The Lion King

{{Short description|1994 American animated film}} {{About|the 1994 animated film|its 2019 remake|The Lion King (2019 film){{!}}''The Lion King'' (2019 film)|the entire Disney franchise|The Lion King (franchise){{!}}''The Lion King'' (franchise)|other uses}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=December 2018}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox film | image = The Lion King poster.jpg | alt = In an African savannah, several animals stare at a lion atop a tall rock. A lion's head can be seen in the clouds above. Atop the image is the text "Walt Disney Pictures presents The Lion King".

| caption = Theatrical release poster by John Alvin | director = {{Plainlist| * Roger Allers * Rob Minkoff }} | screenplay = {{Plainlist| * Irene Mecchi * Jonathan Roberts * Linda Woolverton }} | story = {{Plainlist| * Barry Johnson * Andy Gaskill * Kevin Harkey * Tom Sito * Rick Maki * Burny Mattinson * Lorna Cook * Gary Trousdale * Jorgen Klubien * Larry Leker * Ed Gombert * Mark Kausler * Thom Enriquez * Jim Capobianco * Chris Sanders * Joe Ranft * Francis Glebas }} | producer = Don Hahn | starring = {{Plainlist| * Jonathan Taylor Thomas * Matthew Broderick * James Earl Jones * Jeremy Irons * Moira Kelly * Niketa Calame * Ernie Sabella * Nathan Lane * Robert Guillaume * Rowan Atkinson * Whoopi Goldberg * Cheech Marin * Jim Cummings * Madge Sinclair }} | editing = Ivan Bilancio | music = Hans Zimmer | production_companies = Walt Disney Feature Animation | distributor = Buena Vista Pictures Distribution{{efn|name=Disney|Distributed under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.}} | released = {{Film date|1994|6|15|El Capitan Theatre|1994|6|24|United States}} | runtime = 88 minutes<ref name=Runtime>{{cite web|title=''The Lion King'' (U)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/lion-king-9|work=British Board of Film Classification|access-date=July 21, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053405/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/lion-king-9|url-status=dead}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $45 million<ref name="mojo" /> | gross = $979 million<ref name="mojo" /> }} '''''The Lion King''''' is a 1994 American animated musical drama film<ref>{{Cite news |last=Byrge |first=Duane |date=June 27, 2016 |title='The Lion King': THR's 1994 Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-thrs-1994-review-2-906559/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226115911/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-thrs-1994-review-2-906559/ |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=January 24, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |quote=The Lion King is a coming-of-age story}}</ref><ref name="tlkebertreview" /> directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, produced by Don Hahn, and written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, and features an ensemble voice cast consisting of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Moira Kelly, Niketa Calame, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. The story follows a young lion prince named Simba, who is exiled from his kingdom after his father Mufasa is murdered by his uncle Scar to seize the throne. As he grows up, Simba must decide whether to return home to confront Scar and reclaim his place as king.

''The Lion King'' was conceived during conversations among various Disney executives, to whom several writers submitted early treatments under the title ''King of the Jungle''. Original director George Scribner had envisioned ''The Lion King'' as a nature documentary-style film, with Allers joining as co-director after having worked in the story departments of several successful animated Disney films. ''The Lion King''{{'s}} plot draws inspiration from several sources, notably William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet''. Woolverton, screenwriter for Disney's ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), drafted early versions of ''The Lion King''<nowiki/>'s script, which Mecchi and Roberts were hired to revise once Woolverton left to prioritize other projects. Scribner departed due to disagreements over the studio's decision to reimagine the film as a musical, with original songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and Minkoff was hired to replace him in April 1992. Throughout production, the creative team visited Kenya for research and inspiration.

Released in theaters on June 24, 1994 by Walt Disney Pictures, ''The Lion King'' was praised by critics for its music, story, themes, and animation. With an initial worldwide gross of $763 million, it completed its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of 1994 and the second-highest-grossing film of all time, behind ''Jurassic Park'' (1993). It held the title of highest-grossing animated film until it was replaced by ''Finding Nemo'' in 2003. The film remains the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, having its initial gross remained the highest-grossing initial gross for a traditionally animated film until it was surpassed 31 years later by ''Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle'' in 2025. The film was also the best-selling film on home video, having sold over {{nowrap|55 million}} copies worldwide. It won two Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It is considered by many to be among the greatest animated films ever made.

The success of the film launched a multibillion-dollar franchise comprising a Broadway adaptation, two direct-to-video follow-ups, two television series, and a photorealistic remake (which itself spawned a prequel), which in 2019 also became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release. In 2016, ''The Lion King'' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

==Plot==  In the Pride Lands, a pride of lions rules over the kingdom from Pride Rock. King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi's newborn son, Simba, is presented to the gathered animals by Rafiki, the mandrill who serves as the kingdom's shaman and advisor. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, covets the throne and plots to eliminate Mufasa and Simba so that he may become king.

When Simba grows into a young cub, Mufasa shows him the Pride Lands and forbids him to explore beyond its borders. Mufasa explains to Simba the responsibilities of kingship and the "circle of life," which connects all living things.

Scar manipulates Simba into exploring an elephants' graveyard beyond the Pride Lands. There, Simba and his best friend, Nala, are chased by three spotted hyenas named Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. Mufasa is alerted by his majordomo, the hornbill Zazu, and rescues the cubs. Though disappointed in Simba for disobeying him and endangering himself and Nala, Mufasa forgives him. He explains that the great kings of the past watch over them from the night sky, from which he will one day watch over Simba. Scar visits the hyenas and convinces them to help him kill Mufasa and Simba in exchange for hunting rights in the Pride Lands.

Scar lures Simba into a gorge and signals the hyenas to drive a large herd of wildebeest into a stampede to trample him. He then alerts Mufasa, who saves Simba and tries to escape the gorge, but Scar betrays him by throwing him into the stampede to his death. Scar then deceives Simba into believing that Mufasa's death was his fault and tells him to leave the kingdom and never return. He orders the hyenas to kill Simba, but Simba escapes. Unaware of Simba's survival, Scar tells the pride that the stampede killed both Mufasa and Simba, and steps forward as the new king, allowing the hyenas into the Pride Lands.

Simba collapses in a desert but is rescued by two outcasts, a meerkat and a warthog named Timon and Pumbaa. Simba grows up with his two new friends in their oasis, living a carefree life under their motto "hakuna matata" ("no worries" in Swahili). Years later, an adult Simba rescues Timon and Pumbaa from a hungry lioness, who is revealed to be Nala. Simba and Nala fall in love, and she urges him to return home, telling him that the Pride Lands have become drought-stricken under Scar's reign. Still feeling guilty over Mufasa's death, Simba refuses and leaves angrily. He encounters Rafiki, who tells Simba that Mufasa's spirit lives on in him. Simba is visited by the spirit of Mufasa in the night sky, who tells him that he must take his place as king. After Rafiki advises him to learn from the past instead of running from it, Simba decides to return to the Pride Lands.

Aided by his friends, Simba sneaks past the hyenas at Pride Rock and confronts Scar, who shames Simba over his supposed role in Mufasa's death. Scar then reveals to Simba that he killed Mufasa. Enraged, Simba retaliates and forces Scar to confess the truth to the pride. A battle ensues between Simba and his allies and the hyenas. Scar attempts to escape but is cornered by Simba at a ledge near the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for mercy and attempts to deceive Simba by blaming his actions on the hyenas. Simba spares Scar's life, but orders him to leave the Pride Lands forever. Scar refuses and attacks Simba. Following a brief battle, Simba throws Scar off the ledge. Scar survives the fall, but the hyenas, who overheard him betraying them, attack and maul him to death.

With Scar and the hyenas gone, Simba takes his place as king, and Nala becomes his queen. With the Pride Lands restored, Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub to the assembled animals, thus continuing the circle of life.

==Voice cast== {{Main|List of The Lion King (franchise) characters|l1 = List of ''The Lion King'' characters}}

right|thumb|300px|A promotional image of the characters from the film. From left to right: Shenzi, Scar, Ed, Banzai, Rafiki, Young Simba, Mufasa, Young Nala, Sarabi, Zazu, Sarafina, Timon, and Pumbaa. * Matthew Broderick as Simba, a young lion crown prince, the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, who grows up to become the king of the Pride Lands. Rock singer Joseph Williams provided Simba's singing voice.{{efn|Mark Henn and Ruben A. Aquino respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Simba.<ref name="LionKingProduction">{{cite press release|url=https://www.lionking.org/text/FilmNotes.html|title=The Lion King: Production Notes|access-date=August 5, 2008|publisher=Walt Disney Pictures|date=May 25, 1994|via=LionKing.org|archive-date=October 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026100715/http://www.lionking.org/text/FilmNotes.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} ** Jonathan Taylor Thomas voiced young Simba, while Jason Weaver provided the cub's singing voice and Evan Saucedo also provided the cub's singing voice in "The Morning Report", a newly animated song which was added to the 2003 DVD Special Edition of ''The Lion King''.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/> * Jeremy Irons as Scar, Mufasa's younger brother and rival, and Simba's uncle, who plots to seize the throne of the Pride Lands. Jim Cummings partially provided Scar's singing voice for the song "Be Prepared".<ref name=":4" />{{efn|Andreas Deja served as the supervising animator for Scar.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Simba's father, Scar's older brother, Sarabi's mate, and the king of the Pride Lands at the beginning of the film.{{efn|Tony Fucile served as the supervising animator for Mufasa.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Moira Kelly as Nala, Simba's childhood best friend, who later becomes his mate and the queen of the Pride Lands. Sally Dworsky provided her singing voice.{{efn|Aaron Blaise and Anthony de Rosa respectively served as the supervising animators for young and adult Nala.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} ** Niketa Calame provided the voice of young Nala while Laura Williams provided her singing voice.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/> * Nathan Lane as Timon, a wise-cracking meerkat who becomes one of Simba's best friends.{{efn|Michael Surrey served as his supervising animator.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, a naïve warthog who is Timon's best friend. He also becomes one of Simba's best friends.{{efn|Tony Bancroft served as his supervising animator.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Robert Guillaume as Rafiki, an old mandrill who serves as the shaman of the Pride Lands and ceremonially presents the newborn cubs of the King and Queen to the gathered animals.{{efn|James Baxter served as the supervising animator for Rafiki.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Rowan Atkinson as Zazu, an uptight hornbill who serves as the majordomo to the King of the Pride Lands. Jeff Bennett provided Zazu's singing voice in "The Morning Report", a newly animated song sequence which was added to the 2003 DVD Special Edition of ''The Lion King''.{{efn|Ellen Woodbury served as the supervising animator for Zazu.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Madge Sinclair as Sarabi, Mufasa's mate, Simba's mother, and leader of the lioness hunting party, as well as the queen of the Pride Lands at the beginning of the film.{{efn|Russ Edmonds served as the supervising animator for Sarabi.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} * Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings as the three leaders of a clan of spotted hyenas, and allies of Scar who participate in his plot in the death of Mufasa.{{efn|Animated by Alex Kupershmidt and David Burgess.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/>}} ** Goldberg voices Shenzi, the sassy and short-tempered female leader of the trio. ** Marin voices Banzai, an aggressive and hot-headed hyena prone to complaining and acting on impulse. ** Cummings voices Ed, a dimwitted hyena who does not talk, only communicating through laughter. *** Cummings also voiced a mole that talks with Zazu.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0cEAOsLJad8C&pg=PA141 | title = The Magic Behind the Voices: A Who's Who of Cartoon Voice Actors | isbn = 978-1-57806-696-4 | last1 = Lawson | first1 = Tim | last2 = Persons | first2 = Alisa | date = December 9, 2004 | publisher = Univ. Press of Mississippi | access-date = March 13, 2016 | archive-date = June 27, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140627190244/http://books.google.com/books?id=0cEAOsLJad8C&pg=PA141 | url-status = live }}</ref> * Zoe Leader as Sarafina, Nala's mother, who is briefly shown talking to Simba's mother, Sarabi.

==Production== ===Development=== The origin of the concept for ''The Lion King'' is widely disputed.{{sfn|Koenig|1997|p=[https://archive.org/details/mouseunderglasss0000koen/page/227/mode/1up 227]}}{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=[https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw/page/13/mode/1up 13]}}{{sfn|Chandler|2018|p=330}} According to Charlie Fink (then-Walt Disney Feature Animation's vice president for creative affairs), he approached Jeffrey Katzenberg, Roy E. Disney, and Peter Schneider with a "''Bambi'' in Africa" idea with lions. Katzenberg balked at the idea at first, but nevertheless encouraged Fink and his writers to develop a mythos to explain how lions serviced other animals by eating them.{{sfn|Geirland|Keidar|1999|p=49}} Another anecdote states that the idea was conceived during a conversation between Katzenberg, Roy E. Disney, and Schneider on a flight to Europe during a promotional tour.{{Efn|In his book ''DisneyWar'', James B. Stewart states it was a plane trip across Europe while promoting ''The Little Mermaid'' (1989).{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=108}} Allan Neuwirth and Don Hahn separately claimed it was for ''Oliver & Company'' (1988).{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=[https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw/page/13/mode/1up 13]}}<ref name="memoir">{{cite AV media |people=Don Hahn |title=''The Lion King'': A Memoir |location=''The Lion King'': Diamond Edition |medium=Blu-ray |year=2011 |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment}}</ref>}} During the conversation, the topic of a story set in Africa came up, and Katzenberg immediately jumped at the idea.<ref name="memoir" /> Katzenberg decided to add elements involving coming of age and death, and ideas from personal life experiences, such as some of his trials in his career in politics, saying about the film, "It is a little bit about myself."<ref name="pride" />

On October 11, 1988, Thomas Disch (the author of ''The Brave Little Toaster'') had met with Fink and Roy E. Disney to discuss the idea, and within the next month, he had written a nine-paged treatment entitled ''King of the Kalahari''.<ref name="LionKingDisch">{{cite web |url=http://news.jamescumminsbookseller.com/59/|title=The Origins of 'The Lion King'|access-date=October 22, 2011|website=James Cummins Book Seller|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145705/http://news.jamescumminsbookseller.com/?p=59|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>{{sfn|Chandler|2018|p=335}} Throughout 1989, several Disney staff writers, including Jenny Tripp, Tim Disney, Valerie West and Miguel Tejada-Flores, had written treatments for the project. Tripp's treatment, dated on March 2, 1989, introduced the name "Simba" for the main character, who gets separated from his pride and is adopted by Kwashi, a baboon, and Mabu, a mongoose. He is later raised in a community of baboons. Simba battles an evil jackal named Ndogo, and reunites with his pride.{{sfn|Chandler|2018|pp=338–339}} Later that same year, Fink recruited his friend J. T. Allen, a writer, to develop new story treatments. Fink and Allen had earlier made several trips to a Los Angeles zoo to observe the animal behavior that was to be featured in the script. Allen completed his script, which was titled ''The Lion King'', on January 19, 1990. However, Fink, Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney felt Allen's script could benefit from a more experienced screenwriter, and turned to Ronald Bass, who had recently won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for ''Rain Man'' (1988). At the time, Bass was too preoccupied to rewrite the script himself, but agreed to supervise the revisions. The new script, credited to both Allen and Bass, was retitled ''King of the Beasts'' and completed on May 23, 1990.{{sfn|Chandler|2018|pp=338–339}}

Sometime later, Linda Woolverton, who was also writing ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), spent a year writing several drafts of the script, which was titled ''King of the Beasts'' and then ''King of the Jungle''.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=14}} The original version of the film was vastly different from the final product. The plot centered on a battle between lions and baboons, with Scar being the leader of the baboons, Rafiki being a cheetah,<ref name="pride">{{cite AV media |title=The Pride of the King |location=''The Lion King'': Diamond Edition |medium=Blu-ray |year=2011 |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment}}</ref> and Timon and Pumbaa being Simba's childhood friends.<ref name="dvdcommentary" /> Simba would not only leave the kingdom but become a "lazy, slovenly, horrible character" due to manipulations from Scar, so Simba could be overthrown after coming of age.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|pp=107–108}} By 1990, producer Thomas Schumacher, who had just completed ''The Rescuers Down Under'' (1990), decided to attach himself to the project "because lions are cool".{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=14}} Schumacher likened the ''King of the Jungle'' script to "an animated ''National Geographic'' special".<ref name=schu/>

