2019 · Film
The Lion King
Jon Favreau's photorealistic animated remake of Disney's 1994 film, in which a young lion prince is driven from his kingdom after his father's death.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, The Lion King is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
With subscription
Choose the 2019 version; Airtel Xstream Play lists it on JioHotstar with English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu audio
Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026 via Airtel Xstream listing
The story
On the African savanna, the lion cub Simba is heir to Pride Rock, where his father Mufasa rules and teaches him about the circle of life. Simba's uncle Scar resents being passed over for the throne and plots with a pack of hyenas to seize it. After a tragedy, Simba runs away believing he is to blame, and grows up far from home with two carefree friends, the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumbaa, until his past catches up with him.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Families with children and anyone who grew up on the 1994 film will recognise the songs and story. It is rated U and runs just under two hours, though the death of a parent and some fights between animals may upset very young children.
Genres:FamilyKidsMusicalAnimation
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
The Lion King is a remake of Disney's 1994 animated film, made with photorealistic computer animation and virtual-reality filming tools that Jon Favreau had also used on The Jungle Book (2016). Hans Zimmer, Elton John and Tim Rice returned for the music, and Beyoncé wrote and performed a new song, "Spirit". James Earl Jones voiced Mufasa again, as he had in 1994. A prequel, Mufasa: The Lion King, followed on 20 December 2024.
It premiered in Hollywood on 9 July 2019 and was released in the United States on 19 July. Wikipedia reports it grossed $26.3 million in India, which at the time made it the fourth-highest-grossing Hollywood film in the country and the highest-grossing animated film ever released there, Indian or foreign. It earned more than $1.6 billion worldwide and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
The facts
- Language
- English
- Hindi
- Hindi dub available
- Genre
- Musical drama, Family adventure
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Certificate
- U
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Cast
- Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch The Lion King in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, The Lion King is streaming in India on JioHotstar with a subscription.
- Is The Lion King available in Hindi?
- Yes. The Lion King was made in English, and a Hindi-dubbed version is available on JioHotstar.
- Is The Lion King suitable for children?
- The Lion King has a CBFC U certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers of all ages.
- How long is The Lion King?
- The Lion King runs for 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).