The Lion King

The Lion King is a 2019 American computer-animated musical drama film directed and produced by Jon Favreau, written and produced by Jeff Nathanson, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment. It is a photorealistic remake of the 1994 film of the same name by Disney. The story follows Simba, a young lion who must accept his destiny as the true king of his nation after his father, Mufasa, is murdered by his uncle, Scar.

Following the box office success of Disney remakes such as The Jungle Book (2016), which was also directed by Favreau, plans for a remake of 1994's The Lion King were confirmed in September 2016. Favreau was inspired by specific character parts in the Broadway adaptation and expanded on portions of the original film's story. The majority of the core performers signed on in early 2017, and principal photography began in mid-2017 on a Los Angeles blue screen stage. The "virtual-reality tools" used in The Jungle Book's cinematography were utilized to a greater extent for The Lion King's production.

The film is dedicated to the memory of editor Mark Livolsi and serves as his final credit. It is one of the most expensive animated movies ever made, with an estimated budget of over $260 million. The film had its world debut in Hollywood on July 9, 2019, and was released theatrically in the United States on July 19, 2019, in Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, and IMAX formats. During its theatrical run, it earned more than $1.6 billion globally, surpassing Frozen to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.

Critics gave The Lion King mixed reviews, praising its visual effects, music, and vocal performances (especially Rogen and Eichner) while criticizing its lack of creativity and facial feeling of the characters. At the 77th Golden Globe Awards and the 25th Critics' Choice Awards, the film garnered nominations for Best Animated Feature Film and Original Song. It was also nominated for visual effects at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards and the 92nd Academy Awards.

Budget: $260 million

Earnings: $1.6 billion