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The Oscars event is marked by some incredible performances from artists, especially those who are nominated in the Best Original Song category. The 97th edition of the Academy Awards has decided to let go of the usual Oscars performances of the best original song nominees this year.

The decision was made as a response to the Los Angeles wildfires. Fans are not exactly upset about the decision since the Best Original Song category lacked any numbers that the audiences look forward to seeing on the stage. Fans would especially find it in bad taste to see one of the two nominated songs from Emilia Pérez on stage after the controversy associated with the film.

Ryan Gosling performing I’m Just Ken at the Oscars 2024 | Credits: ABC

According to the Academy, the event will instead celebrate the songwriters through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from the musicians. However, this hasn’t...

Best Original Song at the Oscars presents an interesting choice for Oscar voters. With a few of the top contenders snubbed from the category altogether — “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot, “Compress/Repress” from Challengers, “Harper and Will Go West” from Will and Harper — this would seem to be a cakewalk for the one original musical in the category, Emilia Pérez, which also happens to be the year’s most-nominated film. But behind-the-scenes scandals have scrambled this race, and many others. Here is our breakdown of the race as it stands today.

SEEOscars Best Picture breakdown: Why ‘The Brutalist’ is now the frontrunner after ‘Emilia Pérez’ controversy Frontrunner: “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez

The song that won the Golden Globe Award and Critics Choice Award is the favorite here as well. It benefits from how well liked the film is by the Motion Picture Academy as a whole, with...

Hans Zimmer‘s Dune: Part Two score beat the odds on Sunday to win the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. The victory comes after the Oscars declared the score ineligible because it contained too much music carried over from Dune: Part One. Denis Villeneuve‘s epic sequel to his adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s 1965 book did end up receiving five Oscar nominations: picture, sound, production design, cinematography, and visual effects.

Zimmer, who wasn’t present to accept his award, now has five Grammys in his illustrious career. He previously won for scoring The Dark Knight, Crimson Tide, and The Lion King, plus the “Circle of Life” song from the latter.

This isn’t the first time an Oscar-disqualified soundtrack went on to win the Grammy. Antonio Sánchez‘s score for Birdman was likewise ruled ineligible at the Oscars but claimed the Grammy in 2015.

Challengers, the hit film starring Zendaya,...

To celebrate the animated film’s 30th anniversary, “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” will premiere on Disney+ Feb. 7.

The live-to-film concert special will showcase how the team behind the event transformed the Hollywood Bowl into the Pride Lands for a one-night-only extravaganza.

Original voice cast members, including Lebo M (opening chant), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Nathan Lane (Timon), Jason Weaver (Simba), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa) and Billy Eichner, teamed up with stage musical alumni Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson to celebrate the legacy of the 1999 film. Special guest North West made her stage debut as young Simba and Egot winner Jennifer Hudson performed “Circle of Life.”

Performers were accompanied by a 70-person orchestra, a troupe of skillful dancers and captivating projection mapping images. Puppetry from the Broadway show also gave viewers a glimpse into the evolution of the Disney classic. Stage projections brought in audiences at the Hollywood Bowl and...

Disney+ fans, get ready to cozy up on your couch because February is bringing an incredible mix of content that’ll keep you glued to your screens! From a breathtaking musical celebration that’ll transport you straight to the Pride Lands, to an eye-opening documentary about figure skaters breaking barriers, there’s something special for everyone this month.

We’re also getting treated to Questlove’s latest directorial masterpiece, a stunning Bahamian adventure, Pixar’s groundbreaking first series, and a mouth-watering culinary journey around the world.

Disney+ Logo | Credits: IsaacSexton2001, Cc By-sa 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trust us, you’ll want to mark your calendars for these releases because Disney+ is definitely not holding back this February. Let’s dive into everything that’s coming your way!

1. The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl (February 7) A still from The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl | Credits: Disney

Get ready to feel...

Mufasa: The Lion King's soundtrack, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, brings new life to the beloved franchise with a catchy and emotional score. Miranda’s signature style shines through, blending powerful African melodies with more contemporary elements that fit quite well with the iconic Disney story. While it might not be one of the best soundtracks featured in Disney movies, it still brings a lot of heart and energy, giving fans something fresh to enjoy from The Lion King universe.

Among the standout tracks, "Bye Bye" and "I Always Wanted A Brother" truly shine as the best of the collection. Capturing the emotional core of the 2024 Lion King installment, all the songs, but especially these two, elevate the legendary tale to a modern story worth giving a watch. With refreshingly brilliant deliveries from the cast, the soundtrack is a must-listen for anyone who loves The Lion King movies.

