The Lion King (1994) Review

Let’s show y’all some trailers, shall we?

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My Thoughts:

Welcome to one of the most iconic animated films of all time: The Lion King. This movie is a gorgeous blend of Shakespearean tragedy, African landscapes, breathtaking animation, and some of the most memorable music Disney has ever put out. It’s basically Hamlet with lions, except Hamlet didn’t have a warthog and meerkat singing about farts.

The maturity of this film cannot be understated either. For a children’s movie, The Lion King is incredibly dark and emotionally layered. The tone of the film is heavy, often poetic, and it touches on themes like grief, guilt, betrayal, and legacy. The stampede scene alone is pure trauma fuel (we’ll get to that in spoilers), and the villain’s end? Let’s just say it’s not a soft Disney farewell. The whole movie feels way more mature than people remember, and that’s why it still hits hard.

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Plot Rundown:

Simba, son of the mighty lion king Mufasa, is destined to rule the Pride Lands. But his treacherous uncle Scar has other plans. After a devastating betrayal that sends Simba running into exile, he grows up under the carefree mantra of “Hakuna Matata.” Eventually, he must confront his past and return home to claim his rightful place as king.

Also here’s the opening scene.

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Characters and Cast:

Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick as an adult, Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a cub) – Our protagonist who goes through a deeply emotional arc of loss and redemption.

Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) – The iconic father figure. You can hear the wisdom and power in every syllable he speaks.

Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) – The ultimate Disney villain. Smooth-talking. Manipulative. Cruel. And terrifyingly calm.

Nala (voiced by Moira Kelly) – Simba’s childhood friend and later queen.

Timon and Pumbaa (Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella) – Scene-stealers. Their humor, heart, and dynamic friendship with Simba give the film both levity and soul.

Rafiki (Robert Guillaume) – The spiritual guide of the Pride Lands. Wise and wonderfully unhinged.

Zazu (Rowan Atkinson) – Mufasa’s uptight assistant.

The Hyenas: Shenzi (Whoopi Goldberg), Banzai (Cheech Marin), and Ed (Jim Cummings) – The cackling chaos trio who serve Scar, until they don’t…

Scar deserves a special mention here. He’s not just evil—he’s cunning, patient, and stone-cold. The fact that he murders his own brother, lies to a child, manipulates others with grace, and then throws his minions under the bus makes him easily one of the most wicked villains in Disney’s lineup.

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PROS:

Stunning animation that still holds up decades later.

A soundtrack that shaped childhoods and adult emotional trauma.

I mean just take a look at one of my favorite musical parts of the film, I can’t wait to be king.

Characters you deeply care about.

Scar. Just… Scar.

The balance between humor and heartbreak is perfectly struck.

CONS:

(None. What cons? You come into The Lion King slander-free or not at all.)

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Final Thoughts:

The Lion King is the gold standard of Disney storytelling. It’s bold, emotional, terrifying, funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at once. From the sweeping African vistas to the fiery final battle, it’s pure cinematic magic. This is Disney at its absolute peak.

Now before we get to the rating, let’s share some trivia:

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Here’s a list of my favorite soundtracks.

Trivia Time:

Jeremy Irons blew out his voice while singing “Be Prepared.” The second half of the song had to be finished by Jim Cummings, the voice of Ed the hyena (and Winnie the Pooh, because duality).

Scar’s death was so dark it pushed the PG boundary, as it involves implied cannibalism by his own former allies.

The film was pitched as Bambi in Africa meets Hamlet. Shakespeare fans will see the clear Hamlet inspiration—right down to the ghost-dad moment and the evil uncle.

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Rating: 10/10

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Spoiler Warning!

Y’all been warned. The Pride Lands have no mercy.

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Spoilers:

🐾 Be Prepared

One of the most iconic villain songs in Disney history, Be Prepared is where Scar truly cements himself as a manipulative, theatrical, and terrifying force. It’s not just a musical number — it’s a damn declaration of war. He doesn’t just want to be king; he plans it with military-level precision and gleeful menace.

Scar rallies the hyenas with a dramatic performance, backed by eerie green lighting and goosebump-inducing visuals that echo propaganda imagery. Flames flare, shadows dance, and hyenas goose-step in formation. It’s unsettling in the best way — theatrical villainy at its peak.

Jeremy Irons delivers most of the vocals with venomous elegance, but here’s a fun fact: partway through the recording, Irons blew out his voice. The production team had to bring in Jim Cummings — the voice of Ed the hyena and Winnie the Pooh, weirdly enough — to finish the singing. And honestly? The transition is so seamless most people never even noticed. That’s how well-produced the track is.

This moment is all about power, control, and manipulation. Scar isn’t the strongest — but he’s the smartest in the room, and “Be Prepared” proves just how dangerous brains and bitterness can be.

Let’s start with one of the most traumatic scenes in animation history:

The Stampede Scene: Scar sets Simba in a gorge and triggers a wildebeest stampede. Mufasa dives in to save his son in an unforgettable action sequence. But as Mufasa climbs to safety, Scar grabs his paws and utters the coldest line in Disney history: “Long live the king.” He throws Mufasa to his death. Then he convinces Simba it was all his fault. Cue generations of emotional damage.

Rafiki & the Spirit of Mufasa: Later, Rafiki tracks down adult Simba and brings him to a pool where Mufasa’s ghost appears in the clouds. Mufasa tells him: “Remember who you are.” It’s one of the most powerful moments in the entire film and pushes Simba to finally accept his destiny.

Timon & Pumbaa’s Luau Distraction: As Simba and Nala sneak into Pride Rock, Timon and Pumbaa agree to distract the hyenas. Timon dons a hula skirt and sings a luau song, asking the hyenas if they’d like to eat him. It’s hilarious and perfectly timed comedic relief.

Final Fight: Simba confronts Scar at Pride Rock. Scar tries to blame the hyenas for everything once he realizes he’s losing. Big mistake. After a fierce and fiery battle, Simba forces Scar to confess the truth to everyone, then spares his life. Scar, ever the snake, attacks him anyway. Simba defeats him a second time, sending him down the rock where he’s cornered by the hyenas. Scar begs for mercy, sputtering “No, you don’t understand!” but Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed aren’t having it.

Scar’s Final Words: “Ahh, my friends.”

Shenzi: “Friends? I thought he said we were the enemy!”

Scar is eaten alive as the flames engulf them. It’s brutal and haunting and incredibly earned.

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The Ending: Simba climbs to the top of Pride Rock in the rain and lets out a roar. The music swells. The skies clear. The Pride Lands are restored. Rafiki presents Simba and Nala’s newborn cub. The circle of life continues.

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Conclusion: This film didn’t just shape childhoods, it defined Disney’s golden era. It’s got betrayal, humor, heartbreak, lions, ghosts, existential crises, fart jokes, and Shakespearean drama. If that ain’t art, I don’t know what is.

Long live The Lion King.