Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu shows one lion's journey from cub to king; violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lion
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LION follows Kio, a lion cub growing up in East Africa, from eight weeks old through his journey toward becoming the king of his pride. Over four years, viewers watch him navigate family relationships, predators, rival lions, loss, exile, and the challenges of surviving in the wild.
Is It Any Good?
Gorgeous cinematography, sweeping African landscapes, and a score by Hans Zimmer give the series a cinematic quality that makes Kio's story immediately evoke the spirit of The Lion King. The wildlife footage is remarkable, capturing not only Kio and his pride but also an incredible variety of African animals, including monkeys, meerkats, and warthogs, just like the animated classic. The most memorable moments, however, are the intimate ones, such as Kio cautiously leaving his den for the first time, roughhousing with his older brothers, and working up the courage to approach and snuggle with the pride's imposing leader. It's a beautiful, immersive nature series that combines the emotional storytelling of a family adventure with the sometimes harsh realities of life in the wild.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents watching Lion with their children can talk about how the series sometimes feels a lot like The Lion King. What similarities do you notice in the story, characters, and settings? Why do you think filmmakers often tell stories about animals in ways that resemble human family dramas?
The filmmakers use music, close-up shots, and a continuing storyline to make Kio feel like a character in a movie. How do those choices influence which animals you root for, especially when one animal has to kill another to survive?
What makes Kio's story compelling even though we know the filmmakers can't control what happens to him? How does following one animal over several years change the way you think about wildlife compared with watching a traditional nature documentary made up of unrelated animal footage?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 20, 2026
- Cast : O.J. Lynch
- Network : Disney+
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : August 25, 2026
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