George Scribner, who had directed ''Oliver & Company'' (1988), was the initial director of the film,<ref name="maneattraction">{{cite magazine|last=Daly|first=Steve|title=Mane Attraction|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/07/08/storyboard-screen/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|issue=230|date=July 8, 1994|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904092026/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,302837,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> being later joined by Roger Allers, who was the lead story man on ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991).{{sfn|Koenig|1997|p=[https://archive.org/details/mouseunderglasss0000koen/page/227/mode/1up 227]}}<ref name="memoir" /> Allers worked with Scribner and Woolverton on the project, but temporarily left the project to help rewrite ''Aladdin'' (1992). Eight months later, Allers returned to the project,<ref name="fumettologica" />{{sfn|Kroyer|Sito|2019|pp=267–268}} and brought Brenda Chapman and Chris Sanders with him.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=147}} In October 1991, several of the lead crew members, including Allers, Scribner, Chapman, Sanders, and Lisa Keene visited Hell's Gate National Park in Kenya, in order to study and gain an appreciation of the environment for the film.{{sfn|Finch|1994|pp=168–169}}{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=108}} After six months of story development work, Scribner decided to leave the project upon clashing with Allers and the producers over their decision to turn the film into a musical, since Scribner's intention was of making a documentary-like film more focused on natural aspects.<ref name="memoir" /><ref name="maneattraction" /> By April 1992, Rob Minkoff had replaced Scribner as the new co-director.<ref name="LionKingProduction" />{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=147}}

Don Hahn joined the production as the film's producer because Schumacher was promoted to Vice President of Development for Walt Disney Feature Animation.<ref name=schu>{{cite press release|url=http://www.disney.com.au/tlk/media/TLK_Media_Kit_v4.pdf|title=The Lion King: The Landmark Musical Event|year=2013|publisher=Walt Disney Company|access-date=February 14, 2014|page=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222175039/http://www.disney.com.au/tlk/media/TLK_Media_Kit_v4.pdf|archive-date=February 22, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Finch|1994|p=166}} Hahn found the script unfocused and lacking a clear theme, and after establishing the main theme as "leaving childhood and facing up to the realities of the world", asked for a final retool. Allers, Minkoff, Chapman, and Hahn then rewrote the story across two weeks of meetings with directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, who had finished directing ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991).{{sfn|Finch|1994|pp=165–193}} One of the definite ideas that stemmed from the meetings was to have Mufasa return as a ghost. Allers also changed the character Rafiki from a more serious court advisor into a wacky shaman.{{sfn|Kroyer|Sito|2019|p=268}} The title was also changed from ''King of the Jungle'' to ''The Lion King'', as the setting was not the jungle but the savannah.<ref name="memoir" /> It was also decided to make Mufasa and Scar brothers, as the writers felt it was much more interesting if the threat came from someone within the family.<ref name="PlatinumEditionDVDOrigins">{{cite AV media |title=Story Origins |location=''The Lion King'': Platinum Edition |at=Disc 2 |medium=DVD |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment |year=2003}}</ref>

Allers and Minkoff pitched the revised story to Katzenberg and Michael Eisner, to which Eisner felt the story "could be more Shakespearean"; he suggested modeling the story on ''King Lear''. Maureen Donley, an associate producer, countered, stating that the story resembled ''Hamlet''.<ref name="20thAnniversaryConversation">{{cite web |date=September 17, 2014 |title=The Music of The Lion King: A 20th Anniversary Conversation with Rob Minkoff and Mark Mancina |url=http://projectorandorchestra.com/the-music-of-the-lion-king-a-20th-anniversary-conversation-with-rob-minkoff-and-mark-mancina/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016235009/http://projectorandorchestra.com/the-music-of-the-lion-king-a-20th-anniversary-conversation-with-rob-minkoff-and-mark-mancina/ |archive-date=October 16, 2014 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |website=Projector & Orchestra}}</ref> Continuing on the idea, Allers recalled Katzenberg asking them to "put in as much ''Hamlet'' as you can". However, they felt it was too forced, and looked to other heroic archetypes such as the stories of Joseph and Moses from the Bible.<ref name="PlatinumEditionDVDOrigins"/>{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=149}} Aside from Disney's prior anthology films and ''The Rescuers Down Under'' (1990) (a sequel to ''The Rescuers'' (1977)), ''The Lion King'' was Disney's second animated feature film to feature an original story conception after ''The Aristocats'' (1970), although the final product was heavily modelled on ''Hamlet'', ''Joseph'' and ''Moses''. The story has also been compared to Shakespeare's lesser known plays ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and ''Part 2''.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=judjEmaTJAs|via=YouTube|title=The Lion King, or The History of King Simba I - Summer of Shakespeare|author=KyleKallgrenBHH|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>

By this point, Woolverton had left the production to work on the Broadway adaptation of ''Beauty and the Beast''.<ref name="LionKingProduction" /> To replace her, Allers and Minkoff met with numerous screenwriters, including Billy Bob Thornton and Joss Whedon, to discuss writing the new screenplay.<ref name="20thAnniversaryConversation" /> During the summer of 1992, Irene Mecchi was hired as the new screenwriter, and months later, she was joined by Jonathan Roberts. Mecchi and Roberts took charge of the revision process, fixing unresolved emotional issues in the script and adding comedic situations for Pumbaa, Timon, and the hyenas.{{sfn|Finch|1994|p=171}}<ref name="LionKingProduction" />

Lyricist Tim Rice worked closely with the screenwriting team, flying to California at least once a month, as his songs for the film needed to work in the narrative continuity. Rice's lyrics—which were reworked up to the production's end—were pinned to the storyboards during development.{{sfn|Finch|1994|p=172}} Rewrites were frequent, with animator Andreas Deja saying that completed scenes would be delivered, only for the response to be that parts needed to be reanimated because of dialogue changes.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=176}} Due to the rewrites, ''The Lion King'' missed its initial release window for Thanksgiving 1993, with ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' (1993) assuming its release slot.<ref>{{cite news |last=Klady |first=Leonard |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/disney-awakened-by-nightmare-possibilities-115563/ |title=Disney awakened by 'Nightmare' possibilities |work=Variety |date=November 1, 1993 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516053245/https://variety.com/1993/film/news/disney-awakened-by-nightmare-possibilities-115563/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Hahn stated the film was delayed to a summer 1994 release, "with much consternation, because people said you can't release animation in the summertime."<ref name=den>{{cite interview |last=Brew |first=Simon |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/don-hahn-interview-the-lion-king-disney-pixar-frankenweenie-and-the-future-of-animation/|title=Don Hahn interview: The Lion King, Disney, Pixar, Frankenweenie and the future of animation|website=Den of Geek|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222151600/http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/18284/don-hahn-interview-the-lion-king-disney-pixar-frankenweenie-and-the-future-of-animation|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Casting=== The voice actors were chosen for how they fit and could add to the characters; for instance, James Earl Jones was cast because the directors found his voice "powerful" and similar to a lion's roar.<ref name="making"/> Jones remarked that during the years of production, Mufasa "became more and more of a dopey dad instead of [a] grand king".<ref name=fone/> Originally, Jess Harnell and Jim Cummings were Timon and Pumbaa during the production, recording a demo of "Hakuna Matata".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Ryan |title='The Lion King' Stars Tell All 30 Years Later |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/lion-king-30-years-disney-movies-1912136 |date=June 14, 2014}}</ref>

Nathan Lane auditioned for Zazu, and Ernie Sabella for one of the hyenas. Upon meeting at the recording studio, Lane and Sabella{{snd}}who were starring together in a Broadway production of ''Guys and Dolls'' at the time{{snd}}were asked to record together as hyenas. The directors loved the chemistry between Lane and Sabella when they auditioned for roles as hyenas/Zazu, so they decided to cast them as Timon and Pumbaa instead.<ref name="making">{{cite AV media |title=The Making of The Lion King |location=''The Lion King'' laserdisc |medium =Laserdisc |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment |year=1995}}</ref><ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-sep-15-la-et-lion-king-20110915-story.html|title=A 'Lion's' tale|first=Susan|last=King|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 15, 2011|access-date=October 24, 2011|archive-date=October 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024102445/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/15/entertainment/la-et-lion-king-20110915|url-status=live}}</ref> For the hyenas, the original intention was to reunite Cheech & Chong, but while Cheech Marin agreed to voice Banzai, Tommy Chong was unavailable. His role was changed into a female hyena, Shenzi, voiced by Whoopi Goldberg, who insisted on being in the film.<ref name="dvdcommentary" /> The English double act Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer auditioned for roles as a pair of chipmunks; according to Mortimer, the producers were enthusiastic, but he and Reeves were uncomfortable with their corporate attitude and abandoned the film.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mortimer|first=Bob|title=And Away|publisher=Gallery Books|year=2021|isbn=978-1398505292|pages=Chapter 25}}</ref> Rowan Atkinson was initially uninterested in the studio's offer to voice Zazu, later explaining that "voice work is something I generally had never done and never liked [...] I'm a visual artist, if I'm anything, and it seemed to be a pointless thing to do". His friend and fellow ''Mr. Bean'' writer/actor Robin Driscoll convinced him to accept the role, and Atkinson retrospectively expressed that ''The Lion King'' became "a really, very special film".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/28/rowan-atkinson-zazu-the-lion-king/|title=Why Rowan Atkinson originally didn't want to be the voice of Zazu in ''The Lion King''|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=A. Cydney|last=Hayes|date=October 28, 2018|access-date=July 11, 2022|archive-date=October 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028191432/https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/28/rowan-atkinson-zazu-the-lion-king/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Matthew Broderick was cast as adult Simba early during production. Broderick only recorded with another actor once over the three years he worked on the film, and only learned that Moira Kelly voiced Nala at the film's premiere.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/movies/at-the-movies.html|title=The Lion Evolves|work=The New York Times|first=Dave|last=Kehr|date=December 27, 2002|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410193357/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/27/movies/at-the-movies.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> English actors Tim Curry, Malcolm McDowell, Alan Rickman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen were considered for the role of Scar,<ref name=":23">{{cite book|title = Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary|last = Hischak|first = Thomas S|publisher = McFarland|year = 2011|isbn = 9780786486946|location = United States|pages = 106|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=e1RTP8thtR0C&pg=PA106 |via=Google Books}}</ref> which eventually went to fellow Englishman Jeremy Irons.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=Knolle|first=Sharon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617142313/http://news.moviefone.com/2014/06/14/lion-king-facts/|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2014/06/14/lion-king-facts/|title='The Lion King': 20 Things You Didn't Know About the Disney Classic|date=June 14, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-date=June 17, 2014|url-status=dead|website=Moviefone}}</ref> Irons initially turned down the part, as he felt uncomfortable going to a comedic role after his dramatic portrayal of Claus von Bülow in ''Reversal of Fortune'' (1990). His performance in that film inspired the writers to incorporate more of his acting as von Bülow in the script{{snd}}adding one of that character's lines, "You have no idea"{{snd}}and prompted animator Andreas Deja to watch ''Reversal of Fortune'' and ''Damage'' (1992) in order to incorporate Irons' facial traits and tics.<ref name="fone">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306025255/http://www.moviefone.com/2011/09/15/jeremy-irons-and-james-earl-jones-on-the-lion-king-3d-and-keep/|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2011/09/15/jeremy-irons-and-james-earl-jones-on-the-lion-king-3d-and-keep/|title=Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones on 'The Lion King 3D' and Keeping It Together When Mufasa Dies|website=Moviefone|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead|date=September 15, 2011|first=Aiden |last=Redmond|access-date=April 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-15-ca-57883-story.html|title=SUMMER SNEAKS '94: You Can't Hide His Lion Eyes|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 15, 1994|first=Chris|last=Willman|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407123607/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-05-15/entertainment/ca-57883_1_jeremy-irons|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Animation=== {{Quote box|width =33%|quote="''The Lion King'' was considered a little movie because we were going to take some risks. The pitch for the story was a lion cub gets framed for murder by his uncle set to the music of Elton John. People said, 'What? Good luck with that.' But for some reason, the people who ended up on the movie were highly passionate about it and motivated."|source=Don Hahn<ref name=latimes/>}} The development of ''The Lion King'' coincided with that of ''Pocahontas'' (1995), which most of the animators of Walt Disney Feature Animation decided to work on instead, believing it would be the more prestigious and successful of the two.<ref name="PlatinumEditionDVDOrigins" /> The story artists also did not have much faith in the project, with Chapman declaring she was reluctant to accept the job "because the story wasn't very good",{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=107}} and Burny Mattinson telling his colleague Joe Ranft: "I don't know who is going to want to watch that one."<ref>{{cite podcast|title=Animation Podcast 017 - Burny Mattinson, Part Two |host=Kaytis, Clay|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/animation-podcast-016-burny-mattinson-part-one/id73331075?i=1000424937971|publisher=Apple Podcasts|date=2006-09-04}}</ref> Most of the leading animators either were doing their first major work supervising a character, or had much interest in animating an animal.<ref name="pride" /> Thirteen of these supervising animators, both in California and in Florida, were responsible for establishing the personalities and setting the tone for the film's main characters. The animation leads for the main characters included Mark Henn on young Simba, Ruben A. Aquino on adult Simba, Andreas Deja on Scar, Aaron Blaise on young Nala, Anthony DeRosa on adult Nala, and Tony Fucile on Mufasa.<ref name="LionKingProduction" /> Nearly twenty minutes of the film, including the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence,<ref name="dvdcommentary">{{cite AV media |title=The Lion King — Audio Commentary  |date=1995 |medium=LaserDisc |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment}}</ref> was animated at the Disney-MGM Studios facility. More than 600 artists, animators, and technicians contributed to ''The Lion King''.<ref name="maneattraction" /> Six months before the film's release, the 1994 Northridge earthquake shut down the studio and required the animators to complete their work via remote work.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/how-1994s-the-lion-king-had-to-be-completed-in-peoples-spare-rooms/ | title=How 1994's The Lion King had to be completed in people's spare rooms | first=Simon | last=Brew | newspaper=Film Stories | date=8 November 2019}}</ref>

The character animators studied real-life animals for reference, as was done for ''Bambi'' (1942). Jim Fowler, renowned wildlife expert, visited the studios on several occasions with an assortment of lions and other savannah inhabitants to discuss behavior and help the animators give their drawings authenticity.{{sfn|Finch|1994|p=173}} The animators also studied animal movements at the Miami MetroZoo under guidance from wildlife expert Ron Magill.<ref>{{cite web|title=FilMiami's Shining Star: Ron Magill|url=http://www.filmiami.org/news_11May_Ron.asp|website=FilmMiami|publisher=Miami-Dade County|access-date=May 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525015758/http://www.filmiami.org/news_11May_Ron.asp|archive-date=May 25, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Pride Lands are modeled on the Kenyan national park visited by the crew. Varied focal lengths and lenses were employed to differ from the habitual portrayal of Africa in documentaries—which employ telephoto lenses to shoot the wildlife from a distance. The epic feel drew inspiration from concept studies by artist Hans Bacher—who, following Scribner's request for realism, tried to depict effects such as lens flare—and the works of painters Charles Marion Russell, Frederic Remington, and Maxfield Parrish.{{sfn|Finch|1994|p=170}}<ref>{{cite book|page=66|title=Dream worlds: production design for animation|first=Hans P.|last=Bacher|year=2008|publisher=Focal Press|isbn=978-0-240-52093-3}}</ref> Art director Andy Gaskill and the filmmakers sought to give the film a sense of grand sweep and epic scale similar to ''Lawrence of Arabia'' (1962). Gaskill explained: "We wanted audiences to sense the vastness of the savannah and to feel the dust and the breeze swaying through the grass. In other words, to get a real sense of nature and to feel as if they were there. It's very difficult to capture something as subtle as a sunrise or rain falling on a pond, but those are the kinds of images that we tried to get." The filmmakers also watched the films of John Ford and other filmmakers, which also influenced the design of the film.<ref name="LionKingProduction" />

Because the characters were not anthropomorphized, all the animators had to learn to draw four-legged animals, and the story and character development was done through the use of longer shots following the characters.<ref name="dvdcommentary" />

Computers helped the filmmakers present their vision in new ways. For the wildebeest stampede sequence, several distinct wildebeest characters were created in a 3D computer program, multiplied into hundreds, cel shaded to look like drawn animation, and given randomized paths down a mountainside to simulate the real, unpredictable movement of a herd.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=The Lion King: Platinum Edition (Disc 2), Computer Animation|medium=DVD|publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment|year=2003}}</ref> Five specially trained animators and technicians spent more than two years creating the two-and-a-half-minute stampede.<ref name="LionKingProduction" /> The Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) helped simulate camera movements such as tracking shots, and was employed in coloring, lighting, and particle effects.<ref name="dvdcommentary" />

==Music== {{Main|The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)|l1 = ''The Lion King'' (1994 soundtrack)}}

