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The Lion King (1994)
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Musical king-of-the-beasts blockbuster is powerful, scary.
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The Lion King (1994)
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Based on 79 parent reviews
This movie is perfect!
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What's the Story?
THE LION KING is the story of Simba (voiced by Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a child and 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's 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 that he has escaped 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?
One of Disney's biggest hits, this excellent film has echoes of Shakespeare, bringing to mind the plots of both 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. Of course kids won't know -- or care -- about that; they'll just be enthralled by the memorable songs and great characters.
The scene in which cub Simba's father, Mufasa, is trampled to death, is both sad and genuinely scary. And some of the fights between animals later in the movie can be frightening as well. But the lesson Simba learns -- that you have to stand up to your problems instead of running away from them -- is a solid one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about facing your problems instead of running from them as Simba does in The Lion King. Why doesn't the idea of "hakuna matata" or "no worries" always work? Can anyone get through life without a little worry and conflict?
Talk about the violence and scariness in this movie. What was the most disturbing part? How would the movie be different without the intense moments? How did music and other factors contribute to the intense scenes?
How do the characters in The Lion King demonstrate courage, perseverance, and humility? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 15, 1994
- On DVD or streaming: October 4, 2011
- Cast: Ernie Sabella , Jeremy Irons , Matthew Broderick , Nathan Lane
- Directors: Rob Minkoff , Roger Allers
- Inclusion Information: Gay actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Friendship , Music and Sing-Along , Wild Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage , Humility , Perseverance
- Run time: 89 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Awards: Academy Award , Golden Globe
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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