya, Sindisiwe Sokhela, Susie Stevens-Logan (as Susan D. Stevens), Khuluiwe Sithole (as Khuluiwe S'thole), Thandazile, Carmen Twillie, Sam Vamplew, Julia Waters, Luther Waters (as Luther N. Waters), Maxine Waters Willard (as Maxine Waters), Oren Waters, John J West, Yvonne Williams, Terry Young, Zolile Zulu
- How long is The Lion King?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Le Roi lion 3D
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $45,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $424,979,720
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,586,753
- Jun 19, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $979,161,373
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Dolby Stereo(Dolby Stereo Spectral Recording, original release)
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content