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==Reception== ===Box office=== {{As of|2024|7|23|df=US}}, ''The Lion King'' grossed $425 million in North America and $553.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $979 million.<ref name="mojo">{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=0110357|title=The Lion King (1994)|access-date=July 23, 2024|archive-date=July 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240724030323/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0110357/|url-status=live}}</ref> After its initial run, having earned $763.5 million,<ref name="lion-initial">{{cite web |title=The Lion King (1994): Original Release |website=Box Office Mojo|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr1310020101/|access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> it ranked as the [[List of highest-grossing animated films#Highest-grossing animated films|highest-grossing animated film of all time]], the highest-grossing film of [[Walt Disney Animation Studios]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/frozen-becomes-highestgrossing-disney-animated-film-of-all-time-9058069.html|title=Frozen becomes highest-grossing Disney animated film of all time|work=The Independent|author=Hooton, Christopher|date=January 14, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407205444/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/frozen-becomes-highestgrossing-disney-animated-film-of-all-time-9058069.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[1994 in film#Highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of 1994]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1994&p=.htm|title=1994 WORLDWIDE GROSSES|access-date=September 26, 2011|archive-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928105321/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1994&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the [[List of highest-grossing films|second-highest-grossing film of all time]], behind ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' (1993).<ref name="TheMovieYear">{{cite news |last=Natale |first=Richard |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-30-ca-14702-story.html |title=The Movie Year: Hollywood Loses Its Middle Class |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 30, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123164750/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-30-ca-14702-story.html |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film remained as the second-highest-grossing film until the spot was taken by ''[[Independence Day (1996 film)|Independence Day]]'' (1996) two years later.<ref>{{cite web |title="You Can't Actually Blow Up the White House": An Oral History of 'Independence Day' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/independence-day-movie-cast-oral-history-1234976626/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=July 2, 2021 }}</ref> It finished as the 5th highest grossing [[1990s in film|film of the 1990s]] domestically.<ref>{{cite web| title=Domestic Box Office By Decade - 1990s| url=http://www.boxofficereport.com/domestic1990s.html|work=Box Office Report |access-date=July 14, 2024}}</ref> It held the record for the highest-grossing animated feature film (in North America, outside North America, and worldwide) until it was surpassed by ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' (2003). With the earnings of the 3D run, ''The Lion King'' surpassed all the aforementioned films but ''[[Toy Story 3]]'' (2010) to rank as the second-highest-grossing animated film worldwide—later dropping to ninth, and then tenth, surpassed by its photorealistic CGI remake counterpart—and it remains the highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film.<ref name="crown">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3274&p=.htm|title=Weekend Report: 'Lion King' Regains Box Office Crown|author=Subers, Ray|date=September 19, 2011|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403220734/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3274&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also the biggest animated movie of the last 50 years in terms of estimated attendance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3272&p=.htm|title=Forecast: 'Lion King' to Roar Again|author=Gray, Brandon|date=September 16, 2011|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404223012/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3272&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Lion King'' was also the highest-grossing G-rated film in the United States from 1994 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2019 until its total was surpassed by ''[[Toy Story 4]]'' (2019) (unadjusted for inflation).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=G&p=.htm|title=Top Grossing G Rated at Box Office Mojo|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=August 18, 2019|access-date=September 1, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003513/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/domestic/mpaa.htm?page=G&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ====Original theatrical run==== During the first two days of limited release in two theaters, ''The Lion King'' grossed $622,277, and for the weekend it earned nearly $1.6 million, placing the film in tenth place at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-20-ca-6420-story.html|title='Wolf,' 'Lion King' Grab the Movie-Goers|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 20, 1994|author=Natale, Richard|access-date=April 5, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304054050/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-20/entertainment/ca-6420_1_lion-king|url-status=live}}</ref> The average of $793,377 per theater stands as the largest ever achieved during a weekend,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/theateravg.htm?page=THTRAVG&p=.htm|title=Top Weekend Theater Averages|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=September 26, 2011|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919155141/http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/theateravg.htm?page=THTRAVG&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and it was the highest-grossing opening weekend on under 50 screens, beating the record set by ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) from 43 screens.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Daily Variety]]|date=September 20, 1994|page=24|title=All-Time Opening Weekends: 50 Screens or Less}}</ref> The film grossed nearly $3.8 million from the two theaters in just 10 days.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Domestic Box Office|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 27, 1994|page=10}}</ref> When it opened wide, ''The Lion King'' grossed $40.9 million—which at the time was the fourth biggest opening weekend ever and the highest sum for a Disney film—to top the weekend box office. It displaced the previous box office champion ''[[Wolf (1994 film)|Wolf]]'', while also topping ''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]'' and ''[[Wyatt Earp (film)|Wyatt Earp]]''.<ref name="maneattraction" /><ref>{{cite news |title='Lion King' rules nation's box office |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/27/Lion-King-rules-nations-box-office/8015772689600/ |access-date=February 13, 2022 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=June 27, 1994 |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213141317/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/06/27/Lion-King-rules-nations-box-office/8015772689600/ |url-status=live}}</ref> At that time, it easily outgrossed the previous biggest 1994 opening, which was the $37.2 million earned by ''[[The Flintstones (film)|The Flintstones]]'' during the four-day [[Memorial Day]] weekend. The film also produced the third-highest opening weekend gross of any film, trailing only behind ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' (1993) and ''[[Batman Returns]]'' (1992).