The Lion King
Academy Award × 2·National Film Registry
Rent/Purchase
Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
What critics thought
Broadly acclaimed on release for its animation and emotional weight, The Lion King drew near-universal praise for its visual ambition and willingness to tackle darker, more adult themes than typical Disney fare. Where critics diverged was on the story itself — some felt the peripheral comic characters outshone the central narrative, that the songs couldn't match the studio's recent peak, and that the climax resolved too quickly; others found the whole thing genuinely moving rather than merely manipulative.
“Shakespearean in tone, epic in scope, it seems more appropriate for grown-ups than for kids. If truth be told, even for adults it is downright strange.”
Hal Hinson·The Washington Post
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
DirectorRoger Allers, Rob Minkoff
StarringMatthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella
ComposerHans Zimmer
The Lion King
Academy Award × 2·National Film Registry
Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
What critics thought
Broadly acclaimed on release for its animation and emotional weight, The Lion King drew near-universal praise for its visual ambition and willingness to tackle darker, more adult themes than typical Disney fare. Where critics diverged was on the story itself — some felt the peripheral comic characters outshone the central narrative, that the songs couldn't match the studio's recent peak, and that the climax resolved too quickly; others found the whole thing genuinely moving rather than merely manipulative.
“Shakespearean in tone, epic in scope, it seems more appropriate for grown-ups than for kids. If truth be told, even for adults it is downright strange.”
Hal Hinson·The Washington Post
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Drama
Cast & Crew
DirectorRoger Allers, Rob Minkoff
StarringMatthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella
ComposerHans Zimmer
Rent/Purchase