Lyricist Tim Rice, who was working with composer Alan Menken on songs for ''Aladdin'' (1992), was invited to write songs for ''The Lion King'', and accepted on the condition of bringing in a composing partner. As Menken was unavailable, the producers accepted Rice's suggestion of Elton John,<ref name="making" /> after Rice's invitation of ABBA fell through due to Benny Andersson's commitments to the stage musical ''Kristina från Duvemåla''.<ref name="pride" /> John expressed an interest in writing "ultra-pop songs that kids would like; then adults can go and see those movies and get just as much pleasure out of them", mentioning a possible influence of ''The Jungle Book'' (1967), where he felt the "music was so funny and appealed to kids and adults".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Elton John: The Billboard Interview|last=White|first=Timothy|magazine=Billboard|pages=95–96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA27|date=October 4, 1997|via=Google Books|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=September 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928214157/http://books.google.com/books?id=1wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA27|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rice and John wrote five original songs for ''The Lion King'' ("Circle of Life", "I Just Can't Wait to Be King", "Be Prepared", "Hakuna Matata", and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"), with John's performance of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" playing over the end credits.<ref name="music" /> The IMAX and DVD releases added another song, "The Morning Report", based on a song discarded during development that eventually featured in the live musical version of ''The Lion King''.<ref>{{cite AV media | chapter=The Making of The Morning Report|title=The Lion King: Platinum Edition (Disc 1) | medium =DVD | publisher =Walt Disney Home Entertainment | year=2003}}</ref> The score was composed by Hans Zimmer, who was hired based on his earlier work on two films in African settings, ''A World Apart'' (1988) and ''The Power of One'' (1992),{{sfn|Finch|1994|pp=192–193}} and supplemented the score with traditional native African music and choir elements arranged by Lebo M.<ref name="music">{{cite AV media | title =The Lion King: Platinum Edition (Disc 1), Music: African Influence | medium =DVD | publisher =Walt Disney Home Entertainment | year=2003}}</ref> Zimmer said while uninterested at first due to a dislike of Broadway musicals, accepted the job to have a work he could watch with his daughter, and given he also lost his father as a child, used that as inspiration for the music regarding Mufasa's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/hans-zimmer-ridley-scott-denis-villeneuve-christopher-nolan-timothee-chalamet-b1217562.html|title=Hans Zimmer says childhood trauma 'poured out' while composing The Lion King|work=The Standard|author=Roberts, Hannah|date=19 March 2025|accessdate=13 April 2025}}</ref> Zimmer's partners Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin helped with arrangements and song production.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=The Lion King  |publisher=Walt Disney Records |type=Booklet |year=1994 |id=60858-7}}</ref>

Jason Weaver recorded his song vocals as young Simba for "I Just Can't Wait to be King," "Hakuna Matata," and an unused song, 'Warthog Rhapsody," the day he came in for what was supposed to be an audition.<ref>{{Cite AV media |date=2017-08-24 |title=The Lion King |publisher=BTS: The Voices |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8unYvxjlPY |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731201636/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8unYvxjlPY |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |access-date=2025-01-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> His mother turned down Disney's initial financial offer and negotiated a fee of $100,000 plus royalties.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Spencer |first=Ashley |date=2024-06-24 |title='The Lion King' at 30: Jason Weaver Sang for Simba but Few Knew It |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/24/movies/lion-king-simba-jason-weaver.html |access-date=2025-01-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The ''Lion King'' original motion picture soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on April 27, 1994. It was the fourth-best-selling album of the year on the ''Billboard'' 200 and the top-selling soundtrack.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1994/the-billboard-200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601191853/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1994/the-billboard-200 |archive-date=June 1, 2008 |title=Year-end 1994 Billboard 200|access-date=August 5, 2008 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> It is the only soundtrack to an animated film to be certified Diamond (10× platinum) by the Recording Industry Association of America. Zimmer's complete instrumental score for the film was never originally given a full release, until the soundtrack's commemorative twentieth anniversary re-release in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grisham|first1=Lori|title=Walt Disney Records to release legacy collection|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/07/walt-disney-to-release-legacy-collection/8803881/|access-date=June 25, 2014|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 7, 2014|archive-date=September 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914072407/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/07/walt-disney-to-release-legacy-collection/8803881/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Lion King'' also inspired the 1995 release ''Rhythm of the Pride Lands'', with eight songs by Zimmer, Mancina, and Lebo M.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Rhythm of the Pride Lands: The Musical Journey Continues ...|magazine=Billboard|date=January 5, 1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80|access-date=March 13, 2016|archive-date=July 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704181925/http://books.google.com/books?id=ugsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA80|url-status=live}}</ref>

The use of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in a scene with Timon and Pumbaa led to disputes between Disney and the family of South African Solomon Linda, who composed the song (originally titled "Mbube") in 1939. In July 2004, Linda's family filed a lawsuit, seeking $1.6 million in royalties from Disney. In February 2006, Linda's heirs reached a settlement with Abilene Music, who held the worldwide rights and had licensed the song to Disney for an undisclosed amount of money.<ref name="undisclosed">{{cite news|work=BBC News|date=February 16, 2006|title=Disney settles Lion song dispute|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4721564.stm|access-date=August 12, 2008|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062508/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4721564.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Marketing== For ''The Lion King''{{'}}s first film trailer, Disney opted to feature a single scene, the entire opening sequence with the song "Circle of Life". Buena Vista Pictures Distribution president Dick Cook said the decision was made for such an approach because "we were all so taken by the beauty and majesty of this piece that we felt like it was probably one of the best four minutes of film that we've seen", and Don Hahn added that "Circle of Life" worked as a trailer as it "came off so strong, and so good, and ended with such a bang". The trailer was released in November 1993, accompanying ''The Three Musketeers'' (1993) and ''Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'' (1993) in theaters; by then, only a third of ''The Lion King'' had been completed.<ref name=den/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-29-ca-62180-story.html|date=November 29, 1993|author=Welkos, Robert W.|title=Will 'Lion King' Be Disney's Next 'Beast'?|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304054040/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-29/entertainment/ca-62180_1_lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref> Audience reaction was enthusiastic, causing Hahn to have some initial concerns as he became afraid of not living up to the expectations raised by the preview.<ref name=den /> Prior to the film's release, Disney did 11 test screenings.<ref name=70mm/>

Upon release, ''The Lion King'' was accompanied by an extensive marketing campaign which included tie-ins with Burger King, Mattel, Kodak, Nestlé, and Payless ShoeSource, and various merchandise,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/12/business/in-the-realm-of-marketing-the-lion-king-rules.html|title=In the Realm of Marketing, 'The Lion King' Rules|work=The New York Times|author=Hofmeister, Sallie|date=July 12, 1994|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114155950/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/12/business/in-the-realm-of-marketing-the-lion-king-rules.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> accounting 186 licensed products.<ref>{{cite book|title=Research in media promotion|first=Susan|last=Tyler Eastman|publisher=Routledge|year=2000|isbn=978-0-8058-3382-9|page=244}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Hollywood planet: global media and the competitive advantage of narrative transparency|page=216|first=Scott Robert|last=Olson|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=1999|isbn=978-0-8058-3230-3}}</ref> In 1994, Disney earned approximately $1 billion with products based on the film,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1995/06/23/look-movie-merchandising|title=Playing for Keeps|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 5, 2014|first=Pat H.|last=Broeske|date=June 23, 1995|archive-date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224022514/http://www.ew.com/article/1995/06/23/look-movie-merchandising|url-status=live}}</ref> with $214 million for ''Lion King'' toys during Christmas 1994 alone.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Disneyization of Society|url=https://archive.org/details/disneyizationsoc00brym|url-access=limited|first=Alan|last=Bryman|page=[https://archive.org/details/disneyizationsoc00brym/page/n94 86]|publisher=Sage|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7619-6765-1}}</ref>

In a 2024 retrospective, the ''New York Times'' noted that the marketing and promotion of the film heavily focused on Jonathan Taylor Thomas' role in the film, with a lot less emphasis on Jason Weaver's role as young Simba's singing voice.<ref name=":2" />

==Release== ===Theatrical=== ''The Lion King'' had a limited release in the United States on June 15, 1994, playing in only two theaters, El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall in New York City,<ref>{{cite news|last=Eller|first=Claudia|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-07-ca-43276-story.html|title=Summer Movie Hype Coming In Like a 'Lion'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 7, 1994|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305003210/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-04-07/entertainment/ca-43276_1_lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref> and featuring live shows with ticket prices up to $30.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mane Event|magazine=Variety|date=June 20, 1994|page=1}}</ref>

The wide release in the United States and Canada followed on June 24, 1994, in 2,550 screens. The digital surround sound of the film led many of those theaters to implement Dolby Laboratories' newest sound systems.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fantel|first=Hans|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/12/business/technology-cinema-sound-gets-a-digital-lift.html|title=Technology; Cinema Sound Gets a Digital Life|work=The New York Times|date=June 12, 1994|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=March 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309122752/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/12/business/technology-cinema-sound-gets-a-digital-lift.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> The film also started its international release on June 24, opening in Latin America, South Africa and Israel.<ref name=expands>{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|date=June 29, 1994|page=14|last=Klady|first=Leonard|title='The Lion King' expands its lair}}</ref>

===Localization=== When first released in 1994, ''The Lion King'' numbered 28 versions overall in as many languages and dialects worldwide, including a special Zulu version made specifically for the film in South Africa, where a Disney USA team went to find the Zulu voice-actors. This was the first Zulu dubbing made by Disney, and also the only one made in any African language other than Arabic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disneyinternationalvoices.weebly.com/nala.html|title=Nala|website=Charguigou|language=fr|access-date=2019-12-02|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725174217/https://disneyinternationalvoices.weebly.com/nala.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Inkosi Ubhubesi / The Lion King Zulu Voice Cast|url=https://www.non-disneyinternationaldubbingcredits.com/inkosi-ubhubesi--the-lion-king-zulu-voice-cast.html|website=Willdubguru|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014080532/https://www.non-disneyinternationaldubbingcredits.com/inkosi-ubhubesi--the-lion-king-zulu-voice-cast.html|archive-date=October 14, 2019|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> The Zulu language version was released in South Africa on June 24, 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inkosi Ubhubesi / The Lion King Zulu Voice Cast |website=Willdubguru |url=https://www.non-disneyinternationaldubbingcredits.com/inkosi-ubhubesi--the-lion-king-zulu-voice-cast.html |access-date=5 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Lion King / Zulu cast |website=Charguigou |url=https://disneyinternationaldubbings.weebly.com/the-lion-king--zulu-cast.html |access-date=5 November 2024}}</ref><ref name=expands/>

Following the success of the 2017 Māori dub of ''Moana'', a Māori version of ''The Lion King'' was announced in 2021, and released theatrically on June 23, 2022, to align with the Māori holiday of Matariki.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/126809383/tainui-royalty-and-ngti-kahungunu-jokesters-wanted-for-mori-lion-king |title=Tainui royalty and Ngāti Kahungunu jokesters wanted for Māori Lion King |date=28 October 2021 |website=Stuff |first=Glenn |last=McConnell}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/469595/lion-king-reo-maori-premiere-a-dream-come-true |title=Lion King Reo Māori premiere: 'A dream come true' |access-date=June 22, 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> Much of the Matewa Media production team, including producer Chelsea Winstanley, director Tweedie Waititi, and co-musical director Rob Ruha had previously worked on the Māori language version of ''Moana''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.teaomaori.news/hunt-disneys-lion-king-reo-maori-cast-begins |title=The hunt for Disney's The Lion King reo Māori cast begins |first=Piripi |last=Taylor |website=Teaomaori.news |date=October 28, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2022}}</ref> ''The Lion King Reo Māori'' is the first time a language adaptation has translated Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" for the ending credits.<ref name="Spinoff">{{cite news|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/23-06-2022/how-the-lion-king-reo-maori-did-what-no-other-version-has-done-before |title=How The Lion King Reo Māori did what no other version has done before |first=Reweti |last=Kohere |website=The Spinoff |date=June 23, 2022 |access-date=July 9, 2022}}</ref>

===Re-releases===

====IMAX and large-format==== The film was re-issued on December 25, 2002, for IMAX and large-format theaters. Don Hahn explained that eight years after ''The Lion King'' had its original release, "there was a whole new generation of kids who haven't really seen it, particularly on the big screen." Given the film had already been digitally archived during production, the restoration process was easier, while also providing many scenes with enhancements that covered up original deficiencies.<ref name=70mm>{{cite web|url=http://in70mm.com/news/2002/lion_king/index.htm|date=December 2002|title=The Lion King: The IMAX Experience.|author=Kallay, William|publisher=In 70mm|access-date=March 12, 2009|archive-date=April 12, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140412163645/http://in70mm.com/news/2002/lion_king/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdfile.com/news/special_report/in_the_round/lionking/1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231043027/http://www.dvdfile.com/news/special_report/in_the_round/lionking/1.html |archive-date=December 31, 2007 |title=In the Round » Making 'Return of the King'|access-date=March 12, 2009}}</ref> An enhanced sound mix was also provided to, as Hahn explained, "make the audience feel like they're in the middle of the movie."<ref name=70mm/> On its first weekend, ''The Lion King'' made $2.7 million from 66 locations, a $27,664 per theater average. This run ended with $15.7 million on May 30, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=releases&id=lionking.htm|title=Releases for The Lion King (1994)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406224103/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=releases&id=lionking.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====3D conversion==== In 2011, ''The Lion King'' was converted to 3D for a two-week limited theatrical re-issue and subsequent 3D Blu-ray release.<ref name="PR News Wire" /><ref name="The Hollywood Reporter">{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|title=Disney's 'The Lion King' to Return to Theaters in Digital 3D|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-lion-king-return-theaters-192621|access-date=May 26, 2011|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 26, 2011|archive-date=May 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528151258/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneys-lion-king-return-theaters-192621|url-status=live}}</ref> The film opened at the number one spot on Friday, September 16, 2011, with $8.9 million<ref>{{cite web |last=Subers|first=Ray|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3273&p=.htm|title=Friday Report: 'Lion King' Pounces on Weak Field|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031126/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3273&p=.htm|archive-date=December 16, 2018|website=Box Office Mojo|date=September 16, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and finished the weekend with $30.2 million, ranking number one at the box office. This made ''The Lion King'' the first re-issue release to earn the number-one slot at the American weekend box office since the re-issue of ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983) in March 1997.<ref name="crown" /> The film also achieved the fourth-highest September opening weekend of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=09&p=.htm|title=TOP OPENING WEEKENDS BY MONTH SEPTEMBER|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404141237/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=09&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It held off very well on its second weekend, again earning first place at the box office with a 27 percent decline to $21.9 million.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3278&p=.htm |title=Weekend Report: 'Lion' Remains 'King,' 'Moneyball,' 'Dolphin Tale' Go Extra Innings |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107015039/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3278&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Most box-office observers had expected the film to fall about 50 percent in its second weekend and were also expecting ''Moneyball'' (2011) to be at first place.<ref>{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-preview-brad-pitts-239296|title=Box Office Preview: Brad Pitt's 'Moneyball' Looks to Out-Run Taylor Lautner's 'Abduction'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827192638/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-preview-brad-pitts-239296|archive-date=August 27, 2020|date=September 22, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

