The Lion King (G)

Disney's tuneful king-of-the-beasts blockbuster.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Disney
  • Directed By: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
  • Cast: Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jonathan Taylor Thomas
  • Release Date: 06/24/1994
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 10/07/2003
  • Genre: Family and Kids
  • MPAA Rating: G
  • MPAA Explanation: general audiences

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the death of Mufasa by trampling is genuinely scary. So are some fights among the animals.

Families can talk about facing your problems instead of running from them. Why doesn't the idea of "hakuna matata" or "no worries" always work? Can anyone get through life without a little worry and conflict?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main character learns to face his problems and learns how to be a good leader. The pack of hyenas (just like the crows in Dumbo) is voiced by minority characters, bringing some negative stereotypes to mind.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Some scary scenes, including death of parent. Animals fight one another ferociously.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

THE LION KING is the story of Simba (voice of Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a child, Matthew Broderick as an adult), the cub of Mufasa (James Earl Jones), the king of the jungle. Simba "just can't wait to be king." But his evil Uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons), bitterly jealous of Mufasa, wants to be king, so he arranges for Mufasa to be killed in a stampede and makes Simba think he is responsible. Simba runs away, and finds friends in Pumbaa the warthog (Ernie Sabella) and Timon the meerkat (Nathan Lane), who advise him that the best philosophy is "hakuna matata" (no worries). Simba grows up thinking he has escaped from his past, but his childhood friend, Nala finds him, and tells him that under Scar's leadership, the tribe has suffered badly.

Is it any good?

4

Sort of a cross between Richard III and Hamlet, The Lion King was not just a movie, but a marketing phenomenon: This blockbuster was the highest grossing film of 1994. Amazingly, it made even more money in merchandise than it did at the box office, a fact for which audiences have been paying ever since, as each subsequent Disney animated movie seems to be designed primarily as a commercial for teeshirts, lunchboxes, and action figures. The score, and the song "Circle of Life," with authentic African rhythms and instruments, won Oscars for Elton John and Tim Rice, and the movie later became a Broadway blockbuster.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 32 reviews.

Age 2+
5

Posted on 05/23/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great Movie!

Its a wonderful movie for young kids and families. although some scary scenes, but nothing to give your kids nightmares. for ages 3+
Age 5+
5


Posted on 05/05/08 by ninjaofthewind Adult contributor

The best Disney movie ever made.

This movie was absolutely beautiful. I saw this first when I was younger, and it touched so many emotions. I laughed aloud and cried bitterly. Little kids will be disturbed with the death of Mufasa, but that's part of what makes the movie so wonderful; Simba is able to overcome that and become king.
5


Posted on 03/09/08 by optimistic Kid contributor, age 12

Very cute, nice and good for all ages.

4


Posted on 12/18/07 by robomonkeyfan Kid contributor, age 12

An Amazing Movie

I really like this movie a lot, but the violence and theme is a little iffy. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves lions. I really enjoy it and I hope you would, too.
Age 5+
4


Posted on 11/05/07 by DexterSmith Adult contributor

The Lion King

Sexual Content (Not an Issue): None, but it's rumored that you can see some dust briefly form the word "sex" in one scene. Violence (Pause): A sad scene involving the death of a parent. Animals fight ferociously. Some slapstick style humor. Language (Not an Issue): None. Social Behavior (On): Simba learns to not run away from his problems. Some crude humor. Commercialism (Not an Issue): None. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Not an Issue): None.
4


Posted on 01/12/07 by zeal Kid contributor, age 6

zeal - age of 6

Not good for kids that are 0 up to 3. But I liked it.
5


Posted on 12/13/06 by ttfan147 Kid contributor, age 13

a great life lesson

if you dont give this well thought out movie a positive rating, you must hate kids movies. GOOD movies for that matter. this movie is one of my all-time favorites, and would be a shame to see people degrade such a moving film. there are some iffy parts, but you can learn a lesson: timon stood up for his friend, and that is what everyone should do.
4

Posted on 11/23/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Not a G equivalent movie

There are several scary scenes that makes the film inappropriate for kids.
Age 5+
5


Posted on 11/15/06 by Sara06Marie Adult contributor

I love this movie.

This movie came out when I was six years old, I believe. It was the first movie I ever remember seeing in a theatre, and I absolutely LOVED it. It was filled with good, clean humor. I've watched it several hundred times (literally) since I was six years old and I still love it. Given, I cried about the first two or three hundred times I saw it, but that's because Mufasa died and that was sad.
Age 5+
4

Posted on 10/10/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great for discussing good/bad behavior with children

Like with any movie, it is best if an adult watches The Lion King with his/her child. It is the perfect movie to discuss with your child the social implications brought about by Scar's versus Mufasa's behavior, and later on, Simba's behavior. I enjoyed discussing this with my 5.5 year old and helping shape his problem-solving skills.

See all 32 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 19 reviews.

Age 2+
5

Posted on 05/23/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great Movie!