As a...

Mufasa: The Lion King could make his way to the 2025 Academy Awards, adding to The Lion King’s Oscars history. Disney continues riding the wave of live-action remakes of its most popular animated classics, and in some cases, these have made way for expansions. Such is the case of The Lion King, which got a “live-action”/CGI remake in 2019 and now a prequel, titled Mufasa: The Lion King, made in the same photorealistic animation style. Directed by Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King takes the audience back to the Pride Lands to explore the origin story of the title character.

Mufasa goes back years before the events of The Lion King to follow a young Mufasa, an orphan who is found by Prince Taka, who gives him a home and a family. Mufasa and Taka form a strong bond and become brothers, but their story takes a turn when two white lions attack.

Mufasa: The Lion King's soundtrack is inevitably already being compared to the soundtrack from the 1994 Lion King. The original movie's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, with songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice. The overwhelmingly positive reception to The Lion King was largely rooted in its beloved music, including the songs "Circle of Life," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and Timon and Pumbaa's "Hakuna Matata."

Acting as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 The Lion King, Mufasa's soundtrack features new songs, some of which were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with South African composer Lebo M. The score is composed by Dave Metzger and Nicholas Britell, the latter of whom wrote the music for the critically acclaimed Star Wars series Andor. Mufasa many musical callbacks to The Lion King, but also forges its own musical identity, creating...

The internet is filled with facts, both true and otherwise. In Film Trivia Fact Check, we’ll browse the depths of the web’s most user-generated trivia boards and wikis and put them under the microscope. How true are the IMDb Trivia pages? You want the truth? Can you handle the truth?...

Three decades after the original The Lion King movie was released by Disney, Mufasa: The Lion King is the prequel fans have long been waiting for. The movie follows Mufasa's gripping and emotional journey from becoming a lost cub who is deemed an outsider to a mighty king respected by all walks of life. The film successfully answers many important and longstanding questions fans have asked over the past 30 years regarding the origin of the Pride Lands and their favorite characters who live there. Mufasa: The Lion King debuts in theaters on Dec. 20.

Mufasa: The Lion King depicts the tragic incident that separates the young Mufasa cub from his parents before his fateful encounter with prince Taka (Scar) and his pride. Initially rejected by the pride as a stray, Mufasa is able to win over the hearts of many through his courage, skills, and selflessness. After their pride is attacked,...

It's kind of wild that the explorative pop culture prequel is still a thing among Hollywood filmmakers. There has been a recent tendency to tell a very specific kind of origin story that meticulously catalogs how certain familiar commercial figures came into being. The goal of these stories is not to expand on a character's complexity, introduce a new mystery into their lives, or to critically re-litigate their function, but to aggressively reinforce the feelings audiences already have. Audiences have, to offer a metaphor, been addicted to the same pop culture drug for years, but repeated viewings and general commercial ubiquity has caused them to built up a tolerance. Hollywood has responded by essentially adding metaphorical cocaine to the drugs, hoping to offer the exact same high, but slightly altered.

The high is satisfying for fans, but rarely provides great new ideas. There have been several versions of this phenomenon in 2024. There was "Alien: Romulus,...

Disney's The Lion King is considered one of the greatest animated movies ever made. A massive critical and commercial success at the time of its release, it is still one of the most popular creations of the famous animation studio thanks to its great story, its epic music numbers, and its beloved characters.

The Lion King is perfect in almost every way possible, and it's often thanks to the likable cast of characters and their sayings. Many of The Lion King's most iconic lines are quoted even today. Even when the 2019 remake appeared in theaters, filmmakers were sure to include these well-loved lines to further memorialize these iconic The Lion King quotes.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on December 13, 2024: The Lion King turned 30 years old this year, right as the franchise returns in a new and exciting way with the upcoming release of the CGI animated prequel Mufasa: The Lion King.

Quick Links Princess Kiara First Appeared in The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride Simba and Nala’s Cub Is Often Depicted as Male in Other Disney Media Kiara Is the Only Animal Disney Princess

When The Lion King first premiered in 1994, it broke a trend during the Disney Renaissance that began with The Little Mermaid in 1989. Instead of featuring a princess as a central or supporting figure in the story -- it followed a young lion prince named Simba grappling with life-altering challenges as he comes of age in the African savanna. The Disney creatives developing the movie realized at one point that they were basically re-imagining William Shakespeare's Hamlet and leaned into the idea. It tackled heavy themes like childhood trauma, grief, and adult responsibilities. All the while producing some of the 1990's most memorable Disney tunes.