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-28-9406280249-story.html|title='Lion King' Opening with Box Office Roar|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=June 28, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125151611/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-06-28-9406280249-story.html|archive-date=January 25, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> For five years, the film held the record for having the highest opening weekend for an animated film until it was surpassed by ''[[Toy Story 2]]'' (1999).<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Rick |title=Those Toys Are Leaders In Box-Office Stampede |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/29/movies/those-toys-are-leaders-in-box-office-stampede.html |access-date=March 25, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=November 29, 1999 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319232310/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/29/movies/those-toys-are-leaders-in-box-office-stampede.html |url-status=live}}</ref> For its second weekend, ''The Lion King'' collected a total of $34.2 million, outgrossing the openings of ''[[The Shadow (1994 film)|The Shadow]]'', ''[[Blown Away (1994 film)|Blown Away]]'' and ''[[I Love Trouble (1994 film)|I Love Trouble]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-lion-king-ex/158027387/ |title='Lion King' extends its rule |date=July 7, 1994 |access-date=October 29, 2024 |page=40 |publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref> It remained the number-one box office film for a total of two weeks until it was displaced by ''[[Forrest Gump]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-08-ca-13380-story.html|title='Forrest Gump' Off to Fast Start at Box Office|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 8, 1994 }}</ref> followed by ''[[True Lies]]'' the week after.<ref name="Powerhouse">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-18-ca-17141-story.html|title=Powerhouses Fuel Sales at Box Office|date=July 18, 1994|work=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20100726023014/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-18/entertainment/ca-17141_1_true-lies|archive-date=July 26, 2010|access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> In September 1994, Disney pulled the film from movie theaters and announced that it would be re-released during [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] in order to take advantage of the holiday season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hofmeister|first=Sally|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/13/business/disney-to-put-lion-king-into-early-hibernation.html|title=Disney to Put 'Lion King' Into Early Hibernation|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 13, 1994|access-date=July 18, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719002134/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/13/business/disney-to-put-lion-king-into-early-hibernation.html|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref> At the time, the film had earned $267 million in the United States.<ref name="mojo" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Boyar |first=Jay |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-11-18-9411170228-story.html |title=Disney's 'Lion King' Returns For Another Reign At Theaters |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 18, 1994 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015200752/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-11-18/entertainment/9411170228_1_simba-lion-king-mufasa |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Upon its re-release in November 1994, it earned $5.5 million during its first weekend, ranking in fourth place behind ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'', ''[[Interview with the Vampire (film)|Interview with the Vampire]]'' and ''[[The Santa Clause]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-22-ca-165-story.html|title=Weekend Box Office : Appealing to All 'Generations'|website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 22, 1994 }}</ref> Following its re-release, by March 1995, it had grossed $312.9 million,<ref name="mojo"/> being the highest-grossing 1994 film in the United States and Canada, but was soon surpassed by ''Forrest Gump''.<ref name="movies">{{cite web|url=http://movies.go.com/boxoffice?cat=1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326022707/http://movies.go.com/boxoffice?cat=1994|archive-date=March 26, 2008 |title=Top 50 movies of 1994|website=[[Movies.com]]|access-date=March 17, 2009}}</ref> [[Box Office Mojo]] estimates that the film sold over 74 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 31, 2016|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|title=The Lion King (1994)|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804215905/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> equivalent to $812.1 million adjusted for inflation in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Lion King (1994) – Domestic Total Adj. Gross (2018) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lionking.htm&adjust_yr=2018&p=.htm |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=22 June 2019 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235112/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3730736641/weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Internationally, the film grossed $455.8 million during its initial run, for a worldwide total of $763.5 million.<ref name="lion-initial" /> It had record openings in Sweden and Denmark.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 28, 1994|page=17|title='King' breaks records in Euro bows|last=Groves|first=Don}}</ref> ===Critical response {{anchor|Critics}}=== ''The Lion King'' was widely praised by film critics upon release.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=December 19, 2024 |title='Mufasa: The Lion King' Review: Squeaking, Not Roaring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101152049/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review.html |archive-date=January 1, 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |quote=The first movie ... opened in 1994 to acclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Keeley |first=Pete |date=July 22, 2019 |title=Big Little Lions: Disney's New 'Lion King' Dodges the 'Kimba' Similarity Issue |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lion-king-kimba-white-lion-does-disney-need-come-clean-1225822/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218193819/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lion-king-kimba-white-lion-does-disney-need-come-clean-1225822/ |archive-date=December 18, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |quote=On June 24, 1994, Walt Disney Pictures released The Lion King to rapturous audiences and even more rapturous critical acclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lachnit |first=Carroll |date=July 2, 1994 |title='Lion King' Too Violent for Little Viewers? : Movies: Disney's opus has violence, treachery and a prolonged scene of a parent's death. Be prepared to face the wails of your children, some reviewers say. Bosh, say psychologists. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-02-ca-11169-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709212733/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-02-ca-11169-story.html |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=glowing reviews for “The Lion King,”}}</ref> On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Lion King'' has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} with an average score of {{RT data|average}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Emotionally stirring, richly drawn, and beautifully animated, ''The Lion King'' stands tall within Disney's pantheon of classic family films."