After its initial box-office success, many theaters decided to continue to show the film for more than two weeks, even though its 3D Blu-ray release was scheduled for two and a half weeks after its theatrical release.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> In North America, the 3D re-release ended its run in theaters on January 12, 2012, with a gross of $94.2 million. Outside North America, it earned $83.4 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking3d.htm|title=The Lion King (in 3D)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 6, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404183541/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking3d.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The successful 3D re-release of ''The Lion King'' made Disney and Pixar plan 3D theatrical re-releases of ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''Finding Nemo'' (2003), ''Monsters, Inc.'' (2001), and ''The Little Mermaid'' (1989) during 2012 and 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine|title='Beauty and the Beast', 'The Little Mermaid', 'Finding Nemo', 'Monsters, Inc.' get 3-D re-releases|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2011/10/04/disney-3d-beauty-beast-mermaid|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=October 27, 2011|date=October 4, 2011|first=Grady|last=Smith|archive-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326184249/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/10/04/disney-3d-beauty-beast-mermaid|url-status=live}}</ref> However, none of the re-releases of the first three films achieved the enormous success of ''The Lion King 3D'' and the theatrical re-release of ''The Little Mermaid'' was ultimately cancelled.<ref>Multiple sources: * {{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3601&p=.htm | title=2012 Recap (cont.): Losers |website=Box Office Mojo | access-date=January 14, 2013 | archive-date=January 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119004739/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3601&p=.htm | url-status=live }} * {{cite web | url=https://collider.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-5-release-date-the-muppets-2-release-date/ | title=Release Dates for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 5, THE MUPPETS 2, and 1952; MALEFICENT Pushed Back to July 2014 | website=Collider | date=January 14, 2013 | access-date=January 14, 2013 | archive-date=January 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119085759/http://collider.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-5-release-date-the-muppets-2-release-date/ | url-status=live }} * {{cite magazine | url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/disney-dates-pirates-muppets-sequels-1118064645/ | title=Disney dates 'Pirates,' 'Muppets' sequels | magazine=Variety | access-date=January 14, 2013 | archive-date=October 2, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002144617/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/disney-dates-pirates-muppets-sequels-1118064645/ | url-status=live }} * {{cite news|last=Fritz|first=Ben|title=Disney cancels 'Little Mermaid 3-D,' dates 'Pirates 5' for 2015|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2013-jan-14-la-et-ct-disney-cancels-little-mermaid-3d-pirates-5-2015-20130114-story.html|access-date=January 14, 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 14, 2013|archive-date=February 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223182945/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/14/entertainment/la-et-ct-disney-cancels-little-mermaid-3d-pirates-5-2015-20130114|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Ray Subers of Box Office Mojo wrote that the reason why the 3D version of ''The Lion King'' succeeded was because, "the notion of a 3D re-release was still fresh and exciting, and ''The Lion King (3D)'' felt timely given the movie's imminent Blu-ray release. Audiences have been hit with three 3D re-releases in the year since, meaning the novelty value has definitely worn off."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3526&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Resident Evil 5,' 'Nemo 3D' Lead Another Slow Weekend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106222728/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3526&p=.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2018|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Disney 100==== As part of Disney's 100th anniversary, ''The Lion King'' was re-released between September 29 to October 12, 2023, in selected Cinemark theaters across the United States as well as Helios theaters across Poland on October 8.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodroof |first=Cory |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/06/disney-movies-releases-theaters-100th-anniversary |title=8 Disney classics (Toy Story!) re-releasing in movie theaters for its 100th anniversary |work=For the Win |publisher=USA Today |date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629200522/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2023/06/disney-movies-releases-theaters-100th-anniversary |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NoMonday |title=Uwielbiane klasyki wracają na ekrany kin Helios z okazji 100-lecia Disneya! |url=https://www.agora.pl/uwielbiane-klasyki-wracaja-na-ekrany-kin-helios-z-okazji-100-lecia-disneya |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=agora.pl |language=pl}}</ref>

====30th anniversary==== In conjunction with the film's 30th anniversary, ''The Lion King'' was re-released on July 12, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-lion-king-will-be-the-latest-classic-to-return-to-theaters-for-30th-anniversary-this-summer |title=The Lion King Will Be the Latest Classic to Return to Theaters for 30th Anniversary This Summer |website=IGN.com |date=June 6, 2024 |access-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606183726/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-lion-king-will-be-the-latest-classic-to-return-to-theaters-for-30th-anniversary-this-summer |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> During its opening weekend, the film earned an estimated $1.08 million in the United States from 1,330 theaters.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Box Office Report |user=BORReport |number=1812506523584926019 |title=Disney's 30th Anniversary re-issue of The Lion King grossed an estimated $1.08M domestically this weekend (from 1,330 locations). #TheLionKing #BoxOffice |date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=July 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240714180416/https://x.com/BORReport/status/1812506523584926019 |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Home media=== ''The Lion King'' was first released on VHS and LaserDisc in the United States on March 3, 1995, under Disney's "Masterpiece Collection" video series. The VHS edition of this release contained a special preview for Walt Disney Pictures' then-upcoming animated feature film ''Pocahontas'' (1995), in which the title character (voiced by Judy Kuhn) sings the musical number "Colors of the Wind".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Laura |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-11-ca-41357-story.html |title=Growling at 'The Lion King' Video |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 11, 1995 |archive-date=December 6, 2021 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206053629/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-11-ca-41357-story.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref> In addition, Deluxe Editions of both formats were released. The VHS Deluxe Edition included the film, an exclusive lithograph of Rafiki and Simba (in some editions), a commemorative "Circle of Life" epigraph, six concept art lithographs, another tape with the half-hour TV special ''The Making of The Lion King'', and a certificate of authenticity. The CAV laserdisc Deluxe Edition also contained the film, six concept art lithographs and ''The Making of The Lion King'', and added storyboards, character design artwork, concept art, rough animation, and a directors' commentary that the VHS edition did not have, on a total of four double sided discs. The VHS tape quickly became the best-selling videotape of all time: 4.5 million tapes were sold on the first day<ref name="homevideosellingfigures">{{cite web |publisher=ComingSoon.Net |title=''The Lion King'' home video selling figures |url=https://comingsoon.net/news.php?id=1818 |date=October 9, 2003 |access-date=July 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050222065417/http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=1818 |archive-date=February 22, 2005}}</ref> and ultimately sales totaled more than 30 million<ref name="EWlionking">{{cite magazine| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| title="Lion King" sets new records with DVD release| url=https://www.ew.com/article/2003/10/13/lion-king-sets-new-records-dvd-release| access-date=August 16, 2008| first=Gary| last=Susman| date=October 13, 2003| archive-date=April 11, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411042630/http://www.ew.com/article/2003/10/13/lion-king-sets-new-records-dvd-release| url-status=live}}</ref> before these home video versions went into moratorium in 1997.<ref name="homevideoinfo">{{cite web| publisher=Lionking.org| title=TLK on Home Video| url=http://www.lionking.org/homevideo.html| access-date=September 24, 2006| archive-date=October 10, 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010180557/http://www.lionking.org/homevideo.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The VHS releases have sold a total of 32{{nbsp}}million units in North America,<ref name="topvhs">{{cite web |title=Charts – TOP VENTES VHS |url=http://www.jpbox-office.com/topvhs.php |website=JP's Box Office |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124003357/http://www.jpbox-office.com/topvhs.php |url-status=live }}</ref> and grossed {{US$|520 million|long=no}} in sales revenue.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grover|first=Ronald|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-02-15/the-entertainment-glut|title=The Entertainment Glut|website=Bloomberg Businessweek|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=February 16, 1998|access-date=May 1, 2017|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095740/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-02-15/the-entertainment-glut|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, 23{{nbsp}}million units were shipped overseas to international markets.<ref name="standard">{{cite magazine |title=Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys |magazine=Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys |date=1996 |volume=164 |issue=2 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yhscAQAAMAAJ |publisher=Standard & Poor's Corporation |quote=The top-selling video of 1995 was Disney's ''The Lion King'', which sold more than 30{{nbsp}}million copies in North America after its release in March of that year. Toward the end of 1995, another 23{{nbsp}}million copies of the animated musical were shipped for sale in international markets. |via=Google Books |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820030413/https://books.google.com/books?id=yhscAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Philippines, the film was released on VHS in March 1995 by Magnavision.<ref>{{cite news|last=Red|first=Isah Vasquez|title=Scary and scarred|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u2UVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ygoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6206%2C1458574|access-date=April 16, 2021|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=March 10, 1995|page=22|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416072029/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u2UVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ygoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6206,1458574|url-status=live}}</ref> The film sold more than {{nowrap|55 million}} video copies worldwide by August 1997, making it the best-selling home video title of all time.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Best-Selling Video |title=The Guinness Book of Records 1999 |date=1998 |publisher=Guinness World Records |isbn=978-0-85112-070-6 |page=215 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessbookofre0000unse_z7f4/page/215}}</ref>

On October 7, 2003, the film was re-released on VHS and released on DVD for the first time, titled ''The Lion King: Platinum Edition'', as part of Disney's Platinum Edition line of DVDs. The DVD release featured two versions of the film on the first disc, a remastered version created for the 2002 IMAX release and an edited version of the IMAX release purporting to be the original 1994 theatrical version.<ref name="dvddifferences">{{cite web| publisher=UltimateDisney.com| title=The Lion King: Platinum Edition DVD Review (Page 2) which shows the differences between the film presented on the DVD and the original theatrical cut| url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/thelionking2.html| access-date=January 24, 2009| archive-date=July 18, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113034/http://www.dvdizzy.com/thelionking2.html| url-status=live}}</ref> A second disc, with bonus features, was also included in the DVD release. The film's soundtrack was provided both in its original Dolby 5.1 track and in a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, making this one of the first Disney DVDs so equipped.<ref name="DVDfeatures">{{cite web| website=IGN| date=April 16, 2003| title=''The Lion King'' Special Edition| url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/16/the-lion-king-special-edition-2| access-date=September 18, 2006| archive-date=March 22, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322040209/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/16/the-lion-king-special-edition-2| url-status=live}}</ref> This THX certified two-disc DVD release also contains several games, ''Timon and Pumbaa's Virtual Safari'', deleted scenes, music videos and other bonus features.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/lionking.shtml|title=The Lion King: Platinum Edition (1994) - DVD Movie Guide}}</ref> By means of seamless branching, the film could be viewed either with or without a newly created scene – a short conversation in the film replaced with a complete song ("The Morning Report"). A Special Collector's Gift Set was also released, containing the DVD set, five exclusive lithographed character portraits (new sketches created and signed by the original character animators), and an introductory book entitled ''The Journey''.<ref name="homevideoinfo" /> The Platinum Edition of ''The Lion King'' featured changes made to the film during its IMAX re-release, including re-drawn crocodiles in the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence as well as other alterations.<ref name="dvddifferences"/> More than two million copies of the Platinum Edition DVD and VHS units were sold on the first day of release.<ref name="homevideosellingfigures" /> A DVD box set of the three ''The Lion King'' films (in two-disc Special Edition formats) was released on December 6, 2004. In January 2005, the film, along with the sequels, went back into moratorium.<ref name="outofprint">{{cite web| publisher=UltimateDisney.com| title=Out of Print Disney DVDs| url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/disneyvault.html| access-date=September 24, 2006| archive-date=September 8, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908163433/http://www.dvdizzy.com/disneyvault.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The DVD releases have sold a total of 11.9{{nbsp}}million units and grossed {{US$|220 million|long=no}}.<ref name="topdvd">{{cite web |title=Charts – TOP VENTES DVD |url=http://www.jpbox-office.com/topdvd.php |website=JP's Box Office |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-date=November 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125162934/http://www.jpbox-office.com/topdvd.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the Diamond Edition of ''The Lion King'' on October 4, 2011.<ref name="PR News Wire">{{cite news|title=Audiences to Experience Disney's "The Lion King" Like Never Before|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audiences-to-experience-disneys-the-lion-king-like-never-before-122647058.html|access-date=May 26, 2011|newspaper=PR News Wire|date=May 26, 2011|archive-date=May 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530074215/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audiences-to-experience-disneys-the-lion-king-like-never-before-122647058.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This marks the first time that the film has been released in high-definition Blu-ray and on Blu-ray 3D.<ref name="PR News Wire" /><ref name="IGN">{{cite news|title=Exclusive: Lion King 3D Blu-ray Details|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/25/exclusive-lion-king-3d-blu-ray-details|access-date=May 26, 2011|newspaper=IGN|date=May 25, 2011|archive-date=October 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017000144/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/25/exclusive-lion-king-3d-blu-ray-details|url-status=live}}</ref> The initial release was produced in three different packages: a two-disc version with Blu-ray and DVD; a four-disc version with Blu-ray, DVD, Blu-ray 3D, and digital copy; and an eight-disc box set that also includes the sequels ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'' and ''The Lion King 1½''.<ref name="PR News Wire" /><ref name="IGN" /> A standalone single-disc DVD release also followed on November 15, 2011.<ref name="PR News Wire" /> The Diamond Edition topped the Blu-ray charts with over 1.5 million copies sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blu-ray-disc/lion-king-fast-five-propel-blu-ray-record-breaking-week-25386|title='Lion King,' 'Fast Five' Propel Blu-ray to Record-breaking Week|work=Home Media Magazine|date=October 18, 2011|first=John|last=Latchem|access-date=December 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035539/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blu-ray-disc/lion-king-fast-five-propel-blu-ray-record-breaking-week-25386|archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> The film sold 3.83 million Blu-ray units in total, leading to a $101.14 million income.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/news/125440830-Blu-ray-Sales-Vamps-Defeat-Tramp|title=Blu-ray Sales: Vamp Defeat Tramp|work=The Numbers|date=March 1, 2012|author=C.S.Strowbridge|access-date=March 1, 2012|archive-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617125416/http://www.the-numbers.com/news/125440830-Blu-ray-Sales-Vamps-Defeat-Tramp|url-status=live}}</ref>

''The Lion King'' was once again released to home media as part of the ''Walt Disney Signature Collection'' first released on Digital HD on August 15, 2017, and on Blu-ray and DVD on August 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/John-Favreau-Shares-First-Look-at-Live-Action-LION-KING-at-D23-Expo-20170717|title={{sic|Jo|hn|nolink=y}} Favreau Shares First Look at Live-Action LION KING at D23 Expo|work=Broadway World|date=July 17, 2017|author=|access-date=July 17, 2017|archive-date=July 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720135400/http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/John-Favreau-Shares-First-Look-at-Live-Action-LION-KING-at-D23-Expo-20170717|url-status=live}}</ref>

''The Lion King'' was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K digital download on December 3, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/64094/thelionking4kultrahdbluray.html|title=The Lion King – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review {{!}} High Def Digest|website=ultrahd.highdefdigest.com|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-date=November 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114010733/https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/64094/thelionking4kultrahdbluray.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception== ===Box office=== ''The Lion King'' has grossed $425 million in North America and $554 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $979 million.<ref name="mojo">{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=0110357|title=The Lion King (1994)|access-date=July 23, 2024|archive-date=July 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240724030323/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0110357/|url-status=live}}</ref> After its initial run, having earned $763.5 million,<ref name="lion-initial">{{cite web |title=The Lion King (1994): Original Release |website=Box Office Mojo|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr1310020101/|access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> it ranked as the highest-grossing animated film of all time, the highest-grossing film of Walt Disney Animation Studios,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/frozen-becomes-highestgrossing-disney-animated-film-of-all-time-9058069.html|title=Frozen becomes highest-grossing Disney animated film of all time|work=The Independent|author=Hooton, Christopher|date=January 14, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407205444/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/frozen-becomes-highestgrossing-disney-animated-film-of-all-time-9058069.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the highest-grossing film of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1994&p=.htm|title=1994 WORLDWIDE GROSSES|access-date=September 26, 2011|archive-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928105321/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1994&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the second-highest-grossing film of all time, behind ''Jurassic Park'' (1993).<ref name="TheMovieYear">{{cite news |last=Natale |first=Richard |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-30-ca-14702-story.html |title=The Movie Year: Hollywood Loses Its Middle Class |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 30, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123164750/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-30-ca-14702-story.html |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film remained as the second-highest-grossing film until the spot was taken by ''Independence Day'' (1996) two years later.<ref>{{cite web |title="You Can't Actually Blow Up the White House": An Oral History of 'Independence Day' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/independence-day-movie-cast-oral-history-1234976626/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 2, 2021 }}</ref> It finished as the 5th highest grossing film of the 1990s domestically.<ref>{{cite web| title=Domestic Box Office By Decade - 1990s| url=http://www.boxofficereport.com/domestic1990s.html|work=Box Office Report |access-date=July 14, 2024}}</ref>

It held the record for the highest-grossing animated feature film (in North America, outside North America, and worldwide) until it was surpassed by ''Finding Nemo'' (2003). With the earnings of the 3D run, ''The Lion King'' surpassed all the aforementioned films but ''Toy Story 3'' (2010) to rank as the second-highest-grossing animated film worldwide—later dropping to ninth, and then tenth, surpassed by its photorealistic CGI remake counterpart—and it remains the highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film.<ref name="crown">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3274&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Lion King' Regains Box Office Crown|author=Subers, Ray|date=September 19, 2011|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403220734/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3274&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also the biggest animated movie of the last 50 years in terms of estimated attendance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3272&p=.htm|title=Forecast: 'Lion King' to Roar Again|author=Gray, Brandon|date=September 16, 2011|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404223012/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3272&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Lion King'' was also the highest-grossing G-rated film in the United States from 1994 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2019 until its total was surpassed by ''Toy Story 4'' (2019) (unadjusted for inflation).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=G&p=.htm|title=Top Grossing G Rated at Box Office Mojo|publisher=Box Office Mojo|date=August 18, 2019|access-date=September 1, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003513/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=G&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Original theatrical run==== During the first two days of limited release in two theaters, ''The Lion King'' grossed $622,277, and for the weekend it earned nearly $1.6 million, placing the film in tenth place at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-20-ca-6420-story.html|title='Wolf,' 'Lion King' Grab the Movie-Goers|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 20, 1994|author=Natale, Richard|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304054050/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-20/entertainment/ca-6420_1_lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref> The average of $793,377 per theater stands as the largest ever achieved during a weekend,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/theateravg.htm?page=THTRAVG&p=.htm|title=Top Weekend Theater Averages|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 26, 2011|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919155141/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/theateravg.htm?page=THTRAVG&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and it was the highest-grossing opening weekend on under 50 screens, beating the record set by ''Star Wars'' (1977) from 43 screens.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Daily Variety|date=September 20, 1994|page=24|title=All-Time Opening Weekends: 50 Screens or Less}}</ref> The film grossed nearly $3.8 million from the two theaters in just 10 days.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Domestic Box Office|magazine=Variety|date=June 27, 1994|page=10}}</ref>