Years later, in 1998, a princess would be introduced to the...

Moana 2 composer Mark Mancina addresses Lin-Manuel Miranda's absence in the movie, teasing the songwriter's upcoming work in Mufasa: The Lion King. Mancina has scored over 60 films and television series and arranged many songs for Disney's theatrical adaptation of The Lion King. The Grammy Award winner and Disney's longtime collaborator worked with Miranda on the soundtrack of the first Moana. However, Miranda didn't return to work on the music for Moana 2.

Mancina addresses his fellow five-time Grammy Award winner's absence in the Moana sequel with Screen Rant's own Owen Danoff and praises the songwriter's work in the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King. The composer reflects on the backlash about Miranda missing out on Moana 2, admitting that it would be "oversaturated" if Miranda did both films. While Mancina hasn't watched the final cut of Mufasa, he knows that "the songs are really great." Check out what he said below:

Well,...

NBC’s reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” has been a part of our lives for the better part of two decades, originally debuting in Summer 2006. Season after season, viewers find themselves falling in love with a countless number of auditioners, which is why it’s so gut-wrenching when one of them eventually passes away. In our photo gallery above, we take a moment to remember all of the talented acts who left us too soon, including most recently comedian Kabir Singh. “‘AGT’ deaths: Remembering the contestants we’ve lost on ‘America’s Got Talent'” was originally published March 2022. All of the names listed here are in alphabetical order.

Scott Alexander

This magician rose to fame during the sixth season of “AGT” where he made it all the way to the Quarterfinals. Following the show, Scott continued doing magic and even appeared on the second season of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Lin Manuel-Miranda opened up about writing seven songs for Mufasa: The Lion King, the upcoming prequel to the beloved Disney animated classic.

The Grammy-winning artist stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he discussed his upcoming stint in Broadway’s All In: Comedy About Love, recent concept album Warriors and Mufasa, among other things.

Miranda explained to the late night host that he was writing the concept album and the music for the Disney movie simultaneously, and sometimes, they overlapped.

“Anytime Mufasa started cursing, I was like, ‘That’s the wrong one,'” he said. Actually, honestly, I think working on Mufasa raised the bar for me because I knew was stepping into the world of Lion King. That original album is like an all bangers, no skip album.”

He continued, “It’s only five songs. Everyone forgets that the original movie is only five songs. ‘Circle of Life,...

Disney’s 2024 holiday specials are shaping up to be unforgettable, with Elton John set to perform live at Cinderella Castle! Here’s a look at the exciting lineup and a recap of Elton John’s iconic collaborations with Disney.

Magic Kingdom will be extra magical this holiday season as Disney has announced an exciting lineup for its 2024 holiday specials, including a headlining performance by Elton John. This week, Disney filmed parts of the holiday special at Magic Kingdom, capturing festive scenes and performances that will air on ABC and Disney+ later this season. Fans can look forward to seeing Elton’s performance at Cinderella Castle, along with Broadway stars and the beloved Christmas Day Parade featuring Disney characters, floats, and musical numbers.

Some Disney influencers caught the recent filming of the holiday specials, including WDWMagic and ResortTV1…

Disney’s holiday special will feature Broadway stars performing medleys of Disney favorites...

Pete Davison made a surprise return to Saturday Night Live for yet another musical sketch with John Mulaney.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition for the pair, who added to their repertoire of musical sketches tonight with “Port Authority Duane Reade.” Davidson starred in the sketch with Andrew Dismukes as two men who enter a New York Port Authority bus terminal Duane Reade to buy a couple of odd items. The employee, played by Mulaney, is taken aback when Davidson asks for a gallon of milk.

“You mean the gallon of milk surrounded by cans of Twisted iced tea in the fridge that’s hotter than the store?” Mulaney asks. Dismukes also points out that buying milk from a gas station is probably a bad idea, but Davidson is relentless.

Cue the first musical moment: Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim appear dressed as possums to sing a twisted version...

Pete Davidson made a return to “SNL” this weekend for a special occasion: another John Mulaney musical sketch. After the seminal “Diner Lobster,” “Bodega Bathroom” and “Airport Sushi” in previous episodes, this Sunday saw the debut of “Port Authority Duane Reade” which focused not on a single odd item being purchased at the location but a bevy of them.