<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=The Lion King (1994) |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}}|type=m|access-date={{RT data|access date}} |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916175141/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lion_king |url-status=live }}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> It also ranked 56th on Rotten Tomatoes' "Top 100 Animation Movies".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100 Animation Movies — Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies |work=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=May 9, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923072035/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies |archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[Weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]], the film received a score of 88 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="meta">{{cite Metacritic |id=the-lion-king |type=movie |title=The Lion King (1994) |access-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914212531/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-lion-king |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a rare "A+" grade on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |title=Why CinemaScore Matters for Box Office |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719145918/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/why-cinemascore-matters-box-office-225563/ |archive-date=July 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of a possible four and called it "a superbly drawn animated feature". He further wrote in his print review, "The saga of Simba, which in its deeply buried origins owes something to Greek tragedy and certainly to ''Hamlet'', is a learning experience as well as an entertainment."<ref name="tlkebertreview">{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=June 24, 1994 |title=The Lion King review |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708195259/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lion-king-1994 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2014 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |quote=Basically what we have here is a drama, with comedy occasionally lifting the mood.}}</ref> On the television program ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|Siskel & Ebert]]'', the film was praised but received a mixed reaction when compared to the previous Disney films. Ebert and his partner [[Gene Siskel]] both gave the film a "Thumbs Up", but Siskel said that it was not as good as ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' and that it was "a good film, not a great one".<ref>{{cite episode|first=Roger (host)|last=Ebert|first2=Gene (host)|last2=Siskel|url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=5412|title=Speed, The Lion King, The Endless Summer II, City Slickers II|series=Siskel & Ebert|season=8|number=39|date=June 11, 1994|access-date=September 30, 2020|via=SiskelEbert.org|url-status=live|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928081712/https://siskelebert.org/?p=5412}}</ref> Hal Hinson of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called it "an impressive, almost daunting achievement" and felt that the film was "spectacular in a manner that has nearly become commonplace with Disney's feature-length animations". However, he was less enthusiastic toward the end of his review saying, "Shakespearean in tone, epic in scope, it seems more appropriate for grown-ups than for kids. If truth be told, even for adults it is downright strange."<ref name="washingtonpost">{{cite news|last=Hinson|first=Hal|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 24, 1994|title=The Lion King review|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm|access-date=August 6, 2008|archive-date=November 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103221120/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/review96/lionkinghin.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised the film, writing that it "has the resonance to stand not just as a terrific cartoon but as an emotionally pungent movie".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 24, 1994|title=''The Lion King'' movie review|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1994/06/24/lion-king-0|access-date=August 12, 2008|archive-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617124341/http://www.ew.com/article/1994/06/24/lion-king-0|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' film critic [[Peter Travers]] praised the film and felt that it was "a hugely entertaining blend of music, fun, and eye-popping thrills, though it doesn't lack for heart".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Travers|first=Peter |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 14, 1994| title=''The Lion King'' movie review|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947315/review/5947316/the_lion_king|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429201931/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947315/review/5947316/the_lion_king|archive-date=April 29, 2008|url-status=dead| access-date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> [[James Berardinelli]] from [[Reelviews.net]] praised the film saying, "With each new animated release, Disney seems to be expanding its already-broad horizons a little more. ''The Lion King'' is the most mature (in more than one sense) of these films, and there clearly has been a conscious effort to please adults as much as children. Happily, for those of us who generally stay far away from 'cartoons', they have succeeded."<ref>{{cite web| last=Berardinelli| first=James| publisher=[[Reelviews.net]]| title=''The Lion King'' review| url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/l/lion_king.html| access-date=August 13, 2008| archive-date=December 1, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235129/https://preview.reelviews.net/movies/l/lion_king.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Steve Pond of ''The Washington Post'' reported that ''The Lion King'' failed to replicate the near-unanimous acclaim achieved by some of its predecessors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pond |first=Steve |date=December 26, 1994 |title=1994: A Soft-Focus Kind of Year |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/27/1994-a-soft-focus-kind-of-year/564b34eb-2f51-4f58-9df8-526c2e545933/ |url-access=registration |access-date=January 21, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Some reviewers still had problems with the film's narrative. [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' felt the film "is less of a piece than its revered predecessors and the first to have a core story noticeably less involving than its scintillating peripheral characters."<ref>{{cite news |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-15-ca-4277-story.html |title=Movie Review: 'The Lion King' and His Court Jesters |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 15, 1994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720153929/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-15-ca-4277-story.html |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[TV Guide]]'' wrote that while ''The Lion King'' was technically proficient and entertaining, it "offers a less memorable song score than did the previous hits, and a hasty, unsatisfying dramatic resolution."<ref>{{cite web| work=[[TV Guide]]| title=''The Lion King'' movie review| url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/lion-king/review/129956/| access-date=August 13, 2008| archive-date=May 22, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522154235/http://www.tvguide.com/movies/lion-king/review/129956| url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The New Yorker]]''{{'}}s Terrence Rafferty considered that despite the good animation, the story felt like "manipulat[ing] our responses at will", as "Between traumas, the movie serves up soothingly banal musical numbers and silly, rambunctious comedy".