A young lion prince named Simba is cast out of his pride by his cruel uncle, who claims he killed his father. While the uncle rules with an iron paw, the prince grows up beyond the Savannah, living by a philosophy: No worries for the rest of your days. But when his past comes to haunt him, the young prince must decide his fate: Will he remain an outcast or face his demons and become what he needs to be?
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
June 15, 1994 |
Running time |
88 minutes |
Genre |
Animation Adventure Drama Musical |
Budget |
$45,000,000 |
Box Office |
$968,511,805 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Roger Allers Rob Minkoff |
Produced by |
Don Hahn |
Written by |
Irene Mecchi Jonathan Roberts Linda Woolverton |
Music by |
Hans Zimmer (Score) Elton John (Songs) |
Cinematography |
N/A (Animation) |
Edited by |
Ivan Bilancio |
Production Co. |
Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Feature Animation |
Distributed by |
Buena Vista Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #01 in The Lion King Collection
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The Plot
The Circle of Life and a Royal Disagreement
In the vast lands of Africa, the animals of the Pride Lands gather to witness a momentous occasion at Pride Rock. Rafiki, a wise mandrill shaman, anoints Simba, the newborn cub of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi. He lifts the young prince high into the air for all the kingdom to see, celebrating the continuation of the "Circle of Life." However, not everyone celebrates the new arrival. Mufasa's younger brother, Scar, is noticeably absent from the ceremony, seething with resentment that Simba’s birth has displaced him as the heir to the throne.
Shortly after, Mufasa confronts Scar in his cave regarding his failure to attend the presentation. Scar feigns innocence but displays blatant disregard for his brother's authority and the traditions of the kingdom. When Mufasa warns Scar not to turn his back on him, Scar retort slyly that Mufasa is the one who should not turn his back. When asked if he is challenging the king, Scar smoothly backs down, claiming he wouldn't dream of it because, while he possesses the intellect, he lacks the brute strength for a physical fight. Mufasa is left wondering what to do with his envious brother.
Lessons on Kingship and Forbidden Lands
Months later, Simba has grown into a curious and energetic young cub. Mufasa takes him to the summit of Pride Rock to explain the responsibilities of kingship. He tells his son that everything the light touches is their kingdom and that a king's time rises and sets like the sun. Mufasa explains the delicate balance of the "Circle of Life," which connects all living things, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope. During the tour, Simba notices a shadowy place in the distance. Mufasa sternly warns him that it is beyond their borders and he must never go there.
The lesson is interrupted when Zazu, the king's hornbill majordomo, arrives with news that hyenas have invaded the Pride Lands. Mufasa orders Zazu to take Simba home while he rushes off to handle the threat. Later, the cunning Scar plays on Simba’s curiosity. He "accidentally" reveals that the forbidden shadowy place is actually an Elephant Graveyard, implying only the bravest lions go there. Captivated by the idea of danger, Simba decides to investigate.
The Elephant Graveyard and the Stars
Simba convinces his best friend, Nala, to accompany him to the water hole, secretly planning to detour to the graveyard. Sarabi allows them to go but insists that Zazu chaperone them. The cubs, finding Zazu’s fussiness overbearing, manage to lose him during a musical escapade where Simba boasts that he "just can't wait to be king." Freed from supervision, Simba and Nala venture into the dark, skeletal landscape of the Elephant Graveyard.
Their adventure turns terrifying when they are cornered by three spotted hyenas—Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed—who are secretly in league with Scar. The hyenas chase the cubs through the bones, intending to kill them. Just as the hyenas close in, Mufasa arrives, alerted by Zazu. With a mighty roar, he fights off the hyenas and warns them to never come near his son again. On the way home, Mufasa sends Nala and Zazu ahead and admonishes Simba for disobeying him and putting Nala in danger. After the stern lecture, Mufasa softens and teaches Simba about the stars, explaining that the Great Kings of the Past look down from the night sky to guide them, promising that he, too, will one day be there to watch over his son.
Scar's Treachery and the Stampede
Scar, undeterred by the failed attempt on Simba's life, solidifies a pact with the hyenas. He promises that if they help him kill Mufasa and Simba, they will "never go hungry again." Under the guise of a song, "Be Prepared," Scar rallies a massive army of hyenas to execute a coup. The next day, Scar lures Simba into a deep gorge, telling him to wait there for a "marvelous surprise" from his father. He advises the cub to work on his "little roar" while he waits.
At Scar’s signal, the hyenas chase a massive herd of wildebeest into the gorge, creating a deadly stampede. Scar rushes to Mufasa, feigning panic, and claims Simba is trapped in the stampede. Mufasa races to the gorge and plunges into the dust and thundering hooves to rescue his son. He manages to throw Simba to safety on a ledge but is swept back into the herd. Struggling against the current of bodies, Mufasa desperately climbs the sheer rock wall. He reaches the top where Scar is waiting and begs his brother for help. Scar digs his claws into Mufasa’s paws, whispers chillingly, "Long live the king," and throws Mufasa backward into the gorge to his death.