Davidson and Andrew Dismukes played two men who walked into the Duane Reade at Port Authority, manned by a worker played by Mulaney. But when Davidson asked for a gallon of milk, Mulaney was taken aback.

“You mean the gallon of milk surrounded by cans of Twisted iced tea in the fridge that’s hotter than the store?”

Davidson countered that it said “organic” on the milk jug, but Dismukes corrected him, “No it says organ.”

Davidson was undeterred, so Mulaney acquiesced and opened up the first musical portion of the sketch.

Was the Character of Scar in The Lion King More Complex Than We Initially Thought? Unpacking His Depth & Motivations! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

When you think of The Lion King, Scar usually gets painted as the villain. But if you peek behind the royal curtain, you’ll find a tangled web of politics. The Pride Lands under Mufasa’s reign? Think of it as a lion-centric oligarchy, where the rest of the animal kingdom had little say. Sure, it was a hereditary monarchy, but with Rafiki throwing in his mystical “Circle of Life” rhetoric, the whole setup felt like a theocratic power play. The lions were practically sitting on top of the food chain, happily basking in their religious dogma while oppressing the other species.

Enter Scar. Naturally, he wasn’t thrilled about being stuck in the shadow of his kingly brother. While everyone else celebrated the arrival of their new ruler,...

Musician Sir Elton John gave the world his farewell tour just last year. However, that didn’t keep him from making a surprise appearance at a concert in London. Naturally, John joined a famous singer-songwriter to perform a duet.

Elton John Gave Finished His Farewell Tour In 2023

John is known for his prolific music career. Some of his more famous songs include “Bennie and the Jets,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” “Candle in the Wind,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “Rocket Man.” He is also known for his songs for Disney’s The Lion King, including “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” which were written with Tim Rice.

The musician gave his farewell tour, “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” named for his album, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” from 2018 to 2023. However, that did not keep John from appearing at and performing at a recent concert for a performer he recently collaborated with.

Having seen the Lion King musical, I need this year's Mufasa movie to include one of the best songs. As a Disney fan with a special love for The Lion King, I cannot wait for Mufasa: The Lion King to come out in December. Audiences have been understandably skeptical of Disney live-action movies, but there are many reasons to be excited about Mufasa: The Lion King. Firstly, the movie isnt an adaptation of an existing story, with screenwriter Jeff Nathanson expanding the story in a new way. Secondly, the movie is a musical and will feature brand-new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

After the success of Mirandas previous Disney soundtracks like those of Encanto and Moana, Im confident the Mufasa movie will be in good hands. The songs will undoubtedly resonate with audiences. Still, despite focusing on new music, I hope the movie will choose to incorporate the best song from...

The Lion King owes its enduring appeal to its sweeping drama and riveting plot. Its top-selling soundtrack also boasts iconic themes, including Elton John's Oscar-winning classic.

1994's The Lion King was almost released without Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." The singer-songwriter told Variety that Disney initially didn't know where the song fits in the plot. "The whole Disney team came down to Atlanta and showed me a rough cut of the nearly finished film, and there was no 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight,'" he recalled. "So I asked, 'Where's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"' And they go, 'Well, we just couldn't find a place for it.'" The song served as the theme for Symba's brief tryst with Nala before the film's final act. Disney made room for the song (and the film's romantic interlude) in the final cut.

Related Lion King...

To the tune of “Circle of Life,” “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins took the stage at D23 to show off a new look at “Mufasa,” the prequel to “The Lion King” that hits theaters this December.

And he didn’t come alone. He was joined by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is composing new songs for the film.

Miranda showed off a never-before seen clip with one of his new songs called “I Always Wanted a Brother.” The clip shows Taka, the royal prince who will one day be known as Scar. Taka’s father, the Lion King Obasi, doesn’t like the idea that his son has befriended a stray in Mufasa, but the cub has always wanted a brother, and he’s determined to make sure Mufasa will be embraced by the pride.

The new clip shows Mufasa and Taka frolicking through the Pride Lands, first as cubs and then as young lions.

Disney took a look back at its work from decades past with a pair of throwback concerts at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend.

Disney ’80s-’90s Celebration in Concert featured live performers, many of whom had worked on previous Disney projects, belting out live renditions of favorite tunes from those two titular decades. Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in the 1989 movie The Little Mermaid), Corbin Bleu (High School Musical), Bill Farmer (the official voice of Goofy and Pluto), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash), Aisha Jackson (Anna in Broadway’s Frozen) and Susan Egan (Meg in Hercules and the original Belle in Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast) were some of the performers to take the stage.

