Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Visually stunning remake is darker, more violent.
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The Lion King
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 79 parent reviews
Parents say that while the movie is visually stunning and has received praise for its realistic portrayal of the animals and newer music, it is considered emotionally flat compared to the original. Many reviews highlight its darker and more intense scenes, raising concerns about its suitability for younger audiences, with some expressing disappointment over the changes made to beloved moments and songs.
- visuals impressive
- darker than original
- not kid-friendly
- emotionally flat
- changes controversial
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 109 kid reviews
What's the Story?
The story of THE LION KING remake is nearly identical to that of the 1994 original: King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) and Queen Sarabi (Alfre Woodard) of the Pride Lands have a baby cub whom they name Simba (JD McCrary) and present to the other animals as their future king. As a young cub, Simba is adventurous and allows his jealous Uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to convince him to engage in risky, life-threatening behavior, like venturing into hyena territory and practicing his roar in the vicinity of a wildebeest stampede. When (spoiler alert!) Mufasa is violently killed after saving Simba from the rampaging wildebeests, Scar encourages Simba to run away, and then ascends to the throne himself with help from the hyenas. Meanwhile, Simba befriends a comedic duo: feisty meerkat Timon (Billy Eichner) and his warthog best pal, Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), who have a "no worries" approach to life. Later, as a nearly grown lion, Simba (Donald Glover) is reacquainted with an old friend who forces him to confront whether he can return home and challenge Scar.
Is It Any Good?
With its impressive visuals and well-cast voice ensemble, this remake is charming but darker and more Shakespearean than the original. Disney's live-action adaptations have yielded mixed results, but this one benefits from the legendary music, the gravitas of Jones' voice as Mufasa, and a standout cast across the board. Ejiofor's performance as Scar is particularly wonderful, which is no surprise, considering his classical dramatic training. Glover and Beyoncé have good voice chemistry in the final act of the movie, and she—as you'd expect—is perfectly fierce sounding. And Eichner and Rogen are quite funny as the latest incarnation of Timon and Pumbaa ... until it's time for Rogen to sing, and then audiences might wonder why an actual singer wasn't hired. Since a big part of the joy of the movie is the musical performances, Rogen's casting is a bit of a head scratcher. But he mostly makes up for his lack of singing prowess with his comedic timing and banter with Eichner.
The realistic animation is technologically impressive, but it intensifies the violence to an unexpected degree. The snarling hyenas are positively creepy, even though they, too, occasionally have lighthearted one-liners. And there's a greater horror in seeing Mufasa's demise unfurl here than in the original animation. This remake is also more overtly Shakespearean, with its Hamlet-like themes and characters. Bottom line? While entertaining and enjoyable, this remake doesn't offer much memorable original content aside from Beyoncé's new song, "Spirit," and a few lines of dialogue. Despite its stunning effects and all-star cast, the movie doesn't fully live up to the hype of modernizing the classic for a new generation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence and scariness in The Lion King. Does the realistic animation affect the impact or intensity of the violence? Why, or why not?
Why doesn't the idea of "hakuna matata" or "no worries" always work? Can anyone get through life without a little worry and conflict?
Which characters do you consider role models? How do the characters in The Lion King demonstrate courage, perseverance, and humility? Why are these important character strengths?
For those familiar with Hamlet, what did you think of the story's Shakespearean elements? Does Scar's English accent add to that sense? Why do you think only a couple of characters have English accents?
How do Mufasa and Scar represent two opposing kinds of rulers/governments?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 19, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : October 22, 2019
- Cast : Donald Glover , James Earl Jones , Beyoncé , John Oliver , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Seth Rogen , Billy Eichner , Alfre Woodard
- Director : Jon Favreau
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Humility , Perseverance
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee , Kids' Choice Award , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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