“The Lion King,” a Disney Media Franchise, commemorated its 26th anniversary this past June. It is a genuine archetypal that can captivate audiences of all ages. The first Lion King film in the series was produced in 1994.

According to Environment Weekly, there were more than 600 animators involved in the production of “The Lion King” including animators, technicians, and other crucial figures. In fact, every moment was arduously explored, reorganized, and refined again which cost a lot of money, time, and a lot of headaches. And here’s the result – the great movie “The Lion King.”

The key to its success comes from its skilfully constructed characters who frequently walk and act like their real-life equivalents. The real-life lions were brought to the studio for the animators to study.

Beyond expectations, “The Lion King” movie proved immensely profitable and is the best-selling VHS of all time. The Lion Guard is an American animated television series based on Disney’s 1994 film “The Lion King.”

The original Lion King was remade with the same title, “The Lion King,” in 2019. Its other sequels include “The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride” composed in the year 2008 and “The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata” made in the year 2004.

All The Lion King Movies In Order of Release Date

• The Lion King (1994)
• The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998)
• The Lion King 1½ (2004)
• The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King (1994)

“The Lion King” film is a Disney Media franchise, directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff in 1994. This 88-minute animated movie is full of adventure and drama. Its star cast includes Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, and Whoopi Goldberg.

It is the 32nd Disney animated feature film produced during the Disney Renaissance.

The story takes place when Simba a lion cub anxiously waits to be crowned, after his proud father and mighty King Mufasa, becomes the target of his wicked uncle Scar. Scar induces father and son into a stampede of wildebeests, in which Mufasa is killed and plans Simba’s exile. Prince Simba searches for his destiny in the great “Circle of Life.” The young adult lion, Simba returns back to take joy reigns of Savanna with the help of his friends Timba and Pumbaa.

“The Lion King” is lauded as the “Jewel of Animation.” It has a great plot, funny and fascinating characters, and the most celebrated soundtrack. It has breathtaking animation, and the story will leave you in tears. The African Savanna music in the movie is adorable. The songs like ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ and ‘Hanuka Matata’ are heavenly and memorable.

The Lion King films are always a great getaway idea for people looking to watch brilliant animated films

The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998)

“The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride” or “The Lion King Two: Simba’s Pride,” the second movie in the series is an 81-minute animated, direct-to-video musical romantic drama movie, full of adventure and comedy directed by Darrell Rooney. The cast of the movie encompasses Matthew Broderick, Neve Campbell, Andy Dick, and Robert Guillaume.

“The Lion King II” is the sequel to Disney’s 1994 animated feature film, “The Lion King.” It is the second installment in The Lion King Trilogy. Its plot is influenced by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The movie centers on Simba and Nala’s daughter Kiara who has fallen in love with Kovu, a miscreant lion from banished pride once loyal to Simba’s evil uncle, Scar.

When Kovu feels a conflict between his mission to attack Simba and his feelings for Kiara, then Rafiki, a baboon introduces them to upendi means love, helping the two lions to fall in love. Kovu asks Simba for forgiveness but he was exiled. Kiara flees to search Kovu. On finding Kovu, both decide to reunite the two prides.

A scathing hostility between Simba’s pride and the outcast pride spearheaded by the counterpart of Scar is resolved by Simba’s daughter. The outsiders were welcomed back into the Pride Lands.

Though the movie received mixed to negative reviews initially, in later years the movie experienced a positive transvaluation. It received an average rating of 6/10. The music was lacking and not remotely equal to the original soundtrack. The movie suffers from a heavy dose of familiarity but still, it is a pretty decent film.

The Lion King 1½ or The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (2004)

This adventurous and musical comedy movie of 77-minute duration is directed by Bradley Raymond and its star cast comprises Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Julie Kavner, and Jerry Stiller. It is a direct-to-video film produced by the Australian branch of Disneytoon studios and released on February 10, 2004.

The Hakuna Matata movie is the third and final installment released in The Lion King’s Trilogy.

The story of “The Lion King” produced in 1994, was retold by Lion King’s Timon the meerkat and Pumba the warthog from their own standpoint. The plot of the movie resembles the plot of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard, where the story of Hamlet is retold from standpoint of two characters.

The greatest unsung Savannah heroes, Timon, and his windy comrade disclose from their own loud frame of mind, where they came from, how they supported Simba’s rescue of the Serengeti, and what really happened behind the scenes of “The Lion King’s Biggest events.”

The movie received an average rating of 6.4/10. The quality of the animation is surprisingly impressive. The movie’s soundtrack album includes two original songs: ‘Diggah Tunnah’ and ‘That’s All I Need.’ The soundtrack also consists of various covers of pop songs: ‘Grazing in the Grass’ and ‘Jungle Boogie.’

The Lion King (2019)

This animated Disney film is packed with music, adventure, and drama, and of 118-minute duration is directed by Jon Favreau. Its stars include Donald Glover, Beyonce, Seth Rogen, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

Herculean and mighty lion Mufasa (James Earl Jones) rules the animal kingdom and its cub young Simba (JD Mc Crary) is next in line to the throne. But Mufasa’s malicious brother Scar wanted to sit on Pride Rock. So he kills Mufasa and blames Simba for the assassination. A young lion prince has to leave his kingdom on the charge of murdering his father. Simba makes new friends who themselves were outlaws, the meerkat Timon(Billy Eichner), and warthog Pumba(Seth Rogen), from whom Simba learned to enjoy life day-by-day i.e. ‘Hakuna Matata’ and learns the true meaning of responsibility and courage.

When Simba is fully grown up, he is found out by his beloved old Nala (Beyonce) who endorses him to return to Pride Rock and challenge Scar. The grown-up Simba (Donald Glover) refuses, but he agrees when enigmatic monkey Rafiki (John Kani) persuades him saying that Mufasa is watching from above. Simba defeats Scar and retakes the Lion Throne.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics. It is highly praised for its visual effects, music, and vocal performances. But it is criticized for its lack of originality and facial emotion of the characters. The few widely acknowledged songs of the first “The Lion King” utilized in a totally altered form in this remade movie do not fit well.

Visually, the truly amazing shots like lifelike fireflies edifying the face of Raiki with African sunset background and the prime opening scene ‘The Circle of Life’ are nostalgic and stunning. The animals are way too true to life.

It has become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. It has also become the seventh-highest-grossing movie of all time and the second-highest-grossing movie of 2019.

All the Disney Lion King movies received wide appreciation from the audience for their animation, visual effects, soundtrack, and voice modulation.

More BuddyTV Movie Suggestions

Looking for more movies to watch like this series? Check out more BuddyTV movie suggestion lists:

• Percy Jackson Movies in Order
• Aladdin Movies in Order (Best Way to Watch Them)
• Watch “The Chronicles of Narnia” (film series) Movies in Order

The post The Lion King Movies In Order (How to Watch the Film Series) appeared first on BuddyTV.