Among the era-appropriate songs performed in the shows were “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, “Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas, “Circle of Life” from The Lion King and “What’s This?” from Tim Burton...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Disney’s “The Lion King” (currently in theaters for a limited run), which coincides with the release of Barry Jenkins’ prequel, “Mufasa: The Lion King” (December 20). The 2D blockbuster and pop culture phenomenon (directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff) was an early digital pioneer. This was vital in introducing a live-action aesthetic with dynamic camera movement and dramatic lighting to its “Circle of Life” adventure story, starring Simba and company, set in the African Pride Lands.

This propelled Jon Favreau’s photorealistic remake in 2019, driven by an innovative virtual production workflow and a Nat Geo-like doc aesthetic. Although it was marketed as “live action” and not submitted for animated Oscar consideration, this was clearly keyframe-animated by Mpc, which nonetheless earned a VFX Oscar nomination (production supervised by Rob Legato).

This, in turn, has led Jenkins to strive for greater emotional nuance and...

Baby's Day Out, a 1994 family film, failed at the box office due to competition with The Lion King. The Lion King's success overshadowed Baby's Day Out, which struggled to make back its budget. Despite its low review scores, Baby's Day Out had potential with its cast, comedy/jeopardy mix, and groundbreaking special effects.

The director of Baby's Day Out, the 1994 family film with one of the cutest babies in history, has gone on record about the film's failure at the box office. Apparently, it was the fault of another youngster, albeit a furrier one, that proved to be one of the biggest movies of the decade.

The Lion King was released in direct competition with Baby's Day Out, and while the Patrick Read Johnson-directed movie struggled to even make back its budget, Disney's "Hamlet with lions" movie would go on to be considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time.

The Lion King remains Disney's best movie, with its iconic music and animation standing the test of time. The live-action remakes and spinoffs of The Lion King risk undermining the original's beloved legacy. Mufasa: The Lion King as a prequel and sequel may weaken the iconic characters and story of the 1994 film.

Thirty years after its release, The Lion King is still Disney's best movie, but I'm worried about how its legacy will be impacted by Disney's various live-action remakes and spinoffs. Released on June 24, 1994, The Lion King became an instant success as it received critical acclaim and became the top-earning film of the year with a worldwide gross of $763 million. The iconic music, the breathtaking animation, and the emotional depth of its equally dramatic and humorous story made The Lion King timeless, along with cementing it as a childhood favorite of mine to watch and rewatch on numerous occasions.

Move over, Kanye West.

The rapper and Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West will make her Hollywood Bowl singing debut Friday at the first of the two-night “The Lion King” concert event. She will perform “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”

As previously reported, West will join “Lion King” veterans Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Jeremy Irons, Ernie Sabella, Heather Headley, Lebo M and Jason Weaver as well as Egot winner Jennifer Hudson.

A full orchestra is set to perform Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning musical score led by conductor Sarah Hicks. The song list featured Elton John and Tim Rice classics such as “Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” “Circle of Life,” “Be Prepared” and “Hakuna Matata.”

The shows will be filmed for later broadcast as “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” on Disney+.

The celebration is presented by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva.

The Lion King – Featuring the voices of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala and Donald Glover as Simba, Disney’s “The Lion King” is directed by Jon Favreau. © 2019 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. When Disney made the original animated version of The Lion King, the studio invested heavily in the film’s music, enlisting Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice for the film’s original songs and Hans Zimmer for its score. Of course, it was an investment that paid off handsomely — the soundtrack album has sold more than 7 million copies, and all four of The Lion King’s Oscar nominations were for the film’s music. When the studio decided to remake the film in 2019, director Jon Favreau was faced with a lot of choices about how he wanted to make his film different than the original. At the time of the film’s release, Favreau told us he realized that,...

While The Kardashians star, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s daughter, North West, has been spreading her wings into the life of child stardom, she is taking it a step further now. Notably, North has a knack for performing. From a young age, she loved being in the spotlight like her parents. But now, North is embracing a new role in an upcoming iconic Disney event.

Kim Kardashian And Kanye West Foster North West’s Child Star Career

Undoubtedly, The Kardashians star, Kim Kardashian, and her ex-husband, Kanye West, have been instrumental in aiding North West in her child star career pursuits. Not only are both parents famous themselves, but they have fostered North’s desires to perform since she was very little. However, in more recent years, her public appearances with Yeezy models and Kanye performing “Miss Westie” have added to her confidence to chase her budding career. Furthermore,...