Exile and a New Regime
Once the stampede passes, Simba descends into the gorge and finds his father's lifeless body. He tries to wake Mufasa, but soon realizes the truth, curling up beside him in tears. Scar approaches the grieving cub and manipulates him, convincing Simba that Mufasa’s death was caused by his carelessness. "Run away, Simba. Run. Run away and never return," Scar commands. Terrified and guilt-ridden, Simba flees. Scar immediately orders the hyenas to kill the cub. Simba barely escapes through a thicket of thorns; the hyenas, unwilling to pursue him into the wasteland, yell that they will kill him if he ever returns.
That night, Scar returns to Pride Rock and delivers the false news that both Mufasa and Simba perished in the stampede. As the pride mourns, Scar ascends the throne as the new king and invites the hyenas into the Pride Lands, fulfilling his dark promise. The once-balanced kingdom falls into darkness.
Hakuna Matata
Simba collapses from exhaustion in the desert wasteland, where buzzards begin to circle him. He is rescued by Timon, a wise-cracking meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warm-hearted warthog. The duo scares off the vultures and revives the young lion with water. When they ask Simba why he is alone, he refuses to share the details of his past, believing he has done something unforgivable. To help him move on, Timon and Pumbaa introduce him to their philosophy: "Hakuna Matata," which means "no worries."
Simba embraces this carefree lifestyle, living in the lush jungle with his new friends and surviving on a diet of bugs. Years pass, and Simba grows into a strong young adult lion, seemingly content to leave his past behind forever.
The Return of Nala
One day, Pumbaa is stalking a beetle when he is suddenly hunted by a hungry lioness. Timon tries to help, but they are cornered until Simba rushes in to defend them. He wrestles the lioness, but she flips him using a familiar move, and he realizes it is Nala. They reunite joyfully, much to the confusion of Timon and Pumbaa. As Simba and Nala spend time together, realizing their childhood friendship has blossomed into romance ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"), Nala urges him to return home.
Nala reveals that under Scar’s tyrannical reign, the Pride Lands have become a barren wasteland. There is no food or water, and the herds have moved on. She demands Simba take his rightful place as king, but Simba, still haunted by the belief that he killed his father, refuses. He argues that he cannot change the past and storms off, leaving Nala disappointed and angry.
The King Within
Alone and conflicted, Simba calls out to the sky, feeling abandoned by Mufasa. He is approached by Rafiki, who has tracked him down. The eccentric mandrill tells Simba he knows his father and that Mufasa is "alive." Intrigued, Simba follows Rafiki to a magical pool. Looking into the water, Simba sees his own reflection, which Rafiki urges him to look harder at until it resembles Mufasa.
Suddenly, Mufasa’s ghost appears in the storm clouds above. He tells Simba that he has forgotten who he is and, by extension, has forgotten his father. "Remember who you are," the spirit commands, reminding Simba that he is the one true king. As the vision fades, Simba realizes he can no longer run from his past. Energized, he decides to return to Pride Rock. Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa catch up to him, pledging to help him fight for his home.
The Battle for Pride Rock
Upon arriving, the group is horrified to see the Pride Lands stripped of life and filled with hyena bones. While Timon and Pumbaa create a diversion to distract the hyena guards, Simba and Nala sneak toward Pride Rock. There, Scar is arguing with Sarabi, blaming the lionesses for the lack of food. When Sarabi compares Scar unfavorably to Mufasa, Scar strikes her in a rage. Simba appears on the ledge, roaring in defense of his mother. Scar is terrified, initially mistaking Simba for Mufasa's ghost.
Simba helps his mother up and confronts his uncle, demanding he step down. Scar, cornered but manipulative, forces Simba to admit to the pride that he was responsible for Mufasa's death. The revelation shocks Sarabi and Nala. Capitalizing on Simba's guilt, Scar backs him to the edge of Pride Rock, just as lightning ignites a fire below. As Simba dangles helplessly over the flames, Scar leans in and whispers the truth: "I killed Mufasa."
Truth and Justice
Enraged by the confession and the memory of his father's murder, Simba finds a surge of strength and pins Scar to the ground. He forces Scar to repeat the truth loud enough for the entire pride to hear. Realizing they have been deceived, the lionesses attack the hyenas. A chaotic battle ensues, with Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, and the liberated Zazu joining the fight against Scar’s forces.
Simba chases Scar to the summit of Pride Rock. Cornered, Scar attempts to beg for mercy, blaming the entire plot on the hyenas, calling them "the enemy." Unbeknownst to him, the surviving hyenas overhear this betrayal. Simba, refusing to stoop to Scar's level, spares his life but commands him to leave: "Run. Run away and never return." Scar pretends to obey but suddenly throws burning embers in Simba’s face and attacks. The two lions engage in a fierce duel. Simba eventually uses the leverage move Nala taught him to throw Scar over the cliff edge.
The Rightful King Restores the Land
Scar survives the fall but finds himself surrounded by Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, and the other hyenas. He tries to talk his way out of it, but the hyenas, fed up with his lies and betrayal, attack him, mauling him to death as the fire consumes the area. With the threat gone, the rain begins to fall, extinguishing the flames.
Simba is greeted by Nala and Sarabi, and he embraces his friends. He walks up the promontory of Pride Rock as the rain washes away the dust of the past. Hearing his father’s voice say "Remember," Simba lets out a mighty roar, and the lionesses roar in reply. Over time, the Pride Lands flourish once again, returning to a lush green paradise. The story concludes with the animals gathering once more at Pride Rock, where Rafiki presents Simba and Nala’s newborn cub, continuing the eternal Circle of Life.