When it opened wide, ''The Lion King'' grossed $40.9 million—which at the time was the third-highest opening weekend ever, trailing only behind ''Jurassic Park'' (1993) and ''Batman Returns'' (1992), as well as the highest sum for a Disney film—to top the weekend box office.<ref name="OpeningRoar" /> It displaced the previous box office champion ''Wolf'', while also topping ''Speed'' and ''Wyatt Earp''.<ref name="maneattraction" /><ref>{{cite news |title='Lion King' rules nation's box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/27/Lion-King-rules-nations-box-office/8015772689600/ |access-date=February 13, 2022 |work=United Press International |date=June 27, 1994 |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213141317/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/27/Lion-King-rules-nations-box-office/8015772689600/ |url-status=live}}</ref> At that time, it easily outgrossed the previous biggest 1994 opening, which was the $37.2 million earned by ''The Flintstones'' during the four-day Memorial Day weekend.<ref name="OpeningRoar">{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-28-9406280249-story.html|title='Lion King' Opening with Box Office Roar|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 28, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125151611/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-28-9406280249-story.html|archive-date=January 25, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> For five years, the film held the record for having the highest opening weekend for an animated film until it was surpassed by ''Toy Story 2'' (1999).<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Rick |title=Those Toys Are Leaders In Box-Office Stampede |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/29/movies/those-toys-are-leaders-in-box-office-stampede.html |access-date=March 25, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=November 29, 1999 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319232310/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/29/movies/those-toys-are-leaders-in-box-office-stampede.html |url-status=live}}</ref> For its second weekend, ''The Lion King'' collected a total of $34.2 million, outgrossing the openings of ''The Shadow'', ''Blown Away'' and ''I Love Trouble''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-lion-king-ex/158027387/ |title='Lion King' extends its rule |date=July 7, 1994 |access-date=October 29, 2024 |page=40 |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> It remained the number-one box office film for a total of two weeks until it was displaced by ''Forrest Gump'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David J.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-08-ca-13380-story.html|title='Forrest Gump' Off to Fast Start at Box Office|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 8, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311210605/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-08-ca-13380-story.html|archive-date=March 11, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by ''True Lies'' the week after.<ref name="Powerhouse">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-18-ca-17141-story.html|title=Powerhouses Fuel Sales at Box Office|date=July 18, 1994|work=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20100726023014/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-18/entertainment/ca-17141_1_true-lies|archive-date=July 26, 2010|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref>

In September 1994, Disney pulled the film from movie theaters and announced that it would be re-released during Thanksgiving in order to take advantage of the holiday season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hofmeister|first=Sally|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/13/business/disney-to-put-lion-king-into-early-hibernation.html|title=Disney to Put 'Lion King' Into Early Hibernation|work=The New York Times|date=August 13, 1994|access-date=July 18, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719002134/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/13/business/disney-to-put-lion-king-into-early-hibernation.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> At the time, the film had earned $267 million in the United States.<ref name="mojo" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Boyar |first=Jay |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-11-18-9411170228-story.html |title=Disney's 'Lion King' Returns For Another Reign At Theaters |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 18, 1994 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015200752/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-18/entertainment/9411170228_1_simba-lion-king-mufasa |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Upon its re-release in November 1994, it earned $5.5 million during its first weekend, ranking in fourth place behind ''Star Trek Generations'', ''Interview with the Vampire'' and ''The Santa Clause''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Welkos|first=Robert W.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-22-ca-165-story.html|title=Weekend Box Office: Appealing to All 'Generations'|work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 22, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719074654/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-22-ca-165-story.html |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following its re-release, by March 1995, it had grossed $312.9 million,<ref name="mojo"/> being the highest-grossing 1994 film in the United States and Canada, but was soon surpassed by ''Forrest Gump''.<ref name="movies">{{cite web|url=http://movies.go.com/boxoffice?cat=1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326022707/http://movies.go.com/boxoffice?cat=1994|archive-date=March 26, 2008 |title=Top 50 movies of 1994|website=Movies.com|access-date=March 17, 2009}}</ref> Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 74 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=The Lion King (1994)|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804215905/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> equivalent to $812.1 million adjusted for inflation in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lion King (1994) – Domestic Total Adj. Gross (2018) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=2018&p=.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=22 June 2019 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235112/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3730736641/weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Internationally, the film grossed $455.8 million during its initial run, for a worldwide total of $763.5 million.<ref name="lion-initial" /> It had record openings in Sweden and Denmark.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=November 28, 1994|page=17|title='King' breaks records in Euro bows|last=Groves|first=Don}}</ref>

===Critical response {{anchor|Critics}}=== ''The Lion King'' was widely praised by film critics upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=December 19, 2024 |title='Mufasa: The Lion King' Review: Squeaking, Not Roaring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101152049/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review.html |archive-date=January 1, 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=The New York Times |quote=The first movie ... opened in 1994 to acclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Keeley |first=Pete |date=July 22, 2019 |title=Big Little Lions: Disney's New 'Lion King' Dodges the 'Kimba' Similarity Issue |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lion-king-kimba-white-lion-does-disney-need-come-clean-1225822/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218193819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lion-king-kimba-white-lion-does-disney-need-come-clean-1225822/ |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |quote=On June 24, 1994, Walt Disney Pictures released The Lion King to rapturous audiences and even more rapturous critical acclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lachnit |first=Carroll |date=July 2, 1994 |title='Lion King' Too Violent for Little Viewers? |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-02-ca-11169-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709212733/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-02-ca-11169-story.html |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |quote=glowing reviews for "The Lion King,"}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Visram |first=Talib |date=July 19, 2019 |title=The original ‘Lion King’ had a racist hyenas problem. The new film fixes that, with mixed results. |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90379067/critics-said-the-first-lion-kings-hyenas-were-problematic-disney-revamped-them |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213105553/https://www.fastcompany.com/90379067/critics-said-the-first-lion-kings-hyenas-were-problematic-disney-revamped-them |archive-date=December 13, 2025 |access-date=February 12, 2026 |work=Fast Company}}</ref> On Rotten Tomatoes, ''The Lion King'' has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} with an average score of {{RT data|average}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, ''The Lion King'' stands tall within Disney's pantheon of classic family films."<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=The Lion King (1994) |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}}|type=m|access-date={{RT data|access date}} |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916175141/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lion_king |url-status=live }}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> It also ranked 56th on Rotten Tomatoes' "Top 100 Animation Movies".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100 Animation Movies — Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies |work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=May 9, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923072035/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies |archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> At Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film received a score of 88 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="meta">{{cite Metacritic |id=the-lion-king |type=movie |title=The Lion King (1994) |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914212531/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-lion-king |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719145918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film three and a half stars out of a possible four and called it "a superbly drawn animated feature". He further wrote in his print review, "The saga of Simba, which in its deeply buried origins owes something to Greek tragedy and certainly to ''Hamlet'', is a learning experience as well as an entertainment."<ref name="tlkebertreview">{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=June 24, 1994 |title=The Lion King review |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708195259/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2014 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |via=RogerEbert.com |quote=Basically what we have here is a drama, with comedy occasionally lifting the mood.}}</ref> On the television program ''Siskel & Ebert'', the film was praised but received a mixed reaction when compared to previous Disney films. Ebert and his partner Gene Siskel both gave the film a "Thumbs Up", but Siskel said that it was not as good as ''Beauty and the Beast'' and that it was "a good film, not a great one".<ref>{{cite episode|first=Roger (host)|last=Ebert|first2=Gene (host)|last2=Siskel|url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=5412|title=Speed, The Lion King, The Endless Summer II, City Slickers II|series=Siskel & Ebert|season=8|number=39|date=June 11, 1994|access-date=September 30, 2020|website=SiskelEbert.org|url-status=live|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928081712/https://siskelebert.org/?p=5412}}</ref> Hal Hinson of ''The Washington Post'' called it "an impressive, almost daunting achievement" and felt that the film was "spectacular in a manner that has nearly become commonplace with Disney's feature-length animations". However, he was less enthusiastic toward the end of his review saying, "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."<ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news|last=Hinson|first=Hal|work=The Washington Post|date=June 24, 1994|title=The Lion King review|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm|access-date=August 6, 2008|archive-date=November 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103221120/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jeremy Gerard of ''Variety'' opened his review, writing, "Set off by some of the richest imagery the studio's animators have produced, and held together by a timeless coming-of-age tale, ''The Lion King'' marks a dazzling — and unexpectedly daring — addition to the Disney canon." However, he felt the songs were not as memorable as those composed by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gerard |first=Jeremy |url=https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/the-lion-king-disney-1200437594/ |title=Film Review: The Lion King |magazine=Variety |date=June 13, 1994 |access-date=September 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606110839/https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/the-lion-king-disney-1200437594/ |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Janet Maslin of ''The New York Times'' felt ''The Lion King'' "is as visually enchanting as its pedigree suggests. But it also departs from the spontaneity of its predecessors and reveals more calculation."<ref name="NYTimesFilmReview">{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/15/movies/review-film-the-hero-within-the-child-within.html |title=The Hero Within The Child Within |work=The New York Times |page=C11 |date=June 15, 1994 |access-date=September 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107021127/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/15/movies/review-film-the-hero-within-the-child-within.html |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> Duane Byrge of ''The Hollywood Reporter'' called ''The Lion King'' "a scrumptiously delightful moviegoing experience", in which he praised the voice cast, the music, and the emotionally resonant storyline.<ref>{{cite news |last=Byrge |first=Duane |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-thrs-1994-review-2-906559/ |title=Film Review: 'The Lion King' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 24, 1994 |access-date=September 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624135132/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/lion-king-thrs-1994-review-2-906559/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Owen Gleiberman of ''Entertainment Weekly'' praised the film, writing that it "has the resonance to stand not just as a terrific cartoon but as an emotionally pungent movie".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=June 24, 1994 |title=''The Lion King'' movie review |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1994/06/24/lion-king-0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617124341/http://www.ew.com/article/1994/06/24/lion-king-0 |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=August 12, 2008 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' film critic Peter Travers praised the film and felt that it was "a hugely entertaining blend of music, fun, and eye-popping thrills, though it doesn't lack for heart".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Travers|first=Peter |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 14, 1994| title=''The Lion King'' movie review|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947315/review/5947316/the_lion_king|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429201931/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947315/review/5947316/the_lion_king|archive-date=April 29, 2008|url-status=dead| access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> James Berardinelli from Reelviews.net praised the film saying, "With each new animated release, Disney seems to be expanding its already-broad horizons a little more. ''The Lion King'' is the most mature (in more than one sense) of these films, and there clearly has been a conscious effort to please adults as much as children. Happily, for those of us who generally stay far away from 'cartoons', they have succeeded."<ref>{{cite web| last=Berardinelli| first=James| website=Reelviews.net| title=''The Lion King'' review| url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/l/lion_king.html| access-date=August 13, 2008| archive-date=December 1, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235129/https://preview.reelviews.net/movies/l/lion_king.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

Some reviewers were critical of the film's narrative. Kenneth Turan of the ''Los Angeles Times'' felt the film "is less of a piece than its revered predecessors and the first to have a core story noticeably less involving than its scintillating peripheral characters."<ref>{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-15-ca-4277-story.html |title=Movie Review: 'The Lion King' and His Court Jesters |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 15, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720153929/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-15-ca-4277-story.html |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Maslin felt the storyline has "more noticeably derivative moments", which she attributed to the film having "an original story" than previous Disney animated films.<ref name="NYTimesFilmReview" /> ''TV Guide'' wrote that while ''The Lion King'' was technically proficient and entertaining, it "offers a less memorable song score than did the previous hits, and a hasty, unsatisfying dramatic resolution."<ref>{{cite web| work=TV Guide| title=''The Lion King'' movie review| url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/lion-king/review/129956/| access-date=August 13, 2008| archive-date=May 22, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522154235/http://www.tvguide.com/movies/lion-king/review/129956| url-status=live}}</ref> ''The New Yorker''{{'}}s Terrence Rafferty considered that despite the good animation, the story felt like "manipulat[ing] our responses at will", as "Between traumas, the movie serves up soothingly banal musical numbers and silly, rambunctious comedy".<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine=The New Yorker|author=Rafferty, Terrence| title=''The Lion King'' movie review|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/the_lion_king_minkoff| access-date=August 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218132505/https://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/the_lion_king_minkoff |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |url-access=limited}}</ref>

===Accolades=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations |- ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref. |- | rowspan="4"| Academy Awards | Best Original Score | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref name="Oscars1995">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995 |title=The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners |access-date=November 20, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109220937/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995 |archive-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"| Best Original Song | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{won}} |- | "Circle of Life" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | "Hakuna Matata" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | American Music Awards | Top Soundtrack | ''The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theamas.com/winners-database/?winnerKeyword=&winnerYear=1996 |title=Winners Database |publisher=American Music Awards |access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="6"| Annie Awards | colspan="2"| Best Animated Feature | {{won}} | rowspan="6" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/22nd-annie-awards |title=22nd Annual Annie Awards |publisher=Annie Awards |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref> |- | Best Achievement in Story Contribution | Brenda Chapman {{small|(Head of Story)}} | {{won}} |- | rowspan="3"| Best Achievement in Production Design | Mark Henn {{small|(Supervising Animator for "Young Simba")}} | {{nom}} |- | Scott F. Johnston {{small|(Artistic Supervisor – Computer Graphics)}} | {{nom}} |- | Andy Gaskill {{small|(Art Director)}} | {{nom}} |- | Best Achievement in Voice Acting | Jeremy Irons | {{won}} |- | Artios Awards | Animated Voice-Over Casting | Brian Chavanne | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1995 |title=1995 Artios Awards |date=October 11, 1995 |access-date=November 24, 2017 |publisher=Casting Society of America}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top Box Office Films | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | Most Performed Song from Motion Pictures | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{won}} |- | BAFTA Interactive Awards | colspan="2"| DVD | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/interactive/online-learninglt;/refgt; |title=BAFTA Awards: Interactive in 2004 |publisher=BAFTA Interactive Awards |year=2004 |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| British Academy Film Awards | Best Original Film Music | Hans Zimmer | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1995/film |title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 1995 |publisher=British Academy Film Awards |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | Best Sound | Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David J. Hudson, and Doc Kane | {{nom}} |- | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Original Score | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives |title=1988-2013 Award Winner Archives |publisher=Chicago Film Critics Association |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> |- | Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures | Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David J. Hudson, and Doc Kane | {{nom}} | align="center"| |- | rowspan="2"| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | colspan="2"| Best Film | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | colspan="2"| Best Animated Film | {{won}} |- | rowspan="4"| Golden Globe Awards | colspan="2"| Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/lion-king-1994 |title=The Lion King (1994) |publisher=Golden Globe Awards |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> |- | Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} |- | rowspan="2"| Best Original Song – Motion Picture | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{won}} |- | "Circle of Life" Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature | Richard L. Anderson, Vince Caro, Doc Kane, and Mark A. Mangini | {{won}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | Best Sound Editing – Music | Dominick Certo and Adam Milo Smalley | {{won}} |- | rowspan="9"| Grammy Awards | rowspan="2"| Song of the Year | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} | rowspan="9" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/37th-annual-grammy-awards |title=37th Annual GRAMMY Awards |publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> |- |"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John | {{won}} |- | Best Musical Album for Children | ''The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' – Various Artists | {{won}} |- | Best Spoken Word Album for Children | ''The Lion King Read-Along'' – Robert Guillaume | {{won}} |- | Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals | "Circle of Life" – Hans Zimmer and Lebo Morake | {{won}} |- | Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television | ''The Lion King'' – Hans Zimmer | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | "Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | International Film Music Critics Association Awards | Best Archival Release of an Existing Score – Re-Release or Re-Recording | Hans Zimmer, Elton John, Tim Rice, Randy Thornton, Lorelay Bové, and Don Hahn | {{nom}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2014-ifmca-awards/ |title=2014 IFMCA Awards |publisher=International Film Music Critics Association |access-date=December 18, 2021}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> |- | Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | colspan="2"| Best Animated Film | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-1990-99/ |title=KCFCC Award Winners – 1990-99 |publisher=Kansas City Film Critics Circle |date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref> |- | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Animation | Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1994.php |title=The 20th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |publisher=Los Angeles Film Critics Association |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| MTV Movie Awards | Best Villain | Jeremy Irons | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |title=1995 Movie Awards Winners |publisher=MTV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423094818/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 30, 2021}}</ref> |- | Best Song from a Movie | Elton John – "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" | {{nom}} |- | National Film Preservation Board | colspan="2"| National Film Registry | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/national-film-registry/ |title=National Film Registry |publisher=D23 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> |- | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | colspan="2"| Favorite Movie | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref name="Chicago Tribune 1">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-06-08-9506080010-story.html |title=Popular Vote |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Mangan |first=Jennifer |date=June 8, 1995 |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Online Film & Television Association Awards | colspan="2"| Film Hall of Fame: Productions | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Productions |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref> |- | Film Hall of Fame: Songs | "Circle of Life" | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-songs/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Songs |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=August 15, 2021}}</ref> |- | Satellite Awards {{small|(2003)}} | colspan="2" rowspan="2"| Outstanding Youth DVD | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |title=International Press Academy website – 2004 8th Annual SATELLITE Awards |publisher=International Press Academy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |archive-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref> |- | Satellite Awards {{small|(2011)}} | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2011/ |title=2011 Satellite Awards |publisher=Satellite Awards |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Saturn Awards {{small|(1994)}} | colspan="2"| Best Fantasy Film | {{nom}} | rowspan="3" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |publisher=Saturn Awards |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914184217/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref> |- | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Jonathan Taylor Thomas | {{nom}} |- | Saturn Awards {{small|(2003)}} | colspan="2"| Best Classic Film DVD Release | {{nom}} |- | Turkish Film Critics Association Awards | colspan="2"| Best Foreign Film | {{draw|16th Place}} | align="center"| |- | rowspan="4"| Young Artist Awards | colspan="2"| Best Family Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms16.htm |title=16th Annual Youth in Film Awards |access-date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=Young Artist Awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820064811/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms16.htm |archive-date=2010-08-20}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Best Performance by a Youth Actor in a Voice-Over – TV or Movie | Jonathan Taylor Thomas | {{nom}} |- | Jason Weaver | {{won}} |- | Best Performance by a Youth Actress in a Voice-Over – TV or Movie | Laura Williams | {{won}} |}

