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Celluloid
AnimationFamilyDrama Editor's Pick

The Lion King Review (1994) — 83% Celluloid Score

Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff · 1994 ·

Short answer

Is The Lion King worth watching?

Yes. The Lion King (1994) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating
89% Audience snapshot · excluded
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 29m
Age rating
G (US) · U (UK) · G (Australia) · G (Canada) · ALL (South Korea)
Cast
Matthew Broderick , Moira Kelly , Jeremy Irons , Nathan Lane , Ernie Sabella , James Earl Jones , Robert Guillaume , Rowan Atkinson , Jim Cummings , Whoopi Goldberg
Streaming
Disney+
Language
English

Also known as El rey león Le Roi lion Der König der Löwen O Rei Leão ライオン・キング 라이온 킹 狮子王 獅子王

Where to watch

  • Disney+

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Lion King by country

Country Streaming on
India Disney+ Hotstar
Indonesia Disney+
Japan Disney+
Malaysia Disney+
South Korea Disney+
Thailand Disney+
Turkey Disney+
United Kingdom Disney+
United States Disney+

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded animation, family, drama pick
  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is The Lion King worth watching?

    Yes — The Lion King earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded animation, family, drama pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #38 (8.5/10) — The Lion King remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is The Lion King about?

    Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English The Lion King

    The Lion King (1994) Review: Shakespeare on the Savanna

    The Lion King is Disney's hand-drawn coming-of-age epic about a lion cub and a scheming uncle, a family film with real grief, great songs and a superb villain.

    Yes. It remains one of the finest animated films Disney has made, ideal for families with children around six and up and for adults revisiting it.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    The Lion King stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    The Lion King production still 1
    The Lion King production still 2
    The Lion King production still 3
    The Lion King production still 4
    The Lion King production still 5
    The Lion King production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    The Lion King: frequently asked questions

    Is The Lion King worth watching?

    Yes. The Lion King (1994) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch The Lion King?

    In the United States, The Lion King streams on Disney+ with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Disney+ Hotstar in India; Disney+ in Indonesia; Disney+ in Japan; Disney+ in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is The Lion King?

    The Lion King runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

    What is The Lion King rated?

    The Lion King is rated G in the United States, U in the UK, G in Australia, G in Canada and ALL in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in The Lion King?

    The Lion King is directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff and stars Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella.

    What is the Metascore for The Lion King?

    Metacritic's Metascore for The Lion King is 81 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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