Its a wonderful movie for young kids and families. although some scary scenes, but nothing to give your kids nightmares. for ages 3+
Age 5+
5


Posted on 05/05/08 by ninjaofthewind Adult contributor

The best Disney movie ever made.

This movie was absolutely beautiful. I saw this first when I was younger, and it touched so many emotions. I laughed aloud and cried bitterly. Little kids will be disturbed with the death of Mufasa, but that's part of what makes the movie so wonderful; Simba is able to overcome that and become king.
Age 5+
4


Posted on 11/05/07 by DexterSmith Adult contributor

The Lion King

Sexual Content (Not an Issue): None, but it's rumored that you can see some dust briefly form the word "sex" in one scene. Violence (Pause): A sad scene involving the death of a parent. Animals fight ferociously. Some slapstick style humor. Language (Not an Issue): None. Social Behavior (On): Simba learns to not run away from his problems. Some crude humor. Commercialism (Not an Issue): None. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Not an Issue): None.
Age 5+
5


Posted on 11/15/06 by Sara06Marie Adult contributor

I love this movie.

This movie came out when I was six years old, I believe. It was the first movie I ever remember seeing in a theatre, and I absolutely LOVED it. It was filled with good, clean humor. I've watched it several hundred times (literally) since I was six years old and I still love it. Given, I cried about the first two or three hundred times I saw it, but that's because Mufasa died and that was sad.
Age 5+
4

Posted on 10/10/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great for discussing good/bad behavior with children

Like with any movie, it is best if an adult watches The Lion King with his/her child. It is the perfect movie to discuss with your child the social implications brought about by Scar's versus Mufasa's behavior, and later on, Simba's behavior. I enjoyed discussing this with my 5.5 year old and helping shape his problem-solving skills.
Age 11+
1


Posted on 05/23/06 by MamaMegan Adult contributor

An awful awful movie

I cannot understand why this movie has ever gotten positive reviews. It is horrifying and obscenely violent. The uncle's meanness, deceit, and manipulation are better suited to adult psycho-dramas than a kids movie. I deeply regret ever showing this movie to my 5 yr old. Awful.
Age 2+
5


Posted on 07/29/05 by Liz Perle Adult contributor

GREAT!

i love this movie! but yes, there are some scarier scenes with death..
Age 8+
4


Posted on 07/26/05 by JediQueen Adult contributor

Good but violent.

This movie is good but the last scenes and even some of the first are a little scary and depressing. The end battle is very violent and we see blood fly every time a lion gets hit. this movie also has a bit of a somber mood but it is sucessfully broken with Timon and Pummba they are both great for the kids. This Move also contains a strong Nazi reference but this won't affect the kids, but you might find your child goose stepping be warned.
Age 5+
5


Posted on 07/15/05 by sarah_from_yale Adult contributor

Best Disney Movie Ever

The Lion King has to be my all-time favorite Disney movie. The songs are amazing and the plot is entertaining. The characters are well-formed, and the lines are still hilarious even the 50th time around. Although there are some scary parts, there's nothing too overwhelming. The talents of some of the actors voicing the characters (especially Whoopi Goldberg as Shanzi, the hyena) make the movie worth seeing for them alone.
Age 5+
3

Posted on 06/15/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

See all 19 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 13 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/09/08 by optimistic Kid contributor, age 12

Very cute, nice and good for all ages.

4


Posted on 12/18/07 by robomonkeyfan Kid contributor, age 12

An Amazing Movie

I really like this movie a lot, but the violence and theme is a little iffy. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves lions. I really enjoy it and I hope you would, too.
4


Posted on 01/12/07 by zeal Kid contributor, age 6

zeal - age of 6

Not good for kids that are 0 up to 3. But I liked it.
5


Posted on 12/13/06 by ttfan147 Kid contributor, age 13

a great life lesson

if you dont give this well thought out movie a positive rating, you must hate kids movies. GOOD movies for that matter. this movie is one of my all-time favorites, and would be a shame to see people degrade such a moving film. there are some iffy parts, but you can learn a lesson: timon stood up for his friend, and that is what everyone should do.
4

Posted on 11/23/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Not a G equivalent movie

There are several scary scenes that makes the film inappropriate for kids.
5


Posted on 07/02/06 by mbruin22 Kid contributor, age 13

i cry every time i see this!

its my FAVORITE movie ever!! its sooo sad and happy!
5


Posted on 06/21/06 by DreamCatcher68 Kid contributor, age 16

It's a classic all right!

I saw this when I was 4. It is the best Disney film EVER. Beautiful re-telling of the "Hamlet" story. Yes, even though the death scene is a little scary for little kids, this movie is still worth the watch.
5


Posted on 03/30/06 by Jiles Kid contributor, age 14

I will ALWAYS LOVE this movie!

Best disney movie every! All ages should LOVE this movie!
4


Posted on 09/04/05 by Maddy Jay Kid contributor, age 11

5


Posted on 08/18/05 by sweetgirl12 Kid contributor, age 12

See all 13 kids reviews >
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