North West, the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, has joined the cast of Disney’s “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl,” a live concert event that will be filmed across two performances and released as a special on Disney+.

West is set to star alongside previously announced cast members Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Jennifer Hudson and Bradley GIbson. Broadway actress Heather Headley and Lebo M. round out the cast.

The shows will take place on May 24 and 25 in celebration of “The Lion King’s” 30th anniversary.

Disney Branded Television and Fulwell 73 Productions are on board to produce the show along with Amp Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva. The performances will be captured for a Disney+ Original special “The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl,” set to stream at a later date.

The special will celebrate the 30-year evolution of “The Lion King,...

Disney's animated movies are defined by their incredible soundtracks, featuring toe-tapping songs and heart-wrenching ballads written by some of the best composers. While some Disney soundtracks are better than others, some underrated gems deserve recognition. The Lion King takes the top spot as Disney's best score, with iconic songs like "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata" that capture the magic and joy of Disney movies.

Some of Disney's most iconic movies are their tune-filled animated features, and most of them include fantastical soundtracks. More than 100 years since the inception of the company, animated features have come to define the studio. Featuring music written by some of the best pop and theater composers of their respective eras, the best Disney animated movies include irresistibly toe-tapping songs and heart-wrenching ballads.

Disney's earliest animated films, like their first full-length animated film 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and their next film Pinocchio three years later,...

Hans Zimmer drew inspiration from African sounds to create the iconic opening song of The Lion King. "Circle of Life" ends with a musical button, creating a dramatic impact on the audience. Disney's original plan for the song was very different, but Zimmer's creativity led to its extended version.

Hans Zimmer, the famed composer of Disney’s The Lion King, recently revealed some interesting information about what went into making The Lion King's famous opening song, “The Circle of Life.” When The Lion King premiered in 1994, it was an instant success, and a large part of that success is thanks to its memorable award-winning soundtrack. Zimmer scored the animated film with a handful of original songs written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, who had previously worked with Disney on the Aladdin soundtrack. Along with composing the songs, John was also a featured vocalist on multiple tracks.

"He Lives In You" adds emotional depth to The Lion King soundtrack, honoring lost loved ones with powerful lyrics and African influences. The live-action remake missed an opportunity to use the song in a key scene, but its inclusion is still crucial for the movie's success. Despite not being in the original animated film, "He Lives In You" is considered one of the best songs in The Lion King franchise.

Disney's The Lion King added one crucial change to the live-action movie's soundtrack that helped it improve over the original's. The Lion King depicts the story of a young lion cub, Simba, whose destiny is to rule over Pride Rock; after he is tricked by his uncle into believing he is responsible for his father's death, Simba flees into the wild, with new friends Timon and Pumbaa. It is only after he grows up that he remembers who he is...

Mufasa has a unique advantage over the 2019 Lion King remake, allowing for new settings and storylines. The movie will explore Mufasa's early days with a diverse range of landscapes beyond the Pride Lands. Mufasa promises to break new ground and offer a fresh take on the beloved Lion King franchise.

Mufasa: The Lion King, an upcoming musical-meets-drama prequel to Disney's The Lion King, has a distinct advantage over the 2019 remake: It isn't beholden to an earlier film. Notably, the 2019 photorealistic animated remake was largely a shot-for-shot recapitulation of Disney's 1994 classic. From the presentation of baby Simba at Pride Rock to the young adult Simba's "Hakuna Matata" romp through the jungle with Timon and Pumba, some of the '90s film's most iconic scenes were replicated with incredible precision for the remake. Unfortunately, this shot-for-shot approach hinders artistic creativity and narrative innovation.

Mufasa has a huge advantage over the 2019 movie.

Mufasa: The Lion King explores Mufasa's mysterious backstory, hinting at unexpected revelations of his noble lineage. Prequel teases suggest Mufasa's rise to the throne wasn't traditional, raising questions about his claim to leadership. Film likely delves into the complicated relationship between Mufasa and Scar, shedding light on their strained bond.

Details about Mufasa's backstory in Mufasa: The Lion King signal massive changes to the lore surrounding Disney's celebrated franchise. Rather than follow up the CGI remake with a direct sequel that continues Simba's adventures, Disney is going back to the past with a story about Mufasa and Scar. As the title implies, Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King is expected to shine the spotlight on Mufasa as it explores his early days in the Pride Lands, long before the birth of his son.