====Other honors==== In 2008, ''The Lion King'' was ranked as the 319th greatest film ever made by ''Empire'' magazine,<ref name="Empire5">{{cite news |last=Braund |first=Simon |author2=Glen Ferris |author3=Ian Freer |author4=Nev Pierce |author5=Chris Hewitt |author6=Dan Jolin |author7=Ian Nathan |author8=Kim Newman |author9=Helen O'Hara |author10=Olly Richards |author11=Owen Willams |work=Empire |title=The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time |url=https://www.empireonline.com/500/34.asp |access-date=March 11, 2010 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104093241/http://www.empireonline.com/500/34.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> and in June 2011, ''TIME'' named it one of "The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films".<ref>{{cite news|title=The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films – The Lion King|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/23/the-25-all-time-best-animated-films/slide/the-lion-king-1994/|magazine=Time|access-date=August 19, 2011|author=Richard Corliss|date=June 23, 2011|archive-date=October 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022161020/http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/23/the-25-all-time-best-animated-films/slide/the-lion-king-1994/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2008, the American Film Institute listed ''The Lion King'' as the fourth best film in the animation genre in its AFI's 10 Top 10 list,<ref>{{cite news | publisher =American Film Institute | title =AFI's 10 Top 10 | date =June 17, 2008 | url =http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html | access-date =June 18, 2008 | archive-date =June 19, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080619174154/http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html | url-status =live }}</ref> having previously put "Hakuna Matata" as 99th on its AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919175606/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|archive-date=September 19, 2009|title=The Top Movie Songs of All Time|access-date=May 22, 2008|author=American Film Institute|year=2004|format=PDF}}</ref> The film was ranked 66th in a ''Hollywood Reporter'' ranking of "Hollywood's Top 100 Movies of All Time" and the film ranked 86th in a BBC ranking of the "100 greatest American films."<ref>{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2014-06-25 |title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/the-lion-king/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-20 |title=The 100 greatest American films |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films |access-date=2025-02-15 |publisher=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite press release|title=With "20,000 Leagues," the National Film Registry Reaches 700|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|date=December 23, 2016|access-date=November 23, 2020|agency=National Film Registry|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126213919/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Year-end lists==== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * 2nd – Douglas Armstrong, ''The Milwaukee Journal''<ref>{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Douglas|date=January 1, 1995|title=End-of-year slump is not a happy ending|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=2}}</ref> * 5th – Sandi Davis, ''The Oklahoman''<ref>{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Sandi|date=January 1, 1995|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|title=Oklahoman Movie Critics Rank Their Favorites for the Year "Forrest Gump" The Very Best, Sandi Declares|work=The Oklahoman|access-date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720065431/https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|url-status=live}}</ref> * 5th – Todd Anthony, ''Miami New Times''<ref>{{cite news|last=Anthony|first=Todd|date=January 5, 1995|title=Hits & Disses|newspaper=Miami New Times}}</ref> * 6th – Stephen Hunter, ''The Baltimore Sun''<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|date=December 25, 1994|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-12-25-1994359091-story.html|title=Films worthy of the title 'best' in short supply MOVIES|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235137/https://www.baltimoresun.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> * 6th – Christopher Sheid, ''The Munster Times''<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheid|first=Christopher|date=December 30, 1994|title=A year in review: Movies|newspaper=The Munster Times}}</ref> * 7th – Joan Vadeboncoeur, ''Syracuse Herald American''<ref>{{cite news|last=Vadeboncoeur|first=Joan|date=January 8, 1995|title=Critically Acclaimed Best Movies of '94 Include Works from Tarantino, Burton, Demme, Redford, Disney and Speilberg|newspaper=Syracuse Herald American|page=16|edition=Final}}</ref> * 7th – Dan Craft, ''The Pantagraph''<ref>{{cite news|last=Craft|first=Dan|date=December 30, 1994 |title=Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94|newspaper=The Pantagraph|page=B1}}</ref> * 8th – Steve Persall, ''St. Petersburg Times''<ref>{{cite news|last=Persall|first=Steve|date=December 30, 1994|title=Fiction': The art of filmmaking|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=8|edition=City}}</ref> * 8th – Desson Howe, ''The Washington Post''<ref>{{citation|last=Howe|first=Desson|date=December 30, 1994|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|title=The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722025114/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|url-status=live}}</ref> * 10th – Mack Bates, ''The Milwaukee Journal''<ref>{{cite news|last=Bates|first=Mack|date=January 19, 1995|title=Originality of 'Hoop Dreams' makes it the movie of the year|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=3}}</ref> * 10th – David Elliott, ''The San Diego Union-Tribune''<ref>{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=David|date=December 25, 1994|title=On the big screen, color it a satisfying time|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|edition=1, 2|page=E=8}}</ref> * Top 7 (not ranked) – Duane Dudek, ''Milwaukee Sentinel''<ref>{{cite news|last=Dudek|first=Duane|date=December 30, 1994|title=1994 was a year of slim pickings|work=Milwaukee Sentinel|page=3}}</ref> * Top 9 (not ranked) – Dan Webster, ''The Spokesman-Review''<ref>{{cite news|last=Webster|first=Dan|date=January 1, 1995|title=In Year of Disappointments, Some Movies Still Delivered|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|edition=Spokane|page=2}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Matt Zoller Seitz, ''Dallas Observer''<ref>{{cite news|last=Zoller Seitz|first=Matt|date=January 12, 1995 |title= Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites |work=Dallas Observer}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – William Arnold, ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer''<ref>{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=William|date=December 30, 1994|title='94 Movies: Best and Worst|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=20|edition=Final}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Mike Mayo, ''The Roanoke Times''<ref>{{cite news|last=Mayo|first=Mike|date=December 30, 1994|title=The Hits and Misses at the Movies in '94|newspaper=The Roanoke Times|page=1|edition=Metro}}</ref> * Top 10 (not ranked) – Bob Carlton, ''The Birmingham News''<ref>{{cite news|last=Carlton|first=Bob|date=December 29, 1994|title=It Was a Good Year at Movies|work=The Birmingham News|page=12-01}}</ref> * "The second 10" (not ranked) – Sean P. Means, ''The Salt Lake Tribune''<ref>{{cite news|last=P. Means|first=Sean|date=January 1, 1995|title='Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=E1|edition=Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Michael MacCambridge, ''Austin American-Statesman''<ref>{{cite news|last=MacCambridge|first=Michael|date=December 22, 1994|title=it's a LOVE-HATE thing|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|page=38|edition=Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Dennis King, ''Tulsa World''<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Dennis|date=December 25, 1994|title=SCREEN SAVERS In a Year of Faulty Epics, The Oddest Little Movies Made The Biggest Impact|newspaper=Tulsa World|page=E1|edition=Final Home}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Glenn Lovell, ''San Jose Mercury News''<ref>{{cite news|last=Lovell|first=Glenn|date=December 25, 1994 |title=The Past Picture Show the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – a Year Worth's of Movie Memories|newspaper=San Jose Mercury News|page=3|edition=Morning Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – John Hurley, ''Staten Island Advance''<ref>{{cite news|last=Hurley|first=John|date=December 30, 1994|title=Movie Industry Hit Highs and Lows in '94|newspaper=Staten Island Advance|page=D11}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Jeff Simon, ''The Buffalo News''<ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Jeff|date=January 1, 1995|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/movies-once-more-with-feeling/article_b73e9a1a-9f60-5d7a-a05c-289243ba0483.html|title=Movies: Once More, with Feeling|work=The Buffalo News|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719132904/https://buffalonews.com/news/movies-once-more-with-feeling/article_b73e9a1a-9f60-5d7a-a05c-289243ba0483.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{div col end}}

===Criticisms=== thumb|right|The alleged "SEX" frame|alt=Simba lays down on a cliff, while the airborne dust next to him resembles the shape "SFX". Protests were raised against one scene where it appears as if the word "SEX" might have been embedded into the dust flying in the sky when Simba flops down,<ref name="The">{{cite web | website=Snopes|title=The alleged "SEX" frame in ''The Lion King''|date=December 31, 1996 |url=http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lionking.asp| access-date=July 1, 2006}}</ref> which conservative activist Donald Wildmon asserted was a subliminal message intended to promote sexual promiscuity. Animator and story artist Tom Sito has stated that the letters spell "SFX" (a common abbreviation for "special effects"), not with an "E" instead of the "F", and were intended as an innocent "signature" created by the effects animation team.<ref>{{cite book|title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed : Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk|author1=Schweizer, Peter|author2=Schweizer, Rochelle|publisher=Regnery Pub.|year=1998|page=[https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/142 142]|isbn=0895263874|url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/142}}</ref>

Hyena biologists protested against the animal's portrayal, though the complaints may have been somewhat tongue-in-cheek. One hyena researcher, who had organized the animators' visit to the University of California, Berkeley, Field Station for the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Reproduction, where they would observe and sketch captive hyenas,<ref name="glick">{{cite journal|title=The Spotted Hyena From Aristotle to the Lion King: Reputation is Everything|author=Glickman, Stephen|journal=Social Research: An International Quarterly |volume=62|issue=3|date=Fall 1995}}</ref> listed "boycott ''The Lion King"'' in an article listing ways to help preserve hyenas in the wild, and later "joke[d] that ''The Lion King'' set back hyena conservation efforts."<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lionconservation.org/PopularArticles/Girl-power,Africa-Geographic,2006.pdf|title=Girl Power|first=Laurence D.|last=Frank|journal=Africa Geographic|date=May 2006|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727034458/http://www.lionconservation.org/PopularArticles/Girl-power,Africa-Geographic,2006.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/09/15/berkeleys-captive-colony-of-spotted-hyenas-closes-after-30-years|title=Berkeley's colony of spotted hyenas closes after 30 years|last=Orenstein|first=Natalie|date=2014-09-15|website=Berkeleyside|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829162615/https://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/09/15/berkeleys-captive-colony-of-spotted-hyenas-closes-after-30-years|url-status=live}}</ref> Even so, the film was also credited with "spark[ing] an interest" in hyenas at the Berkeley center.<ref name=":0" />

The film has been criticized for race and class issues, with the hyenas seen as reflecting negative stereotypes of black and Latino ethnic communities.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Martin-Rodriguez |first=Manuel |title=Hyenas in The Pride Lands: Latinos/As and Immigration in Disney's The Lion King |journal=Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies |year=2000 |volume=25 |number=1 |pages=47–67|doi=10.1525/azt.2000.25.1.47 |s2cid=266898871 | issn = 0005-2604 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Gooding-Williams |first=Robert |title=Disney in Africa and the inner city: On race and space in The Lion King |journal=Social Identities |issue=2 |year=1995 |volume=1 |pages=373–379|doi=10.1080/13504630.1995.9959442 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Foster |first=David |title=The Lion King Falls Prey to Howls of Sexism, Racism |work=Chicago Tribune |page=26}}</ref> Others have also criticized the film for advancing a fascist narrative in its portrayal of a lion kingdom and a circle of life where "only the strong and the beautiful triumph, and the powerless survive only by serving the strong."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Roth |first1=Matt |date=March 1996 |title=The Lion King: A short history of Disney-fascism |url=http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC40folder/LionKing.html |journal=Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media |volume= |issue=40|pages=15–22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hassler-Forest |first1=Dan |date=July 2019 |title='The Lion King' is a fascistic story. No remake can change that. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/07/10/lion-king-is-fascistic-story-no-remake-can-change-that/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725012543/https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/07/10/lion-king-is-fascistic-story-no-remake-can-change-that/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Resemblance to ''Kimba the White Lion''==== {{Further|Kimba the White Lion#Claims of resemblance to The Lion King|l1=Claims of resemblance to ''The Lion King''}} [[File:Earlypresentationreelwhitelionking.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from an early presentation reel of ''The Lion King'' that shows a white lion cub and a butterfly.]] Elements of ''The Lion King'' bear some superficial resemblance to the 1960s Japanese anime television series ''Jungle Emperor'' (known as ''Kimba the White Lion'' in the United States). The 1994 release of ''The Lion King'' drew a protest in Japan, where ''Kimba'' and its creator, Osamu Tezuka, are cultural icons. 488 Japanese cartoonists and animators, led by the manga author Machiko Satonaka, signed a petition accusing Disney of plagiarism and demanding that they give due credit to Tezuka.<ref>{{cite book |last=Raz |first=Aviad E. |title=Riding the Black Ship: Japan and Tokyo Disneyland |date=1999 |publisher=Harvard University Asia Center |isbn=9780674768949 |page=163 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jk9mv25eloC&pg=PA163 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818185404/https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jk9mv25eloC&pg=PA163 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Japanese animator protests 'Lion King' |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/18/Japanese-animator-protests-Lion-King/4250777182400/ |work=United Press International |date=August 18, 1994 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126180929/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/18/Japanese-animator-protests-Lion-King/4250777182400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Broderick believed initially that he was working on an American version of ''Kimba''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schweizer |first1=Peter |last2=Schweizer |first2=Rochelle |author1-link=Peter Schweizer |title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed: Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk |url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw |chapter=The Lyin' King |publisher=Regnery |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1998 |pages=167–168 |isbn=978-0-89-526-3872 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Allers said he was unfamiliar with ''Kimba'' until ''The Lion King'' was almost complete, and did not remember it being mentioned during development.<ref name="fumettologica">{{cite interview |last=Fiamma |first=Andrea |url=http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ |title=Intervista a Roger Allers, il regista de Il Re Leone |work=Fumettologica |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2015 |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201005055/http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ |url-status=live |quote=The whole time I worked on ''The Lion King'' the name of that show never came up. At least I never heard it. I had never seen the show and really only became aware of it as ''Lion King'' was being completed, and someone showed me images of it. I worked with George Scribner and Linda Woolverton to develop the story in the early days but then left to help out on ''Aladdin''. If one of them were familiar with ''Kimba'' they didn't say. Of course, it's possible... Many story ideas developed and changed along the way, always just to make our story stronger. I could certainly understand ''Kimba''{{'}}s creators feeling angry if they felt we had stolen ideas from them. If I had been inspired by ''Kimba'' I would certainly acknowledge my inspiration. All I can offer is my respect to those artists and say that their creation has its loyal admirers and its assured place in animation history.}}</ref> The law professor Madhavi Sunder suggested that Allers might have seen the 1989 remake of ''Kimba'' on television while living in Tokyo. However, while Allers did move to Tokyo in 1983 to work on ''Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland'' (1989), he moved back to the United States in 1985, four years before the 1989 remake of ''Kimba'' began airing.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sunder |first1=Madhavi |title=From Goods to a Good Life: Intellectual Property and Global Justice |date=2012 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0300183559 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C&pg=PA156 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623071222/https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C&pg=PA156 |url-status=live }}</ref> Minkoff also said he was unfamiliar with ''Kimba,''<ref name=welkos>{{cite news |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=A 'Kimba' Surprise for Disney |date=July 13, 1994 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-13-ca-15117-story.html |access-date=March 30, 2015 |quote=I know for a fact that [''Kimba''] has never been discussed as long as I've been on the project... In my experience, if Disney becomes aware of anything like that, they say you will not do it. People are claiming copyright infringement all the time |archive-date=February 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210124542/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-13/entertainment/ca-15117_1_lion-king |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=sunder-p155/> and observed that stories set in Africa often have characters such as baboons, birds and hyenas.<ref name=welkos/>

