TheReviewMonk is back — critic reviews for Indian cinema, aggregated. Read our story →

TheReviewMonk
The Lion King backdrop

The Lion King

19 July 2019English1h 58mPart 1 of The Lion King series
AdventureAnimationDramaFamily
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 2 not rated

Visually stunning but emotionally hollow remake of a beloved classic.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: groundbreaking visual effects and CGI
  • Criticised: lacks original film's emotional depth

Audience

User score 5.5 out of 10 from 2 ratings, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

Top cast

Full cast & crew

Critic consensus

What 8 critics are saying

Critical reception for the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King is mixed-to-positive, with reviewers largely united in acknowledging its extraordinary visual effects and technical achievement, with several describing it as a landmark in CGI filmmaking. However, a recurring criticism is that the film's near-faithful recreation of the 1994 original leaves it feeling narratively hollow, lacking the emotional resonance and charm of its source material. Some critics found the photorealistic approach, while impressive, came at the cost of the heart and character expressiveness of the original animation. The film is broadly recommended for families and those unfamiliar with the original, but veteran fans may find it an underwhelming retread.

How the 6 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

From the papers

Critic reviews (8)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    A faithful remake...In The Lion King, the technology Jon Favreau wields has got another update, to deliver every single, wind-blown hair in the beautiful manes of Simba and Mufasa.

  2. Top critic

    Film Companion

    Film review ·

    The original The Lion King had gorgeous hand-drawn animation, oodles of charm and a great, beating heart. This one is almost a frame-to-frame remake

  3. IBNLive

    Film review ·

    Jon Favreau's Version is a Charming Jungle Fable...The Lion King's newest version without a shadow of a doubt is a marvel of creative technology. It is the sort of film that parents would like to take their kids to watch over the weekend.

  4. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    For those who haven't seen the original, 'The Lion King' (2019) is certainly worth a watch for its gorgeous visuals and technical genius and one's catching it in Hindi will have Shah Rukh Khan and Aryan Khan adding their spark.

  5. DNA India

    Film review ·

    The child in me was too excited but as an adult I was left wanting for a little more than what I witnessed. 'Hakuna Matata' take your child or inner child along while watching the film!

  6. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    A monument to Hollywood excess; the greatest visual effects spectacle since Avatar...Disney's latest, big-budget remake is a narratively bankrupt, towering monument to Hollywood excess. It's also the greatest achievement in VFX since Avatar.

  7. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    While it is visually pleasing, director Jon Favreau's all-new adaption does not carry near as much weight as the original classic.

  8. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    The new adaptation is a loyal tribute to the 1994 original, though a few outdated tropes could well have been reinterpreted

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

2 ratings · user score 5.5

  1. Shashwat SisodiaSept 2019
    4/10

    'The Lion King' has some goods- the visuals are really far from the artificiality and each detail of the furs and leaves is high-magnification deep. The dubbing convinces although its no Nathan Lane and Moira Kelly magic. But I wished the film was shorter. Despite the length exactly half and hour longer than the original, it doesn't reinterpret anything extra. The film also seems to worked up- coming straight out of the torn 1994 pages of the script, even skipping some glorious moments and sinking so much teeth on the visuals that forgetting the vision the film had. Jon Favreau of the very amazing 2016 better-than-original CGI drive 'The Jungle Book' has directed it, but I for one can't believe. It's just a 2 for 'The Lion King'. But the Hindi version is much, much better.

    Report

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

Director

Screenplay

Cinematography

You may also like

English films like The Lion King

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.