<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|author=Rafferty, Terrence| title=''The Lion King'' movie review|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/the_lion_king_minkoff| access-date=August 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218132505/https://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/the_lion_king_minkoff |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |url-access=limited}}</ref> ===Accolades=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! colspan="6" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | List of awards and nominations |- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;" ! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! Ref. |- | rowspan="4"| [[67th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]] | [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] | [[Hans Zimmer]] | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref name="Oscars1995">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995 |title=The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners |access-date=November 20, 2011 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109220937/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995 |archive-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"| [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] | "[[Can You Feel the Love Tonight]]" <br> Music by [[Elton John]]; <br> Lyrics by [[Tim Rice]] | {{won}} |- | "[[Circle of Life]]" <br> Music by Elton John; <br> Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | "[[Hakuna Matata (song)|Hakuna Matata]]" <br> Music by Elton John; <br> Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | [[American Music Awards of 1996|American Music Awards]] | [[American Music Award for Top Soundtrack|Top Soundtrack]] | ''[[The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)|The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]'' | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theamas.com/winners-database/?winnerKeyword=&winnerYear=1996 |title=Winners Database |publisher=[[American Music Awards]] |access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="6"| [[22nd Annie Awards|Annie Awards]] | colspan="2"| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] | {{won}} | rowspan="6" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://annieawards.org/legacy/22nd-annie-awards |title=22nd Annual Annie Awards |publisher=[[Annie Awards]] |access-date=June 6, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production|Best Achievement in Story Contribution]] | [[Brenda Chapman]] {{small|(Head of Story)}} | {{won}} |- | rowspan="3"| [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production|Best Achievement in Production Design]] | [[Mark Henn]] {{small|(Supervising Animator for "[[Simba|Young Simba]]")}} | {{nom}} |- | Scott F. Johnston {{small|(Artistic Supervisor – Computer Graphics)}} | {{nom}} |- | Andy Gaskill {{small|(Art Director)}} | {{nom}} |- | [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production|Best Achievement in Voice Acting]] | [[Jeremy Irons]] | {{won}} |- | [[Casting Society of America#Artios Awards|Artios Awards]] | Animated Voice-Over Casting | Brian Chavanne | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1995 |title=1995 Artios Awards |date=October 11, 1995 |access-date=November 24, 2017 |publisher=[[Casting Society of America]]}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards]] | Top Box Office Films | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | Most Performed Song from Motion Pictures | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" <br> Music by Elton John; <br> Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{won}} |- | [[BAFTA Interactive Awards]] | colspan="2"| DVD | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/interactive/online-learninglt;/refgt; |title=BAFTA Awards: Interactive in 2004 |publisher=[[BAFTA Interactive Awards]] |year=2004 |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| [[48th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]] | [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Original Film Music]] | Hans Zimmer | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1995/film |title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 1995 |publisher=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |access-date=September 16, 2016}}</ref> |- | [[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] | [[Terry Porter (sound engineer)|Terry Porter]], [[Mel Metcalfe]], [[David J. Hudson]], and [[Doc Kane]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 1994|Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]] | [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives |title=1988-2013 Award Winner Archives |publisher=[[Chicago Film Critics Association]] |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[Cinema Audio Society Awards]] | [[Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Animated|Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures]] | Terry Porter, Mel Metcalfe, David J. Hudson, and Doc Kane | {{nom}} | align="center"| |- | rowspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association|Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards]] | colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]] | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Film]] | {{won}} |- | rowspan="4"| [[52nd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]] | colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]] | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/lion-king-1994 |title=The Lion King (1994) |publisher=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score – Motion Picture]] | Hans Zimmer | {{won}} |- | rowspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song – Motion Picture]] | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" <br> Music by Elton John; <br> Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{won}} |- | "Circle of Life" <br> Music by Elton John; <br> Lyrics by Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| [[Motion Picture Sound Editors#Golden Reel Awards|Golden Reel Awards]] | [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR for Animated Feature Film|Best Sound Editing – Animated Feature]] | [[Richard L. Anderson (sound effects editor)|Richard L. Anderson]], Vince Caro, Doc Kane, and <br> [[Mark A. Mangini]] | {{won}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| |- | [[Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore|Best Sound Editing – Music]] | Dominick Certo and Adam Milo Smalley | {{won}} |- | rowspan="9"| [[37th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]] | rowspan="2"| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} | rowspan="9" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/37th-annual-grammy-awards |title=37th Annual GRAMMY Awards |publisher=[[Grammy Awards]] |access-date=May 1, 2011}}</ref> |- |"Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | [[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]] | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John | {{won}} |- | [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children|Best Musical Album for Children]] | ''The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' – <br> Various Artists | {{won}} |- | [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children|Best Spoken Word Album for Children]] | ''The Lion King Read-Along'' – [[Robert Guillaume]] | {{won}} |- | [[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals]] | "Circle of Life" – Hans Zimmer and [[Lebo M]]orake | {{won}} |- | [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television]] | ''The Lion King'' – Hans Zimmer | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television]] | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | "Circle of Life" – Elton John and Tim Rice | {{nom}} |- | [[International Film Music Critics Association|International Film Music Critics Association Awards]] | [[International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best New Archival Release of an Existing Score – Re-Release or Re-Recording|Best Archival Release of an Existing Score – Re-Release or Re-Recording]] | Hans Zimmer, Elton John, Tim Rice, Randy Thornton, <br> Lorelay Bové, and [[Don Hahn]] | {{nom}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2014-ifmca-awards/ |title=2014 IFMCA Awards |publisher=[[International Film Music Critics Association]] |access-date=December 18, 2021}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> |- | [[Kansas City Film Critics Circle|Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards]] | colspan="2"| Best Animated Film | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-1990-99/ |title=KCFCC Award Winners – 1990-99 |publisher=[[Kansas City Film Critics Circle]] |date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[1994 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]] | [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animation]] | [[Roger Allers]] and [[Rob Minkoff]] | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/1994.php |title=The 20th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |publisher=[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] |access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| [[1995 MTV Movie Awards|MTV Movie Awards]] | [[MTV Movie Award for Best Villain|Best Villain]] | Jeremy Irons | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |title=1995 Movie Awards Winners |publisher=[[MTV]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423094818/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/1995/ |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 30, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Moment|Best Song from a Movie]] | Elton John – "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" | {{nom}} |- | [[National Film Preservation Board]] | colspan="2"| [[National Film Registry]] | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://d23.com/a-to-z/national-film-registry/ |title=National Film Registry |publisher=[[D23 (Disney)|D23]] |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> |- | [[1995 Kids' Choice Awards|Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]] | colspan="2"| [[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie|Favorite Movie]] | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref name="Chicago Tribune 1">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-06-08-9506080010-story.html |title=Popular Vote |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |last=Mangan |first=Jennifer |date=June 8, 1995 |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Online Film & Television Association Awards | colspan="2"| Film Hall of Fame: Productions | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Productions |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref> |- | Film Hall of Fame: Songs | "Circle of Life" | {{won|Inducted}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-songs/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Songs |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=August 15, 2021}}</ref> |- | [[8th Golden Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]] {{small|(2003)}} | colspan="2" rowspan="2"| [[Satellite Award for Outstanding Youth Blu-Ray/DVD|Outstanding Youth DVD]] | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |title=International Press Academy website – 2004 8th Annual SATELLITE Awards |publisher=[[International Press Academy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |archive-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref> |- | [[16th Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards]] {{small|(2011)}} | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2011/ |title=2011 Satellite Awards |publisher=[[Satellite Awards]] |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| [[21st Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]] {{small|(1994)}} | colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]] | {{nom}} | rowspan="3" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |publisher=[[Saturn Awards]] |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914184217/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref> |- | [[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Performance by a Younger Actor]] | [[Jonathan Taylor Thomas]] | {{nom}} |- | [[30th Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]] {{small|(2003)}} | colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Classic Film DVD Release|Best Classic Film DVD Release]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Turkish Film Critics Association|Turkish Film Critics Association Awards]] | colspan="2"| Best Foreign Film | {{draw|16th Place}} | align="center"| |- | rowspan="4"| [[16th Youth in Film Awards|Young Artist Awards]] | colspan="2"| Best Family Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | {{won}} | rowspan="4" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms16.htm |title=16th Annual Youth in Film Awards |access-date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=[[Young Artist Award]]s |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820064811/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms16.htm |archive-date=2010-08-20}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| Best Performance by a Youth Actor in a Voice-Over – TV or Movie | Jonathan Taylor Thomas | {{nom}} |- | [[Jason Weaver]] | {{won}} |- | Best Performance by a Youth Actress in a Voice-Over – TV or Movie | Laura Williams | {{won}} |} ====Other honors==== In 2008, ''The Lion King'' was ranked as the 319th greatest film ever made by ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine,<ref name="Empire5">{{cite news |last=Braund |first=Simon |author2=Glen Ferris |author3=Ian Freer |author4=Nev Pierce |author5=Chris Hewitt |author6=Dan Jolin |author7=Ian Nathan |author8=Kim Newman |author9=Helen O'Hara |author10=Olly Richards |author11=Owen Willams |work=Empire |title=The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time |url=https://www.empireonline.com/500/34.asp |access-date=March 11, 2010 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104093241/http://www.empireonline.com/500/34.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> and in June 2011, [[Time (magazine)|''TIME'']] named it one of "The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films".<ref>{{cite news|title=The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films – The Lion King|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/23/the-25-all-time-best-animated-films/slide/the-lion-king-1994/|magazine=Time|access-date=August 19, 2011|author=Richard Corliss|date=June 23, 2011|archive-date=October 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022161020/http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/23/the-25-all-time-best-animated-films/slide/the-lion-king-1994/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2008, the [[American Film Institute]] listed ''The Lion King'' as the fourth best film in the animation genre in its [[AFI's 10 Top 10]] list,<ref>{{cite news | publisher =[[American Film Institute]] | title =AFI's 10 Top 10 | date =June 17, 2008 | url =http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html | access-date =June 18, 2008 | archive-date =June 19, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080619174154/http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html | url-status =live }}</ref> having previously put "Hakuna Matata" as 99th on its [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs]] ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090919175606/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|archive-date=September 19, 2009|title=The Top Movie Songs of All Time|access-date=May 22, 2008|author=American Film Institute|year=2004|format=PDF}}</ref> The film was ranked 66th in a ''Hollywood Reporter'' ranking of "Hollywood's Top 100 Movies of All Time" and the film ranked 86th in a BBC ranking of the "100 greatest American films."