Takayuki Matsutani, the president of Tezuka Productions, which created ''Kimba the White Lion'', said in 1994 that "quite a few staff of our company saw a preview of ''The Lion King'', discussed this subject and came to the conclusion that you cannot avoid having these similarities as long as you use animals as characters and try to draw images out of them".<ref name="Bradley 171">{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Bill |title=Was 'The Lion King' Copied From A Japanese Cartoon? Here's The Real Story |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=2015-01-27 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316.html |page=171 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107175930/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316.html |url-status=live }} (updated Dec 06, 2017)</ref> Yoshihiro Shimizu of Tezuka Productions refuted rumors that the studio was paid hush money by Disney and said they had no interest in suing Disney, explaining that "we think it's a totally different story". Shimizu said that they rejected urges from some American lawyers to sue because "we're a small, weak company... Disney's lawyers are among the top twenty in the world!"<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kelts |first1=Roland |title=Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US |date=2007 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |edition=reprint |isbn=978-1-4039-8476-0 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2rgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |access-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607143810/https://books.google.com/books?id=f2rgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tezuka's family and Tezuka Productions never pursued litigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/26/lion-king-has-been-clouded-by-intellectual-property-controversy-years-heres-story-behind-it |title='Lion King' has been clouded by intellectual property controversy for 25 years. Here's the story behind it. |last=Denham |first=Hannah |date=July 26, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 3, 2020 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028231636/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/26/lion-king-has-been-clouded-by-intellectual-property-controversy-years-heres-story-behind-it/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 }}</ref>

The American writer Fred Ladd, who was involved with importing ''Kimba'' and other Japanese anime into America for NBC, expressed incredulity that Disney staff could be ignorant of ''Kimba''.<ref name=ladd-deneroff/><ref name=sunder-p155>{{cite book |last=Sunder |first=Madhavi |author-link= |title=From Goods to a Good Life: Intellectual Property and Global Justice |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C |page=155156 |isbn=978-0300183559 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235136/https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C |url-status=live }}</ref> Ladd said at least one animator was remembered by his colleagues as a ''Kimba'' fan and vociferous about Disney's conduct during production.<ref name=ladd-deneroff>{{cite book |last1=Ladd |first1=Fred |author-link=Fred Ladd |last2=Deneroff |first2=Harvey |title=Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas: An Insider's View of the Birth of a Pop Culture Phenomenon |publisher=McFarland |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rubax5GQA7kC&pg=PA64 |page=64 |isbn=9780786452576 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211302/https://books.google.com/books?id=rubax5GQA7kC&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }}</ref> The animators Tom Sito and Mark Kausler said they had watched ''Kimba'' as children in the 1960s, but Sito denied any influence, and Kausler emphasized Disney's ''Bambi'' as their model.<ref>{{cite book |last=Patten |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Patten |title=Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&pg=PT171 |page=171 |isbn=9781611725100 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818203430/https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&lpg=PT171 |url-status=live }} {{ISBN|1-880656-92-2}}</ref><ref name="Bradley 171"/> The controversy was parodied in ''The Simpsons'' episode "{{-'}}Round Springfield", in which Mufasa appears through the clouds and says, "You must avenge my death, Kimba... I mean, Simba."<ref>{{cite news |title=Was 'The Lion King' Copied From A Japanese Cartoon? Here's The Real Story |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316 |work=HuffPost |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152007/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Legacy==

===Sequels and spin-offs=== {{Main|The Lion King (franchise)|l1 = ''The Lion King'' (franchise)}}

The first ''Lion King''–related animated project was the spin-off television series, ''The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa'', which centers on the characters of Timon and Pumbaa, as they have their own (mis)adventures both within' and outside of the Serengeti. The show ran for three seasons and 85 episodes between 1995 and 1999. Ernie Sabella continued to voice Pumbaa, while Timon was voiced by Quinton Flynn and Kevin Schon in addition to Nathan Lane.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's animated characters|author=Grant, John|page=150|publisher=Hyperion Books|year=1998|isbn=0-7868-6336-6}}</ref> One of the show's music video segments "Stand By Me", featuring Timon singing the eponymous song, was later edited into an animated short which was released in 1995, accompanying the theatrical release of ''Tom and Huck'' (1995).

Disney released two direct-to-video films related to ''The Lion King''. The first was sequel ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'', released in 1998 on VHS. The film centers around Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with Kovu, a male lion who was raised in a pride of Scar's followers, the Outsiders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/23/movies/video-review-a-lion-king-with-girls-as-stars.html|title=VIDEO REVIEW; A 'Lion King' With Girls as Stars|author=James, Caryn|date=October 23, 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 12, 2014|archive-date=October 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021040210/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/23/movies/video-review-a-lion-king-with-girls-as-stars.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> ''The Lion King 1½'', another direct-to-video ''Lion King'' film, saw its release in 2004. It is a prequel in showing how Timon and Pumbaa met each other, and also a parallel in that it also depicts what the characters were retconned to have done during the events of the original movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/06/the-lion-king-1-12-2|title=The Lion King 1 1/2|author=Patrizio, Andy|date=February 6, 2004|access-date=April 13, 2014|website=IGN|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413230437/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/06/the-lion-king-1-12-2|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2014, it was announced that a new TV series based on the film would be released called ''The Lion Guard'', featuring Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala. ''The Lion Guard'' is a sequel to ''The Lion King'' and takes place during the time-gap within ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Brett|first=Susan|title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Disney's The Lion Guard creator Ford Riley talks new Lion King sequel|work=TVGuide.co.uk News |url=http://tvdaily.com/exclusive-interview-disneys-the-lion-guard-creator-ford-riley-talks-new-lion-king-sequel/|publisher=TVdaily.com|access-date=August 23, 2016|date=February 8, 2016|archive-date=August 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823115446/http://tvdaily.com/exclusive-interview-disneys-the-lion-guard-creator-ford-riley-talks-new-lion-king-sequel/|url-status=live}}</ref> with the last 2 episodes of Season 3 taking place after the events of that film. It was first broadcast on Disney Channel as a television film titled ''The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar'' in November 2015 before airing as a series on Disney Junior in January 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/2851192/spin-off-of-the-lion-king-aims-to-enchant-a-new-generation-of-viewers/|first=Melissa|last=Hellmann|magazine=Time|date=June 10, 2014|access-date=June 10, 2014|title=Spin-Off of The Lion King Aims to Enchant a New Generation of Viewers|archive-date=June 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610045620/http://time.com/2851192/spin-off-of-the-lion-king-aims-to-enchant-a-new-generation-of-viewers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lion-king-tv-show-lion-guard-disney-1201567908/|title=Disney to Revive 'Lion King' With 'Lion Guard' TV Series|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=August 12, 2015|work=Variety|publisher=Variety Media|access-date=August 12, 2015|archive-date=August 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813121645/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/lion-king-tv-show-lion-guard-disney-1201567908/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===CGI remake=== {{Main|The Lion King (2019 film)|l1 = ''The Lion King'' (2019 film)}}

In September 2016, following the critical and financial success of ''The Jungle Book'', Walt Disney Pictures announced that they were developing a CGI remake of ''The Lion King'' by the same name, with Jon Favreau directing.<ref name="favreau">{{cite web | url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-jon-favreau-the-lion-king/ | title=Disney and Jon Favreau Joining Forces on "The Lion King" | publisher=The Walt Disney Company | date=September 28, 2016 | access-date=September 28, 2016 | archive-date=September 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929013751/https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-jon-favreau-the-lion-king/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The following month, Jeff Nathanson was hired to write the script for the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insidethemagic.net/2016/10/disneys-live-action-lion-king-hires-jeff-nathanson-to-pen-script/|title=Disney's Live-Action 'Lion King' hires Jeff Nathanson to pen script|publisher=Inside the Magic|last=McCabe|first=Adam|date=October 13, 2016|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218145910/http://www.insidethemagic.net/2016/10/disneys-live-action-lion-king-hires-jeff-nathanson-to-pen-script/|url-status=live}}</ref> Favreau originally planned to shoot it back-to-back with the sequel to ''The Jungle Book''.<ref name="favreau"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/lion-king-jungle-book-2-jon-favreau-interview/|title=Jon Favreau Offers Updates on 'The Lion King' and 'The Jungle Book 2'|website=Collider|last=Foutch|first=Haleigh|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107235157/https://collider.com/lion-king-jungle-book-2-jon-favreau-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it was reported in early 2017 that the latter film was put on hold in order for Favreau to instead focus mainly on ''The Lion King''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/beauty-and-the-beast-sean-bailey-disney-emma-watson-1202047710/|title=Sean Bailey On How Disney's Live-Action Division Found Its 'Beauty And The Beast' Mojo|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|quote=Jungle Book director Favreau has temporarily put down a sequel for that film to instead focus on a live-action musical version of The Lion King, one that will take the Jungle Book's photo-realistic technology further, and will fully exploit the Elton John songs from the original|date=March 21, 2017|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910100558/http://deadline.com/2017/03/beauty-and-the-beast-sean-bailey-disney-emma-watson-1202047710/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, Favreau announced that Donald Glover had been cast as Simba and that James Earl Jones would be reprising the role of Mufasa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-live-action-movie-casts-donald-glover-as-simba-977488|title='Lion King' Remake Casts Donald Glover as Simba, James Earl Jones as Mufasa|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=February 17, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722181436/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-live-action-movie-casts-donald-glover-as-simba-977488|url-status=live}}</ref> The following month, it was reported that [[Beyoncé]] was Favreau's top choice to voice Nala, but she had not accepted the role yet due to a pregnancy.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/beyonce-lion-king-remake-nala-1202019931/|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Beyonce Top Choice to Voice Nala in 'Lion King' Remake (EXCLUSIVE)|magazine=Variety|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|archive-date=June 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621133859/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/beyonce-lion-king-remake-nala-1202019931/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2017, Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen joined the film as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/841623-timon-and-pumbaa|last=Lesnick|first=Silas|title=Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen Set as The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa|publisher=Comingsoon.net|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|archive-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426153625/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/841623-timon-and-pumbaa|url-status=live}}</ref> Two months later, John Oliver was cast as Zazu.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/07/10/john-oliver-lion-king-zazu-disney/|last=Gettell|first=Oliver|title=Disney's live-action Lion King adds John Oliver as Zazu|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 10, 2017|access-date=July 11, 2017|archive-date=July 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713184009/http://ew.com/movies/2017/07/10/john-oliver-lion-king-zazu-disney/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of July 2017, [[Beyoncé]] had reportedly entered final negotiations to play Nala and contribute a new soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Will-Beyonce-Join-THE-LION-KING-Remake-with-A-Starring-Role-AND-a-Soundtrack-20170731|author=|title=Will Beyonce Join THE LION KING Remake with A Starring Role AND a Soundtrack?|website=Broadway World|date=July 31, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808073141/http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Will-Beyonce-Join-THE-LION-KING-Remake-with-A-Starring-Role-AND-a-Soundtrack-20170731|url-status=live}}</ref> The following month, Chiwetel Ejiofor entered talks to play Scar.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chiwetel-ejiofor-talks-voice-scar-live-action-lion-king-1026338|last=Kit|first=Borys|title=Chiwetel Ejiofor in Talks to Voice Scar in Disney's 'Lion King'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 2, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806050617/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chiwetel-ejiofor-talks-voice-scar-live-action-lion-king-1026338|url-status=live}}</ref> Later on, Alfre Woodard and John Kani joined the film as Sarabi and Rafiki, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/877243-alfre-woodard-to-play-simbas-mother-in-live-action-lion-king|last=Evry|first=BMax|title=Alfre Woodard to Play Simba's Mother in Live-Action Lion King|publisher=Comingsoon.net|date=August 7, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808041232/http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/877243-alfre-woodard-to-play-simbas-mother-in-live-action-lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/john-kani-rafiki-lion-king/|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Umberto|last2=Verhoeven|first2=Beatrice|title='Lion King' Rafiki Casting: John Kani, 'Civil War' Star, to Play Wise Baboon (Exclusive)|website=TheWrap|date=August 7, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807223835/https://www.thewrap.com/john-kani-rafiki-lion-king/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 1, 2017, [[Beyoncé]] and Chiwetel Ejiofor were officially confirmed to voice Nala and Scar, with Eric André, Florence Kasumba, Keegan-Michael Key, JD McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph joining the cast as the voices of Azizi, Shenzi, and Kamari, young Simba, and young Nala, respectively, while Hans Zimmer would return to score the film's music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-will-voice-scar-in-live-action-lion-king-and-more-movie-news/|title=Chiwetel Ejiofor Will Voice Scar in The Lion King|access-date=2017-08-07|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203132025/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/chiwetel-ejiofor-will-voice-scar-in-live-action-lion-king-and-more-movie-news/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Pallotta|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2017|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/01/entertainment/lion-king-beyonc-cast/index.html|title=Beyoncé joins cast of Disney's live-action 'Lion King'|website=CNN|archive-date=November 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102011858/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/01/entertainment/lion-king-beyonc-cast/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Beyonce-and-Additional-Casting-Revealed-in-New-Preview-Poster-for-THE-LION-KING-20171101|last1=Criscitiello|first1=Alaxa|title=Beyonce and More Additional Casting Revealed in New Preview Poster for THE LION KING|website=Broadway World|date=November 1, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2017|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203132023/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Beyonce-and-Additional-Casting-Revealed-in-New-Preview-Poster-for-THE-LION-KING-20171101|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-young-simba-actor-signs-icm-partners-1054468|title='Lion King's' Young Simba Actor Signs With ICM Partners (Exclusive)|date=November 2, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=November 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104150332/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lion-king-young-simba-actor-signs-icm-partners-1054468|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/voices-behind-2019-lion-king-live-action-remake-gallery-1.3606971?pmSlide=1.3606968|title=Shahadi Wright Joseph as Young Nala|date=November 2, 2017|work=New York Daily News|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003436/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/voices-behind-2019-lion-king-live-action-remake-gallery-1.3606971?pmSlide=1.3606968|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 28, 2017, it was reported that Elton John had signed onto the project to rework his musical compositions from the original film.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/elton-john-set-rake-article-1.3660427|title=Elton John will make millions with live-action remake of 'The Lion King'|work=New York Daily News|date=November 28, 2017|access-date=November 28, 2017|archive-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128043933/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/elton-john-set-rake-article-1.3660427|url-status=live}}</ref>

Production for the film began in May 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/lion-king-disney-filming-start-synopsis/|last=Lammers|first=Timothy|title=Disney's Live-Action The Lion King Starts Production in May|website=Screen Rant|date=March 18, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320143516/http://screenrant.com/lion-king-disney-filming-start-synopsis/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on July 19, 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/25/frozen-2-lion-king-disney-release-dates/|last=Snetiker|first=Marc|title=Disney sets release dates for Frozen 2, Lion King, and more|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 25, 2017|access-date=April 25, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419232247/https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/25/frozen-2-lion-king-disney-release-dates/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''Black Is King'' === {{Main|Black Is King|l1 = ''Black Is King''}}

