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6.5
Walt Disney Pictures Acclaimed

The Lion King

Disney Live-Action · The Lion King Collection

2019 118 min PG
Critic6.5
Animation Adventure Drama
Disney+ Apple TV
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

After the murder of his father, King Mufasa, at the hands of his treacherous uncle Scar, young lion prince Simba flees Pride Rock — and must one day return to claim his rightful place as king.
Story 7.0
Acting 7.0
Direction 6.5
Cinematography 8.5
Music 8.5
Pacing 6.5
Originality 4.5
Emotional Impact 6.5
Overall 6.5

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Cinema Desk

6.5 /10

Visual spectacle

The photorealistic rendering of the savanna and its animals is genuinely jaw-dropping.

Faithful to a fault

It follows the 1994 film so closely that it rarely justifies its own existence beyond the visuals.

Pros

  • Groundbreaking photorealistic animation
  • Iconic, beautifully performed music
  • James Earl Jones' returning Mufasa
  • Faithful to a beloved story

Cons

  • Lacks originality
  • Realistic faces limit emotional expression
  • Little new to justify the remake
Verdict A technical marvel of photorealistic animation that faithfully recreates a beloved classic — but that faithfulness is also its limitation, as the ultra-realistic animals can't match the expressive warmth of the original.

AI Review

Jon Favreau's photorealistic remake of the 1994 classic — a visually stunning, record-breaking retelling that plays it safe with the original.

A technical marvel of photorealistic animation that faithfully recreates a beloved classic — but that faithfulness is also its limitation, as the ultra-realistic animals can't match the expressive warmth of the original.

Great family watch for the visuals and music — stream on Disney+.

Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Best Animated Feature Film · Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Original Song ("Spirit") · Nominated

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Song ("Spirit") · Nominated

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Physical Date
Premiere
Status
Development

Confirmed in September 2016 after the success of Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book (2016).

Production

Principal work began in mid-2017 on a blue-screen stage in Los Angeles using advanced virtual-production techniques.

Release

Premiered in Hollywood on July 9, 2019 and released in the US on July 19, 2019.

Golden Globe Awards

Best Animated Feature Film Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Original Song ("Spirit") Nominated

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Song ("Spirit") Nominated

Production

Development

Confirmed in September 2016 after the success of Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book (2016).

Production

Principal work began in mid-2017 on a blue-screen stage in Los Angeles using advanced virtual-production techniques.

Release

Premiered in Hollywood on July 9, 2019 and released in the US on July 19, 2019.

Streaming

Disney+ Apple TV

Cast

Donald Glover Simba
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter Nala
James Earl Jones Mufasa
Chiwetel Ejiofor Scar
Seth Rogen Pumbaa
Billy Eichner Timon
John Oliver Zazu
Alfre Woodard Sarabi
John Kani Rafiki
JD McCrary Young Simba
Shahadi Wright Joseph Young Nala
Florence Kasumba Shenzi

Characters

Simba Donald Glover
Nala Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Mufasa James Earl Jones
Scar Chiwetel Ejiofor
Pumbaa Seth Rogen
Timon Billy Eichner
Zazu John Oliver
Sarabi Alfre Woodard
Rafiki John Kani
Young Simba JD McCrary
Young Nala Shahadi Wright Joseph
Shenzi Florence Kasumba

Crew

Jon Favreau Director
Jeff Nathanson Writer
Hans Zimmer Composer
Elton John Songwriter
Tim Rice Songwriter
Caleb Deschanel Cinematographer
Mark Livolsi Editor
Adam Gerstel Editor
Jon Favreau Producer
Jeffrey Silver Producer
Karen Gilchrist Producer

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. Spirit — Beyoncé
  2. Can You Feel the Love Tonight — Beyoncé & Donald Glover
  3. Hakuna Matata — Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover & JD McCrary
  4. Circle of Life — Lebo M. & Cast

Trivia

  • Became the highest-grossing animated film of all time upon release, a record it held until 2024.
  • The fastest animated film to gross $1 billion, reaching it in 21 days.
  • James Earl Jones reprised Mufasa, the only cast member to return from the 1994 original.
  • Beyoncé wrote and performed the new song 'Spirit' for the film.
  • Filmed using virtual-reality production tools, with filmmakers 'shooting' inside a computer-generated environment.

Quotes

"Remember who you are."

"Everything the light touches is our kingdom."

Goofs

  • Some photorealistic animal expressions limit the exaggerated emotion of the hand-drawn original, an intentional trade-off of the realistic style.

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Collections

Part of The Lion King Collection

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Universe

Disney Live-Action Remakes

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Franchise

Disney Live-Action

Photorealistic remake of the 1994 film, later followed by the 2024 prequel Mufasa: The Lion King.

Browse franchise →

Recommendations & Alternatives

For higher ratings, consider Beauty and the Beast (9.0/10). A similarly themed alternative is Reminders of Him.

Higher Rated

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AI Recommendation Insight

Jon Favreau's photorealistic remake of the 1994 classic — a visually stunning, record-breaking retelling that plays it safe with the original. Similar picks: Similar Director, Shared Cast

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