In 1994, Disney’s The Lion King roared onto cinema screens. The animated family film, about a lion cub who learns how to be king, was a huge hit with critics and audiences.
In the movie, young Simba grows up knowing that one day he will rule over the plains of Africa. However, when tragedy strikes and his father, Mufasa is suddenly killed, Simba is unable to take up the role he has been working toward.
Featuring excellent animation, and a superb soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, Tim Rice, and Elton John, The Lion King was a huge hit when it made its debut in 1994. As such, a collection of sequels soon followed, along with a remake, and a prequel.
But how many Lion King movies are there? For all the details and more, keep reading.
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The Disney Lion King movies in order
The Lion King (1994)
As noted above, the first entry in the movie series was the 1994 animated movie, The Lion King. The film followed the story of lion cub, Simba, who finds himself conflicted when it comes time for him to take over the throne.
In the movie, Simba is set to be the king of the Pride Lands of Africa, but only when the time is right. However, that time comes far sooner than expected, when his father, Mufasa is killed.
Simba’s uncle, Scar, convinces Simba he was responsible for Mufasa’s death, even though the real culprit was Scar himself. However, feeling upset and ashamed, as well as worried about what his mother will think, Simba flees the Pride Lands, gives up the notion of becoming king, and paves the way for Scar to take over as ruler.
But with Scar in charge, the Pride Lands fall into despair and become a shadow of their former self. Only Simba can make things right again, but for that to happen he must seize his birth-right and become the new king.
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998)
With The Lion King being hugely successful in 1994, Walt Disney Animation and Walt Disney Video Premiere joined forces to produce a sequel. The film – titled The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride – was released direct-to-video in 1998, and centred around Simba’s daughter, Kiara, who falls in love with rogue lion, Kovu.
The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (aka The Lion King 1½) (2004)
Due to the continued popularity of The Lion King, a third film followed in 2004. Created as a sort-of spin-off of the Timon & Pumbaa animated series, which focused on two comedic characters from the original movie, The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata was envisioned as a fun romp, which offered a new look at the original film.
Set between the events of The Lion King, the movie retold aspects of the story but from a new perspective. In some territories, the movie was known as The Lion King 1½, because of the way it shoehorns itself into the timeline of the original film.
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
After a gap of eleven years, a new animated movie arrived in 2015, under the title The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar. Based on The Lion Guard television series, the movie was set during the events of The Lion King 2 and centred around Kion, the young son of Simba.
The Lion King (2019)
In 2019, following a run of live-action remakes of classic Disney movies (Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, etc), Walt Disney Pictures released a ‘live-action’ remake of The Lion King. The movie utilised photorealistic animation to bring the animals to life, then reused the same characters and plot as the original animated feature to tell its story.
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
When The Lion King was released in 2019, the film took over $1.6 billion at the worldwide box-office. As a result, another Lion King movie was put into production.
However, rather than continue the story, or remake the events of 1998’s The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, this film would instead be an original sequel-cum-prequel. Set after 2019’s The Lion King, but using extensive flashbacks, Mufasa: The Lion King would detail the early years of King Mufasa.
The Lion King movies in production order
To date, there are six Lion King movies from Disney. Should you wish to watch all of The Lion King movies in production order then follow this list:
- The Lion King (1994)
- The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998)
- The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (aka The Lion King 1½ (2004))
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
- The Lion King (2019)
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
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Are all of Disney’s Lion King movies part of the same series?
The Lion King movies are divided into two categories: The animated movies and the live-action movies. The films break down as follows:
The animated movies
- The Lion King (1994)
- The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998)
- The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (aka The Lion King 1½) (2004)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
All four of the above animated movies are set within the same continuity. Chronologically, The Lion King ’94 is first, followed by The Lion King 3, The Lion King 2, and The Lion Guard.
The ‘live-action’ movies
- The Lion King (2019)
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
Both of these movies are set within the same continuity. The Lion King is first, followed by Mufasa: The Lion King (although this film uses extensive flashbacks to tell a story set before the events of The Lion King).
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Who are the cast of The Lion King films and are the movies the work of the same director?
The cast of The Lion King films varies across the five movies. Notable actors in The Lion King film series include James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Madge Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Moira Kelly, Neve Campbell, Jason Marsden, Rob Lowe, Max Charles, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Aaron Pierre, and Kelvin Harrison.
In terms of the directors, The Lion King films are the work of the following:
- Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff directed The Lion King
- Darrell Rooney and Rob LaDuca directed The Lion King 2
- Bradley Raymond directed The Lion King 3
- Howy Parkins directed The Lion Guard
- Jon Favreau directed The Lion King 2019
- Barry Jenkins directed Mufasa: The Lion King
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What is the best Lion King film?
According to IMDb, The Lion King films are rated as follows:
- The Lion King (1994) – 8.5/10
- The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride (1998) – 6.5/10
- The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (aka The Lion King 1½ (2004)) – 6.6/10
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015) – 5.7/10
- The Lion King (2019) – 7.0/10
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) – Not yet rated
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I hope this information about Disney’s Lion King film series has proved useful. Should you wish to know more about other long-running movie series on It’s A Stampede!, please check out one of the recommended reads below.
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