Footage released from Disney's panel at CinemaCon 2024 provide a glimpse into what the studio intends to...

Disney’s presentation at CinemaCon made sure to carve out some time to focus on their upcoming animated movies. We’ve already covered Inside Out 2, but CinemaCon audiences were also treated to teasers for Mufasa: The Lion King and Moana 2.

Director Barry Jenkins took the stage to promote the Lion King prequel, adding that he had seen the original Disney animated movie over 200 times and knew he had to take the gig. “When the script came to me I was fascinated by watching these complex people dealing with complex emotions…this film explores Mufasa rise to become the heroic king that we know,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins wanted to make a movie that tackled the same issues as the first, hoping that it would help a new generation of children become who they really are. The teaser trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King then began with those iconic notes from...

At CinemaCon, Disney unveiled first-look footage from Mufasa: The Lion King. The movie features a star-studded cast that includes Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani. The new footage reveals young Mufasa and many different landscapes.

Mufasa: The Lion King footage offers further insight into the prequel. The movie tells the story of a young Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) before he became the king depicted in the 2019 The Lion King, a photorealistic CG-animated remake of the traditionally animated 1994 Disney classic of the same name. The movie musical, which features music by Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, and Nicholas Britell, was directed by Moonlight's Barry Jenkins and also stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani.

Screen Rant was in attendance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where new footage debuted from the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King. The now iconic "Circle of Life" kicks...

Actress Olivia Colman has revealed that she was very nervous the night she won her Oscar.

Colman has shared that she had to take a beta blocker to calm down.

The actress, 50, also revealed that she ordered a high neck dress to hide a huge rash.

The actress states that the rash appears when she is stressed, reports ‘Mirror.co.uk’.

Colman won the award in 2019 for ‘The Favourite’, the movie in which she played Queen Anne.

The actress said in a new book: “I had been really against anyone talking about it as I didn’t like the pressure. I had half a beta blocker because I was so nervous. It took away all my fear. I shouldn’t recommend that, but it was great.”

As per ‘Mirror.co.uk’, the pills slow down the heart.

Speaking of ordering her dress for the occasion, Colman added: “When I get nervous,...

Disney Animation might be wishing for a crystal ball as as it decides which song from their upcoming feature Wish to submit for Oscars consideration. The Oscars’ Nov. 1 deadline comes weeks ahead of the Nov. 22 release date for the film, voice starring Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The date means the studio could face a potential conundrum, not unlike the one its experienced in 2022 when best animated feature winner Encanto was a contender.

When the 2022 Oscar nominations for best original song were announced, Encanto‘s ballad “Dos Oruguitas” got a nom, but “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” — which went on to become the studio’s biggest hit ever from a movie, sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks — did not. It left many scratching their heads, but the reason, it turned out, was that Disney Animation didn’t submit “Bruno” for consideration.

Following its surprise 2022 Emmy win for Best Variety Series Directing, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” is out of the running for the same prize this year, leaving an opportunity for “Saturday Night Live” to bounce back and achieve its 12th victory in the category. It does, however, face several formidable challengers, including “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” the host of which once starred on “The Daily Show,” which notably halted a “Saturday Night Live” success streak in 2015.

“Saturday Night Live” is the only former winner in this directing lineup, while “The Problem with Jon Stewart” stands as the only new nominee. The three other returning contenders are “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which have now amassed a collective total of 18 mentions in this category.

In order to determine how reasonably “Saturday Night Live” can be expected to kick off a new winning streak,...

Disney has confirmed a fan theory that the hyenas in The Lion King survived by cannibalizing each other, adding a dark twist to the story. This revelation is smart as it aligns with the natural behavior of hyenas and emphasizes their exclusion from the Circle of Life. The hyenas' desperation and their history of cannibalism explain why they joined Scar's forces and contributed to the destruction of the Pride Lands. It also adds irony to Scar's fate of being consumed by his own promised food source, the scavengers he recruited.

Despite producing the world's most popular kids' movies, Disney is no stranger to darkness, but one recently confirmed The Lion King fan theory goes further than anyone expected. From Bambi's mom to Pinocchio's Pleasure Island scene, many Disney movies have deliberately dark moments, but it turns out a dangling thread from the original Lion King tops them all.

Throughout the history of cinema, a near-constant battle has always existed between directors and producers. Directors vehemently fight for artistic freedom while producers weigh the pros and cons of commercial viability.