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. H. R. |date=2014-06-25 |title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/the-lion-king/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-20 |title=The 100 greatest American films |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{Cite press release|title=With "20,000 Leagues," the National Film Registry Reaches 700|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|date=December 23, 2016|access-date=November 23, 2020|agency=National Film Registry|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126213919/https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-16-209/with-20000-leagues-the-national-film-registry-reaches-700/2016-12-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> ====Year-end lists==== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} * 2nd – Douglas Armstrong, ''[[The Milwaukee Journal]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=Douglas|date=January 1, 1995|title=End-of-year slump is not a happy ending|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=2}}</ref> * 5th – Sandi Davis, ''[[The Oklahoman]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Sandi|date=January 1, 1995|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|title=Oklahoman Movie Critics Rank Their Favorites for the Year "Forrest Gump" The Very Best, Sandi Declares|work=The Oklahoman|access-date=July 20, 2020|archive-date=July 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720065431/https://oklahoman.com/article/2488350/oklahoman-movie-critics-rank-their-favorites-for-the-year-forrest-gump-the-very-best-sandi-declares|url-status=live}}</ref> * 5th – Todd Anthony, ''[[Miami New Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Anthony|first=Todd|date=January 5, 1995|title=Hits & Disses|newspaper=[[Miami New Times]]}}</ref> * 6th – [[Stephen Hunter]], ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|date=December 25, 1994|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-12-25-1994359091-story.html|title=Films worthy of the title 'best' in short supply MOVIES|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235137/https://www.baltimoresun.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> * 6th – Christopher Sheid, ''[[The Munster Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheid|first=Christopher|date=December 30, 1994|title=A year in review: Movies|newspaper=The Munster Times}}</ref> * 7th – Joan Vadeboncoeur, ''[[Syracuse Herald American]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Vadeboncoeur|first=Joan|date=January 8, 1995|title=Critically Acclaimed Best Movies of '94 Include Works from Tarantino, Burton, Demme, Redford, Disney and Speilberg|newspaper=Syracuse Herald American|page=16|edition=Final}}</ref> * 7th – Dan Craft, ''[[The Pantagraph]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Craft|first=Dan|date=December 30, 1994 |title=Success, Failure and a Lot of In-between; Movies '94|newspaper=[[The Pantagraph]]|page=B1}}</ref> * 8th – Steve Persall, ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Persall|first=Steve|date=December 30, 1994|title=Fiction': The art of filmmaking|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|page=8|edition=City}}</ref> * 8th – [[Desson Howe]], ''[[The Washington Post]]''<ref>{{citation|last=Howe|first=Desson|date=December 30, 1994|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|title=The Envelope Please: Reel Winners and Losers of 1994|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722025114/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/30/the-envelope-please-reel-winners-and-losers-of-1994/3cf88a79-b416-4c9a-8ff1-8e9c9a91df37/|url-status=live}}</ref> * 10th – Mack Bates, ''The Milwaukee Journal''<ref>{{cite news|last=Bates|first=Mack|date=January 19, 1995|title=Originality of 'Hoop Dreams' makes it the movie of the year|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=3}}</ref> * 10th – David Elliott, ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=David|date=December 25, 1994|title=On the big screen, color it a satisfying time|newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|edition=1, 2|page=E=8}}</ref> * Top 7 (not ranked) – Duane Dudek, ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Dudek|first=Duane|date=December 30, 1994|title=1994 was a year of slim pickings|work=Milwaukee Sentinel|page=3}}</ref> * Top 9 (not ranked) – Dan Webster, ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Webster|first=Dan|date=January 1, 1995|title=In Year of Disappointments, Some Movies Still Delivered|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|edition=Spokane|page=2}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – [[Matt Zoller Seitz]], ''[[Dallas Observer]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Zoller Seitz|first=Matt|date=January 12, 1995 |title= Personal best From a year full of startling and memorable movies, here are our favorites |work=[[Dallas Observer]]}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – William Arnold, ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=William|date=December 30, 1994|title='94 Movies: Best and Worst|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=20|edition=Final}}</ref> * Top 10 (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Mike Mayo, ''[[The Roanoke Times]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Mayo|first=Mike|date=December 30, 1994|title=The Hits and Misses at the Movies in '94|newspaper=The Roanoke Times|page=1|edition=Metro}}</ref> * Top 10 (not ranked) – Bob Carlton, ''[[The Birmingham News]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Carlton|first=Bob|date=December 29, 1994|title=It Was a Good Year at Movies|work=[[The Birmingham News]]|page=12-01}}</ref> * "The second 10" (not ranked) – Sean P. Means, ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=P. Means|first=Sean|date=January 1, 1995|title='Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=E1|edition=Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – [[Michael MacCambridge]], ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=MacCambridge|first=Michael|date=December 22, 1994|title=it's a LOVE-HATE thing|newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|page=38|edition=Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Dennis King, ''[[Tulsa World]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=King|first=Dennis|date=December 25, 1994|title=SCREEN SAVERS In a Year of Faulty Epics, The Oddest Little Movies Made The Biggest Impact|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|page=E1|edition=Final Home}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Glenn Lovell, ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Lovell|first=Glenn|date=December 25, 1994 |title=The Past Picture Show the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – a Year Worth's of Movie Memories|newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|page=3|edition=Morning Final}}</ref> * Honorable mention – John Hurley, ''[[Staten Island Advance]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Hurley|first=John|date=December 30, 1994|title=Movie Industry Hit Highs and Lows in '94|newspaper=Staten Island Advance|page=D11}}</ref> * Honorable mention – Jeff Simon, ''[[The Buffalo News]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Jeff|date=January 1, 1995|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/movies-once-more-with-feeling/article_b73e9a1a-9f60-5d7a-a05c-289243ba0483.html|title=Movies: Once More, with Feeling|work=[[The Buffalo News]]|access-date=July 19, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719132904/https://buffalonews.com/news/movies-once-more-with-feeling/article_b73e9a1a-9f60-5d7a-a05c-289243ba0483.