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The Lion King

The Lion King

Animation · Family · Drama · 1994

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.

Movie details

The Lion King

“The greatest adventure of all is finding our place in the Circle of Life.”

1994 Animation · Family · Drama 1h 29m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

8.3 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Lion King?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Bambi

Bambi

Animation · 1942

Bambi's tale unfolds from season to season as the young prince of the forest learns about life, love, and friends.

Bambi II

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Return to the forest and join Bambi as he reunites with his father, The Great Prince, who must now raise the young fawn on his own. But in the adventure of a lifetime, the proud parent discovers there is much he can learn from his spirited young son.

The Lion King

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The Little Mermaid

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This colorful adventure tells the story of an impetuous mermaid princess named Ariel who falls in love with the very human Prince Eric and puts everything on the line for the chance to be with him. Memorable songs and characters -- including the villainous sea witch Ursula.

Kubo and the Two Strings

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Kubo mesmerizes the people in his village with his magical gift for spinning wild tales with origami. When he accidentally summons an evil spirit seeking vengeance, Kubo is forced to go on a quest to solve the mystery of his fallen samurai father and his mystical weaponry, as well as discover his own magical powers.

A Tooth Fairy Tale

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Animation · 2025

Van, the brave son of a tooth fairy leader, meets the goblins girl Gemma on his first mission. Despite the myths about ancient disputes between fairies and goblins, they share common values. When the greedy Spider Queen threatens both tribes, they must work together.

The King of Kings

The King of Kings

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Charles Dickens tells his young son Walter the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice.

Mufasa: The Lion King

Mufasa: The Lion King

Adventure · 2024

Mufasa, a cub lost and alone, meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of a group of misfits searching for their destiny.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

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Whether we’re young or forever young at heart, the Hundred Acre Wood calls to that place in each of us that still believes in magic. Join pals Pooh, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger and Christopher Robin as they enjoy their days together and sing their way through adventures.

Tarzan

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Animation · 1999

Tarzan was a small orphan who was raised by an ape named Kala since he was a child. He believed that this was his family, but on an expedition Jane Porter is rescued by Tarzan. He then finds out that he's human. Now Tarzan must make the decision as to which family he should belong to...

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Roger Allers · Rob Minkoff

Written by

Linda Woolverton · Irene Mecchi · Jonathan Roberts · Rick Maki

Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick

Simba (voice)

Moira Kelly

Moira Kelly

Nala (voice)

Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons

Scar (voice)

Nathan Lane

Nathan Lane

Timon (voice)

Ernie Sabella

Ernie Sabella

Pumbaa (voice)

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones

Mufasa (voice)

Robert Guillaume

Robert Guillaume

Rafiki (voice)

Court is in session

Put The Lion King on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.