In June 2020, Parkwood Entertainment and Disney announced that a film titled ''Black Is King'' would be released on July 31, 2020, on Disney+. The live-action film is inspired by ''The Lion King'' (2019) and serves as a visual album for the tie-in album ''The Lion King: The Gift'', which was curated by Beyoncé for the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=See Beyoncé's A-List cast in new trailer for her movie Black is King|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2020-07-19/beyonces-trailer-black-is-king/|access-date=2020-07-19|website=Radio Times|language=en|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719211910/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2020-07-19/beyonces-trailer-black-is-king/|url-status=live}}</ref> Directed, written and executive produced by Beyoncé, ''Black Is King'' is described as reimagining "the lessons of ''The Lion King'' for today's young kings and queens in search of their own crowns".<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=2020-07-19|title=Beyoncé Details 'Black Is King' Visual Album, Shares New Trailer|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-black-is-king-new-trailer-disney-plus-1030891/|access-date=2020-07-19|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719184756/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-black-is-king-new-trailer-disney-plus-1030891/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film chronicles the story of a young African king who undergoes a "transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity" to reclaim his throne, utilizing the guidance of his ancestors and childhood love, with the story being told through the voices of present-day Black people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mendez|first=Michele|title=Here's Everything You Need To Know About Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Visual Album|url=https://www.elitedaily.com/p/beyonces-black-is-king-visual-album-everything-you-need-to-know-27634229|access-date=2020-07-19|website=Elite Daily|date=June 29, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=July 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717124344/https://www.elitedaily.com/p/beyonces-black-is-king-visual-album-everything-you-need-to-know-27634229|url-status=live}}</ref> The cast includes Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell, Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland, Pharrell Williams, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Aweng Ade-Chuol, and Adut Akech.<ref name=":1" />

=== ''Mufasa: The Lion King'' === {{Main|Mufasa: The Lion King|l1 = ''Mufasa: The Lion King''}}

On September 29, 2020, ''Deadline Hollywood'' reported that a follow-up film was in development with Barry Jenkins attached to direct.<ref name="DeadlineHollywood">{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/the-lion-king-sequel-barry-jenkins-moonlight-director-disney-1234586787/|title='The Lion King' Followup Set With 'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins To Helm For Walt Disney Studios|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929165220/https://deadline.com/2020/09/the-lion-king-sequel-barry-jenkins-moonlight-director-disney-1234586787/|archive-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> While ''The Hollywood Reporter'' said the film would be a prequel about Mufasa during his formative years, ''Deadline'' said it would be a sequel centering on both Mufasa's origins and the events after the first film, similar to ''The Godfather Part II''. Jeff Nathanson, the screenwriter for the remake, has reportedly finished a draft.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Rebecca|last2=Lang|first2=Brent|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lion-king-sequel-director-barry-jenkins-1234786355/|title='The Lion King' Follow-Up in the Works With Director Barry Jenkins|work=Variety|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929195502/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lion-king-sequel-director-barry-jenkins-1234786355/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|last2=Kits|first2=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-prequel-in-the-works-with-director-barry-jenkins|title='Lion King' Prequel in the Works with Director Barry Jenkins|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 29, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929164424/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lion-king-prequel-in-the-works-with-director-barry-jenkins|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2021, it was reported that Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr. had been cast as Mufasa and Scar respectively.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/lion-king-prequel-cast-kelvin-harrison-jr-aaron-pierre-barry-jenkins-1234822447/|title='The Lion King' Prequel: Kelvin Harrison Jr. & Aaron Pierre To Lead Cast For Disney & Barry Jenkins|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 26, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826192900/https://deadline.com/2021/08/lion-king-prequel-cast-kelvin-harrison-jr-aaron-pierre-barry-jenkins-1234822447/|archive-date=August 26, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The film will not be a remake of ''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'', the 1998 direct-to-video sequel to the original animated film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sandell|first=Rachel|url=https://collider.com/lion-king-2-underrated-disney-sequel/|title=''The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'' Is an Underrated Disney Sequel|work=Collider|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319170217/https://collider.com/lion-king-2-underrated-disney-sequel/|archive-date=March 19, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2022 at the D23 Expo, it was announced that the film will be titled ''Mufasa: The Lion King'' and it will follow the titular character's origin story. Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, and John Kani will reprise their roles as Pumbaa, Timon, and Rafiki, respectively. The film was released on December 20, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=J. Kim |title=Marvel Delays 'Deadpool 3,' 'Captain America 4' and 'Thunderbolts' in Post-Strike Disney Release Shake-Up |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/deadpool-3-captain-america-4-lion-king-prequel-delayed-1235786760/ |work=Variety |date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110010516/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/deadpool-3-captain-america-4-lion-king-prequel-delayed-1235786760/ |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video games=== {{Main|The Lion King (video game)|l1 = ''The Lion King'' (video game)}}

Along with the film release, three different video games based on ''The Lion King'' were released by Virgin Interactive in December 1994. The main title was developed by Westwood Studios, and published for PC and Amiga computers and the consoles SNES and Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Dark Technologies created the Game Boy version, while Syrox Developments handled the Master System and Game Gear version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/lion-king|title=The Lion King|publisher=Moby Games|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=June 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628170959/http://www.mobygames.com/game/lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref> The film and sequel ''Simba's Pride'' later inspired another game, Torus Games' ''The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure'' (2000) for the Game Boy Color and PlayStation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Craig|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/01/disneys-the-lion-king-simbas-mighty-adventure|title=Disney's The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure Review|website=IGN|date=November 30, 2000|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809120046/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/01/disneys-the-lion-king-simbas-mighty-adventure|url-status=live}}</ref> Timon and Pumbaa also appeared in ''Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games'', a 1995 PC game collection of puzzle games by 7th Level, later ported to the SNES by Tiertex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/games-time-forgot-timon-and-pumbaa-s-jungle-games-85888.phtml|title=Games time forgot: Timon and Pumbaa's Jungle Games|author=Burch, Anthony|website=Destructoid|date=March 6, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921025316/http://www.destructoid.com/games-time-forgot-timon-and-pumbaa-s-jungle-games-85888.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Square Enix series ''Kingdom Hearts'' features Simba as a recurring summon,<ref name="KH-StrategyGuide">{{cite book| last=Birlew| first=Dan| year=2003| title=Kingdom Hearts Official Strategy Guide| publisher=BradyGames| isbn=978-0-7440-0198-3| url=https://archive.org/details/kingdomheartsoff00birl}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last=Hollinger| first=Elizabeth| year=2004| title=Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide| publisher=BradyGames Publishing| isbn=978-0-7440-0473-1}}</ref> as well as a playable in the ''Lion King'' world, known as Pride Lands, in ''Kingdom Hearts II''. There the plotline is loosely related to the later part of the original film, with all of the main characters except Zazu and Sarabi.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hollinger|first=Elizabeth|year=2006|title=Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide|publisher=BradyGames Publishing|isbn=978-0-7440-0526-4}}</ref> ''The Lion King'' also provides one of the worlds featured in the 2011 action-adventure game ''Disney Universe'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/disney-universe-review/1900-6342869/|title=Disney Universe Review|website=GameSpot|first=Kevin|last=VanOrd|date=October 28, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222143436/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/disney-universe-review/1900-6342869/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Simba was featured in the Nintendo DS title ''Disney Friends'' (2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/07/disney-friends-review|title=Disney Friends Review|website=IGN|first=Jack|last=DeVries|date=March 7, 2008|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=May 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503010322/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/07/disney-friends-review|url-status=live}}</ref> The video game ''Disney Magic Kingdoms'' includes some characters of the film and some attractions based on locations of the film as content to unlock for a limited time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ7X8p4Q688 |title=Update 12: The Lion King {{!}} Livestream|publisher=YouTube|date=June 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_R9bx2xv4s&ab_channel=DisneyMagicKingdoms |title=Update 31: DuckTales {{!}} Livestream|publisher=YouTube|date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

===Stage adaptations=== {{Main|The Lion King (musical)|l1 = ''The Lion King'' (musical)}}

Walt Disney Theatrical produced a musical stage adaptation of the same name, which premiered in Minneapolis, Minnesota in July 1997, and later opened on Broadway in October 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre. ''The Lion King'' musical was directed by Julie Taymor<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://louisvilleky.gov/events/disneys-lion-king |title=Disney's THE LION KING |access-date=March 21, 2016 |archive-date=April 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402065705/https://louisvilleky.gov/events/disneys-lion-king |url-status=live }}</ref> and featured songs from both the movie and ''Rhythm of the Pride Lands'', along with three new compositions by Elton John and Tim Rice. Mark Mancina did the musical arrangements and new orchestral tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-03-ca-49687-story.html|title=Disney's Great Leap|date=November 3, 1997|access-date=April 13, 2014|author=Pacheco, Patrick|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=April 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414052432/http://articles.latimes.com/1997/nov/03/entertainment/ca-49687|url-status=live}}</ref> To celebrate the African culture background the story is based on, there are six indigenous African languages sung and spoken throughout the show: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Congolese.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Mark |title=Inside a special Black History Month rite at 'The Lion King' |work=abcNEWS |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/inside-special-black-history-month-rite-lion-king-83042562}}</ref> The musical became one of the most successful in Broadway history, winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical, and despite moving to the Minskoff Theatre in 2006, is still running to this day in New York, becoming the third longest-running show and highest grossing Broadway production in history. The show's financial success led to adaptations all over the world.<ref name=schu/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/75222-Long-Runs-on-Broadway|title=Long Runs on Broadway|work=Playbill|author1=Nason-Brown, Jennifer |author2=Playbill Staff |date= January 19, 2014|access-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125114615/http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/75222-Long-Runs-on-Broadway|archive-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www2.broadwayworld.com/grossescumulative.cfm?sortby=totaltotalGross&orderby=desc| title = Cumulative Broadway Grosses by Show| website = BroadwayWorld.com| access-date = February 9, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140111204548/http://www2.broadwayworld.com/grossescumulative.cfm?sortby=totaltotalGross&orderby=desc| archive-date = January 11, 2014| url-status=dead}}</ref>

''The Lion King'' inspired two attractions retelling the story of the film at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The first, "The Legend of the Lion King", featured a recreation of the film through life-size puppets of its characters, and ran from 1994 to 2002 at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/vintage-walt-disney-world-legend-of-the-lion-king/|title=Vintage Walt Disney World: Legend of the Lion King|date=July 7, 2011|author=Rasmussen, Nate|publisher=Disney Parks|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=April 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415002145/http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/vintage-walt-disney-world-legend-of-the-lion-king/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another that is still running is the live-action 30-minute musical revue of the movie, "Festival of the Lion King", which incorporates the musical numbers into gymnastic routines with live actors, along with animatronic puppets of Simba and Pumbaa and a costumed actor as Timon. The attraction opened in April 1998 at Disney World's Animal Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/animal-kingdom/festival-of-the-lion-king/|title=Festival of the Lion King|publisher=Walt Disney World|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091556/https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/entertainment/animal-kingdom/festival-of-the-lion-king/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in September 2005 in Hong Kong Disneyland's Adventureland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/parks/listing?name=AdventurelandAttractionListingPage|title=Adventureland — Attractions & Entertainment |publisher=Hong Kong Disneyland|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210205830/http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/parks/listing?name=AdventurelandAttractionListingPage|archive-date=December 10, 2011}}</ref> A similar version under the name "The Legend of the Lion King" was featured in Disneyland Paris from 2004 to 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-annual-report-2004.pdf|pages=26–7|title=EURO DISNEY S.C.A.: Annual Report 2004|publisher=Euro Disney|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701224921/http://corporate.disneylandparis.com/CORP/EN/Neutral/Images/uk-annual-report-2004.pdf|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlpguide.com/guidebook/disneyland-park/discoveryland/videopolis-theatre/|title=Videopolis Theatre|publisher=DLPGuide|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=June 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628081624/http://www.dlpguide.com/guidebook/disneyland-park/discoveryland/videopolis-theatre/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Clear}}

==See also== * Cultural depictions of lions * ''Atlantis: The Lost Empire'' and ''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' controversy, a similar plagiarism controversy

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==Bibliography== {{Refbegin|30em}} * {{cite journal |last=Chandler |first=David |title=Creating ''The Lion King'': Story development, authorship and accreditation in the Disney Renaissance |journal=Journal of Screenwriting |year=2018 |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=329–345 |doi=10.1386/josc.9.3.329_1|s2cid=192049630 |doi-access=free }} * {{cite book |last=Finch |first=Christopher |title=The Art of The Lion King |publisher=Hyperion |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-7868-6028-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/the-art-of-the-lion-king_202302}} * {{cite book |last1=Geirland |first1=John |last2=Keidar |first2=Eva Sonesh |title=Digital Babylon: How the Geeks, the Suits, and the Ponytails Fought to Bring Hollywood to the Internet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykpK7s3PmoMC |year=1999 |publisher=Arcade Publishing |isbn=978-1-559-70483-0}} * {{cite book |last=Koenig |first=David |title=Mouse Under Glass: Secrets of Disney Animation & Theme Parks |chapter=The Lion King |url=https://archive.org/details/mouseunderglasss0000koen |location=Irvine, California |publisher=Bonaventure Press |pages=227–232 |isbn=978-0-96406-051-7 |year=1997 |url-access=registration}} * {{cite book |last1=Kroyer |first1=Bill |last2=Sito |first2=Tom |editor=Diamond, Ron |title=On Animation: The Director's Perspective—Volume 1 |chapter=Roger Allers Interview |year=2019 |publisher=CRC Press |pages=255–292 |isbn=978-1-138-06653-3}} * {{cite book |last=Neuwirth |first=Allan |title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-58115-269-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/makintoonsinside0000neuw |url-access=registration}} * {{cite book|last=Stewart|first=James B.|title=DisneyWar|year=2005|url=https://www.archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0/|publisher=Simon & Schuster|location=New York|isbn=0-684-80993-1|author-link=James B. Stewart}} {{Refend}}

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/the-lion-king}} * {{AFI film|60348|The Lion King}} * {{IMDb title|title=The Lion King|id=0110357}} * {{TCMDb title|81469|The Lion King}} * {{DisneyAtoZ|title=''The Lion King''}}

{{Navboxes |title = ''The Lion King'' |list = {{The Lion King}} {{Rob Minkoff}} {{Roger Allers}} {{Linda Woolverton}} {{Don Hahn}} {{Disney Renaissance}} {{Disney theatrical animated features}} {{Walt Disney Animation Studios}} {{Elton John}} {{Tim Rice}} {{Hamlet}} }} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for ''The Lion King'' |list = {{Annie Award for Best Animated Feature}} {{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}} {{GoldenGlobeBestMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1981–2000}} {{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children}} {{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie}} {{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}} }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lion King, The}} Category:The Lion King (franchise) films Category:1990s children's animated films Category:1990s coming-of-age films Category:1990s musical drama films Category:1994 adventure films Category:1994 American animated films Category:1994 children's films Category:1994 controversies Category:1994 directorial debut films Category:1994 English-language films Category:1994 films Category:3D animated films Category:3D re-releases Category:American animated musical films Category:American children's animated adventure films Category:American children's animated drama films Category:American children's animated musical films Category:American coming-of-age drama films Category:American epic films Category:American films about revenge Category:American films based on plays Category:American IMAX films Category:American musical drama films Category:Animated adaptations of William Shakespeare Category:Animated coming-of-age films Category:Animated films about birds Category:Animated films about coups d'état Category:Animated films about father–son relationships Category:Animated films about friendship Category:Animated films about hyenas Category:Animated films about kings Category:Animated films about lions Category:Animated films about mammals Category:Animated films about meerkats Category:Animated films about monkeys Category:Animated films about pigs Category:Animated films about talking animals Category:Animated films set in Tanzania Category:Best Animated Feature Annie Award winners Category:Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe winners Category:Disney controversies Category:Disney Renaissance Category:English-language adventure films Category:English-language musical comedy-drama films Category:Fiction about fratricide Category:Fiction about regicide Category:Films about outlaws Category:Films about siblicide Category:Films adapted into comics Category:Films adapted into plays Category:Films adapted into television shows Category:Films based on Hamlet Category:Films directed by Rob Minkoff Category:Films directed by Roger Allers Category:Films involved in plagiarism controversies Category:Films produced by Don Hahn Category:Films scored by Hans Zimmer Category:Films that won the Best Original Score Academy Award Category:Films that won the Best Original Song Academy Award Category:Films with screenplays by Brenda Chapman Category:Films with screenplays by Burny Mattinson Category:Films with screenplays by Chris Sanders Category:Films with screenplays by Gary Trousdale Category:Films with screenplays by Irene Mecchi Category:Films with screenplays by Joe Ranft Category:Films with screenplays by Jonathan Roberts (writer) Category:Films with screenplays by Linda Woolverton Category:Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award–winning films Category:Obscenity controversies in animation Category:Obscenity controversies in film Category:Plagiarism controversies Category:Satellite Award–winning films Category:United States National Film Registry films Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios films Category:Walt Disney Pictures animated films Category:Walt Disney Pictures films Category:World record holders Category:Xenofiction films