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{div col end}} ===Criticisms=== [[Image:Lionkg2.jpg|thumb|right|The alleged "SEX" frame|alt=Simba lays down on a cliff, while the airborne dust next to him resembles the shape "SFX".]] Protests were raised against one scene where it appears as if the word "SEX" might have been embedded into the dust flying in the sky when Simba flops down,<ref name="The">{{cite web | website=[[Snopes]]|title=The alleged "SEX" frame in ''The Lion King''|date=December 31, 1996 |url=http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lionking.asp| access-date=July 1, 2006}}</ref> which conservative activist [[Donald Wildmon]] asserted was a [[Subliminal stimuli|subliminal message]] intended to promote [[sexual promiscuity]]. Animator Tom Sito has stated that the letters spell "SFX" (a common abbreviation for "[[special effect]]s"), not with an "E" instead of the "F", and were intended as an innocent "signature" created by the effects animation team.<ref>{{cite book|title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed : Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk|author1=Schweizer, Peter|author2=Schweizer, Rochelle|publisher=Regnery Pub.|year=1998|page=[https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/142 142]|isbn=0895263874|url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw/page/142}}</ref> Hyena biologists protested against the animal's portrayal, though the complaints may have been somewhat [[tongue-in-cheek]]. One hyena researcher, who had organized the animators' visit to the [[University of California, Berkeley]], Field Station for the Study of Behavior, Ecology, and Reproduction, where they would observe and sketch captive hyenas,<ref name="glick">{{cite journal|title=The Spotted Hyena From Aristotle to the Lion King: Reputation is Everything|author=Glickman, Stephen|journal=Social Research: An International Quarterly |volume=62|issue=3|date=Fall 1995}}</ref> listed "[[boycott]] ''The Lion King"'' in an article listing ways to help preserve hyenas in the wild, and later "joke[d] that ''The Lion King'' set back hyena conservation efforts."<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.lionconservation.org/PopularArticles/Girl-power,Africa-Geographic,2006.pdf|title=Girl Power|first=Laurence D.|last=Frank|journal=Africa Geographic|date=May 2006|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-date=July 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727034458/http://www.lionconservation.org/PopularArticles/Girl-power,Africa-Geographic,2006.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/09/15/berkeleys-captive-colony-of-spotted-hyenas-closes-after-30-years|title=Berkeley's colony of spotted hyenas closes after 30 years|last=Orenstein|first=Natalie|date=2014-09-15|website=Berkeleyside|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-29|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829162615/https://www.berkeleyside.com/2014/09/15/berkeleys-captive-colony-of-spotted-hyenas-closes-after-30-years|url-status=live}}</ref> Even so, the film was also credited with "spark[ing] an interest" in hyenas at the Berkeley center.<ref name=":0" /> The film has been criticized for race and class issues, with the hyenas seen as reflecting negative stereotypes of [[African Americans|black]] and [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] ethnic communities.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Martin-Rodriguez |first=Manuel |title=Hyenas in The Pride Lands: Latinos/As and Immigration in Disney's The Lion King |journal=Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies |year=2000 |volume=25 |number=1 |pages=47–67|doi=10.1525/azt.2000.25.1.47 |s2cid=266898871 | issn = 0005-2604 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Gooding-Williams |first=Robert |title=Disney in Africa and the inner city: On race and space in The Lion King |journal=Social Identities |issue=2 |year=1995 |volume=1 |pages=373–379|doi=10.1080/13504630.1995.9959442 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Foster |first=David |title=The Lion King Falls Prey to Howls of Sexism, Racism |work=Chicago Tribune |page=26}}</ref> Others have also criticized the film for advancing a [[fascist]] narrative in its portrayal of a lion kingdom and a circle of life where "only the strong and the beautiful triumph, and the powerless survive only by serving the strong."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Roth |first1=Matt |date=March 1996 |title=The Lion King: A short history of Disney-fascism |url=http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC40folder/LionKing.html |journal=[[Jump Cut (journal)|Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media]] |volume= |issue=40|pages=15–22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hassler-Forest |first1=Dan |date=July 2019 |title='The Lion King' is a fascistic story. No remake can change that. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/07/10/lion-king-is-fascistic-story-no-remake-can-change-that/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=January 23, 2025 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725012543/https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/07/10/lion-king-is-fascistic-story-no-remake-can-change-that/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ====Resemblance to ''Kimba the White Lion''==== {{Further|Kimba the White Lion#Claims of resemblance to The Lion King|l1=Claims of resemblance to ''The Lion King''}} [[File:Earlypresentationreelwhitelionking.jpg|thumb|Screenshot from an early presentation reel of ''The Lion King'' that shows a [[white lion]] cub and a butterfly.]] Elements of ''The Lion King'' resemble the 1960s Japanese [[anime]] television series ''[[Kimba the White Lion|Jungle Emperor]]'' (known as ''Kimba the White Lion'' in the United States). The 1994 release of ''The Lion King'' drew a protest in Japan, where ''Kimba'' and its creator, [[Osamu Tezuka]], are cultural icons. 488 Japanese cartoonists and animators, led by the [[manga]] author [[Machiko Satonaka]], signed a petition accusing Disney of plagiarism and demanding that they give due credit to Tezuka.<ref>{{cite book |last=Raz |first=Aviad E. |title=Riding the Black Ship: Japan and Tokyo Disneyland |date=1999 |publisher=[[Harvard University Asia Center]] |isbn=9780674768949 |page=163 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jk9mv25eloC&pg=PA163 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818185404/https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jk9mv25eloC&pg=PA163 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Japanese animator protests 'Lion King' |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/18/Japanese-animator-protests-Lion-King/4250777182400/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=August 18, 1994 |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126180929/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/08/18/Japanese-animator-protests-Lion-King/4250777182400/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Broderick believed initially that he was working on an American version of ''Kimba''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schweizer |first1=Peter |last2=Schweizer |first2=Rochelle |author1-link=Peter Schweizer |title=Disney: The Mouse Betrayed: Greed, Corruption, and Children at Risk |url=https://archive.org/details/disneymousebetra00schw |chapter=The Lyin' King |publisher=Regnery |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1998 |pages=167–168 |isbn=978-0-89-526-3872 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Allers said he was unfamiliar with ''Kimba'' until ''The Lion King'' was almost complete, and did not remember it being mentioned during development.