There is a multitude of cases in film history when studio interference completely ruined a movie's chances for financial and critical success, such as Heaven's Gate and Alien³. There are also an equal number of instances when studio interference actually aided in a film's success, such as Back to the Future and Good Will Hunting. Sometimes, however, studio executives desired to make changes to some of cinema's most iconic films, but luckily for audiences, these alterations never went into effect.

Related: 10 Failed Sci-Fi Sequels That Were Doomed Before They Started

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

From a technical viewpoint, Lady and the Tramp is a revolutionary work of animation due to it being the first animated film shot in CinemaScope.

Tom Cruise is living out his musical theatre dreams.

On the “Late Late Show with James Corden”, the “Top Gun: Maverick” star teamed up with the host to join the live cast of The Lion King.

Read More: David Letterman Asks Jimmy Kimmel Why Tom Cruise Wasn’t At Oscars

The segment opened with a flashback to the duo’s last big stunt together, flying around in super fast jets, with Cruise telling Corden that the next thing they should do is a musical.

But arriving at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, Cruise is asked, “You and me are about to join the cast of the biggest show in Broadway history. We will perform live in The Lion King. What do you say?”

“I say no,” Cruise answered.

“Other than that,” Corden pressed him, to which the actor responded, “No, thank you?”

But Corden brought him along anyway to meet the cast,...

Warning: contains spoilers for Disney Villains: Scar #1!The new prequel series to the hit Disney film The Lion King has officially exposed the dark implications of the original's Circle of Life. The Lion King has been treasured by Disney fans for decades now because of its wholesome story about a young cub's rise to become the King of the Pride Lands. It's remembered for its stellar animation and lovable characters that make every rewatch a treat. However, it's the film's opening song - The Circle of Life by Elton John, Tim Rice, Carmen Twillie and Lebo M. - that struck a chord with audiences because of how well it establishes a major theme. However, the movie dodged the darkest implications of the song's message.

Disney Villains: Scar #1 by Chuck Brown and Trevor Fraley opens its story from the perspective of a herd of wildebeests, as one of the children learns...

It’s been almost 20 years since Jennifer Hudson was eliminated from “American Idol,” but at this point, she has no regrets about her final song choice. The singer told her former judge Simon Cowell that the song that got her eliminated from the show is actually the reason she got her breakout role in “Dreamgirls,” which then earned her an Oscar.

Hudson kicked off her new talk show “The Jennifer Hudson Show” this week, welcoming Cowell as her first guest. During their conversation, Hudson asked for his perspective on things from the night she got booted from the competition. Cowell noted that he wasn’t a fan of the theme for the week — “Barry Manilow Week” — and wished that it had been different, so Hudson could’ve sung a song more suited for her.

Cowell then turned the table on the host, asking whether she even would change the song,...

“American Idol” continued with the 16th episode of Season 20 on Sunday, May 1. This installment of the ABC reality TV competition saw the Top 10 singing Disney songs for judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie. Ah Disney Night! The night where contestants discover the inner child and we learn of their Disney memories. The night where Katy gets to cosplay as a classic Disney character. The Night where many viewers scratch their heads and hope for a song choice that has not been utilized in seasons past.

See All of Katy Perry’s Disney costumes on ‘American Idol’ including Snow White, Ursula, Tinker Bell …

Much like it’s “Dancing with the Stars” counterpart, the week is equally loved and dreaded simultaneously. I personally love this week since I love all things Disney. Add in Derek Hough as a mentor, the Muppets, and a performance of “Encanto” megahit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,...

Lin-Manuel Miranda has been enchanted with Disney movies since he was young, and now the Emmy, Tony, and Grammy Award winner realized a dream when he got to write songs for the studio’s animated film Moana. Although it earned him an Oscar nomination, he didn’t get the statuette that would complete his Egot. Now, he’s […]

The post Circle Of Life: Disney Films Inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda, Who’s Now Writing For Disney Films appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

Lin-Manuel Miranda paid a visit to The Tonight Show to herald the return of Broadway by performing a song about all of his favorite musicals with host Jimmy Fallon.

The pair were joined by Jimmy Smits, Olga Merediz, Phylicia Rashad, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Jackson, and Laura Benanti as they referenced a slew of musicals, and performed a parody of Hamilton’s “You’ll Be Back.” The duo paid tribute to everything from Aladdin to Wicked to The Book of Mormon.

Miranda also sat down with Fallon for a lengthy interview...