WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
It is the story you know and love, but reimagined as a National Geographic documentary where the lions forgot how to emote.
52%
52%View →The 2019 The Lion King is the definition of 'fine.' It’s a technical achievement that somehow feels less alive than the cartoon it’s based on. If your kid hasn't seen either, start with the 1994 original—it has way more heart, color, and actual character expression.
That said, if you're looking for a safe, high-production-value movie night that the whole family can sit through without anyone complaining, this fits the bill. It's essentially a very expensive karaoke version of a masterpiece.
Best for kids 6 and up. While toddlers might like the animals, the photorealistic intensity of the stampede and the hyena scenes can be genuinely frightening for the under-5 crowd.
It maintains the core themes of family loyalty and finding one's place, though the photorealistic style makes the emotional beats feel a bit more clinical than the hand-drawn original.
Technically a marvel of CGI, but narratively it's a shot-for-shot remake that takes zero risks and adds almost nothing new to the mythos.
Generally very safe, but the realistic animal violence and Mufasa's death are significantly more intense and potentially upsetting in this 'nature documentary' style than in the 1994 cartoon.
The 'Circle of Life' philosophy remains a solid entry point for talking about ecology and responsibility, even if the delivery here is a bit stiff.
Disney's 2019 'live-action' (it's actually 100% digital) remake of The Lion King is a fascinating case study in 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should.' By chasing total realism, director Jon Favreau sacrificed the very thing that made the original work: the ability for the characters to emote.
When Simba is grieving, his face remains a static, realistic lion face. In the 1994 version, his eyebrows, eyes, and mouth conveyed a depth of human sorrow that kids immediately connected with. Here, you have to rely entirely on the voice acting to know how anyone is feeling. It’s a weirdly detached experience.
The movie is saved from being a total slog by Timon and Pumbaa. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner clearly had some room to riff, and their chemistry provides the only moments where the film feels like it’s breathing on its own. Their version of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' is a genuine highlight.
If you have a kid who is obsessed with animals or Planet Earth, they will likely be mesmerized by the fur grooming and the way the light hits the savanna. But for kids who want a story they can feel, this version might leave them a bit cold. It’s a movie that is easier to admire than it is to love.
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