<ref name="fumettologica">{{cite interview |last=Fiamma |first=Andrea |url=http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ |title=Intervista a Roger Allers, il regista de Il Re Leone |work=[[Fumettologica]] |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2015 |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201005055/http://www.fumettologica.it/2014/12/intervista-roger-allers-re-leone/2/ |url-status=live |quote=The whole time I worked on ''The Lion King'' the name of that show never came up. At least I never heard it. I had never seen the show and really only became aware of it as ''Lion King'' was being completed, and someone showed me images of it. I worked with George Scribner and Linda Woolverton to develop the story in the early days but then left to help out on ''Aladdin''. If one of them were familiar with ''Kimba'' they didn't say. Of course, it's possible... Many story ideas developed and changed along the way, always just to make our story stronger. I could certainly understand ''Kimba''{{'}}s creators feeling angry if they felt we had stolen ideas from them. If I had been inspired by ''Kimba'' I would certainly acknowledge my inspiration. All I can offer is my respect to those artists and say that their creation has its loyal admirers and its assured place in animation history.}}</ref> The law professor [[Madhavi Sunder]] suggested that Allers might have seen the 1989 remake of ''Kimba'' on television while living in Tokyo. However, while Allers did move to Tokyo in 1983 to work on ''[[Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland]]'' (1989), he moved back to the United States in 1985, four years before the 1989 remake of ''Kimba'' began airing.<ref name="LionKingProduction"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sunder |first1=Madhavi |title=From Goods to a Good Life: Intellectual Property and Global Justice |date=2012 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0300183559 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C&pg=PA156 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623071222/https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C&pg=PA156 |url-status=live }}</ref> Minkoff also said he was unfamiliar with ''Kimba,''<ref name=welkos>{{cite news |first=Robert W. |last=Welkos |title=A 'Kimba' Surprise for Disney |date=July 13, 1994 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-13-ca-15117-story.html |access-date=March 30, 2015 |quote=I know for a fact that [''Kimba''] has never been discussed as long as I've been on the project... In my experience, if Disney becomes aware of anything like that, they say you will not do it. People are claiming copyright infringement all the time |archive-date=February 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210124542/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-13/entertainment/ca-15117_1_lion-king |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=sunder-p155/> and observed that stories set in Africa often have characters such as baboons, birds and hyenas.<ref name=welkos/> Takayuki Matsutani, the president of [[Tezuka Productions]], which created ''Kimba the White Lion'', said in 1994 that "quite a few staff of our company saw a preview of ''The Lion King'', discussed this subject and came to the conclusion that you cannot avoid having these similarities as long as you use animals as characters and try to draw images out of them".<ref name="Bradley 171">{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Bill |title=Was 'The Lion King' Copied From A Japanese Cartoon? Here's The Real Story |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=2015-01-27 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316.html |page=171 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107175930/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/27/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316.html |url-status=live }} (updated Dec 06, 2017)</ref> Yoshihiro Shimizu of Tezuka Productions refuted rumors that the studio was paid [[hush money]] by Disney and said they had no interest in suing Disney, explaining that "we think it's a totally different story". Shimizu said that they rejected urges from some American lawyers to sue because "we're a small, weak company... Disney's lawyers are among the top twenty in the world!"<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kelts |first1=Roland |title=Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US |date=2007 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |edition=reprint |isbn=978-1-4039-8476-0 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2rgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |access-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607143810/https://books.google.com/books?id=f2rgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA45 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tezuka's family and Tezuka Productions never pursued litigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/26/lion-king-has-been-clouded-by-intellectual-property-controversy-years-heres-story-behind-it |title='Lion King' has been clouded by intellectual property controversy for 25 years. Here's the story behind it. |last=Denham |first=Hannah |date=July 26, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 3, 2020 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028231636/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/26/lion-king-has-been-clouded-by-intellectual-property-controversy-years-heres-story-behind-it/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 }}</ref> The American writer [[Fred Ladd]], who was involved with importing ''Kimba'' and other Japanese anime into America for [[NBC]], expressed incredulity that Disney staff could be ignorant of ''Kimba''.<ref name=ladd-deneroff/><ref name=sunder-p155>{{cite book |last=Sunder |first=Madhavi |author-link=<!--Madhavi Sunder--> |title=From Goods to a Good Life: Intellectual Property and Global Justice |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C |page=155156 |isbn=978-0300183559 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201235136/https://books.google.com/books?id=s7_q6zK0QD8C |url-status=live }}</ref> Ladd said at least one animator was remembered by his colleagues as a ''Kimba'' fan and vociferous about Disney's conduct during production.<ref name=ladd-deneroff>{{cite book |last1=Ladd |first1=Fred |author-link=Fred Ladd |last2=Deneroff |first2=Harvey |title=Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas: An Insider's View of the Birth of a Pop Culture Phenomenon |publisher=McFarland |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rubax5GQA7kC&pg=PA64 |page=64 |isbn=9780786452576 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819211302/https://books.google.com/books?id=rubax5GQA7kC&pg=PA64 |url-status=live }}</ref> The animators [[Tom Sito]] and Mark Kausler said they had watched ''Kimba'' as children in the 1960s, but Sito denied any influence, and Kausler emphasized Disney's ''Bambi'' as their model.<ref>{{cite book |last=Patten |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Patten |title=Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&pg=PT171 |page=171 |isbn=9781611725100 |access-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818203430/https://books.google.com/books?id=81Y1TVYQSrEC&lpg=PT171 |url-status=live }} {{ISBN|1-880656-92-2}}</ref><ref name="Bradley 171"/> The controversy was parodied in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[['Round Springfield|{{-'}}Round Springfield]]", in which Mufasa appears through the clouds and says, "You must avenge my death, Kimba... I mean, Simba."<ref>{{cite news |title=Was 'The Lion King' Copied From A Japanese Cartoon? Here's The Real Story |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316 |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127152007/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lion-king-kimba_n_6272316 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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