The Lion King (1994)

Tricked into thinking he killed his father, a guilt ridden lion cub flees into exile and abandons his identity as the future King.

Directors:

Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

Writers:

Irene Mecchi (screenplay), Jonathan Roberts (screenplay),

Stars:

Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons

Top 250 #75 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jonathan Taylor Thomas	...	Young Simba (voice)
Matthew Broderick	...	Adult Simba (voice)
James Earl Jones	...	Mufasa (voice)
Jeremy Irons	...	Scar (voice)
Moira Kelly	...	Adult Nala (voice)
Niketa Calame	...	Young Nala (voice)
Ernie Sabella	...	Pumbaa (voice)
Nathan Lane	...	Timon (voice)
Robert Guillaume	...	Rafiki (voice)
Rowan Atkinson	...	Zazu (voice)
Madge Sinclair	...	Sarabi (voice)
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Shenzi (voice)
Cheech Marin	...	Banzai (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Cummings	...	Ed (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Additional Voices (voice)

Storyline

A lion prince, Simba, is born in Africa and the animals of the Pride Lands pay tribute. Later Simba is told by his father, King Mufasa, that when Mufasa dies, Simba will become King of the Pride Lands. Simba's Uncle Scar would have been king after Mufasa had Mufasa not had a child. Fuelled by rage, Scar plots to kill Mufasa and Simba so he is able to take over the throne. He uses the hyenas to cause a stampede through the canyon where Mufasa and Simba are, and personally ensures Mufasa falls to his death. Simba survives so Scar implies that the stampede was Simba's fault and that the pride will blame him. Simba flees the Pride Lands meaning never to return home. Simba is found, collapsed with exhaustion, by Timon the Meerkat, and Pumbaa the Warthog, and the trio become fast friends. Simba stays with them well into adulthood until his childhood friend, Nala, hunting beyond the Pride Lands that herds had deserted under Scar's mismanagement stumbles upon Simba's new home. Astonished to ...

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Plot Keywords:

scar | king | prince | lion | africa | 

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Taglines:

See it for the first time ever in 3D (2011 3D re-release)

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swahili Xhosa Zulu

Release Date:

24 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Lion King 3D

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$47,585 (South Africa) (17 January 2003)

Gross:

$422,783,777 (USA) (13 January 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song that Rafiki sings, 'Asante sana Squash banana, Wewe nugu mimi hapana' is Swahili for "Thank you very much, Squash banana, You're a baboon and I'm not." Simba asks, "What's that supposed to mean anyway?" and Rafiki says, "It means you're a baboon and I'm not." This is a popular children's song similar to "Cinderella, dressed in yella" for example.

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Goofs

When Timon files down one of Simba's claws you can clearly see that it is very short, but in another scene, shortly after where Simba eats a grub, you can see the same claw at the same size it was before being filed down, having had no time to regrow.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Scar: [Scar catches a mouse] Life's not fair, is it? You see, I... well, I shall never be king. And you... shall never see the light of another day. Hmm-hmm-hmm, adieu.
Zazu: Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?

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Crazy Credits

Nico Golfar is also credited as "Score Wrangler".

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Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 12 July 2011 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Circle of Life"
(1994)
Written by Tim Rice (uncredited) and Elton John (uncredited)
Arranged and Produced by Hans Zimmer
Performed by Carmen Twillie
African Vocals Performed by Lebo M.
Background Singer by Rodney Saulsberry (uncredited)
Chorus: Maxi Anderson, Terry Bradford, Johnny Britt, Baby Cele,
Lucky Cele, Rick Charles, Gugwana Dlamini, Kevin Dorsey,
, Wendy Fraser, Linda Gcwensa, Clydene Jackson (as Clydene Jackson), Matoab'sane Jali,
, Kuyanda Jezile, Bob Joyce, Faith Kekana, Sphiwe Khanyile,
, Faca Khulu, Stella Khumalo, Skhumbuzo Kubheka, Thembi Kubheka, Ron Kunene,
, James Langa, Edie Lehmann, Rick Logan, Tsidi Manye, Khanyo Maphumulo,
, Abner A. Mariri, Myrna Matthews, Batho Mhlongo, Vusi Mhlongo,
, Nonhlanhla Mkhize, Thembi Mtshali, Bheki Ndlovu, Nandi Ndlovu,
, Bongani Ngcobo, Nini Nkosi, Bobbi Page, Phindile, Rick Riso,
, Philile Seme, Alfie Silas, Happy Skhakhane, Kipizane Skweyiya,
, Sindisiwe Sokhela, Susie Stevens-Logan (as Susan D. Stevens), Khuluiwe Sthole (as Khuluiwe S'thole),
, Thandazile, Carmen Twillie, Sam Vamplew, Julia Waters, Luther Waters (as Luther N. Waters),
, Maxine Waters Willard (as Maxine Waters), Oren Waters, John West,
, Yvonne Williams, Terry Young, Zolile Zulu

User Reviews

This is what kid's movies should be like...

I find it hard to believe that kid's movies these days will ever be called classics in years to come (excluding Pixar movies). In my mind, this is the last classic hand drawn film, and it upsets me that I have to wait for another five years for it to come out on DVD. This film deals with great issues and involves a huge conflict for the main character, something that recent kid/family films lack. It is funny and lighthearted when it should be, and heartfelt and serious when it needs it. I believe that everybody should see this movie, regardless of your age. It may just be the last good movie that Disney will ever do without the help of Pixar.