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Walt Disney Pictures’ newest release, Mufasa: The Lion King, is performing quite impressively at the worldwide box office as it grosses $486.4 million globally to date from January 10, 2025. That easily places the film in the top 10 of the highest-grossing movie musicals ever-made, passing titles such as 2016’s La La Land.
From director Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the popular franchise Lion King and tells the origin story of Mufasa, the father of Simba. The film narrates a story of young Mufasa voiced by Aaron Pierre, who gets orphaned in the flood and later finds a pride led by Obasi, played by Lennie James. He strikes up a particularly close bond with Taka, the pride's heir, and thus sets in motion a future conflict that resonates with fans of the original films.
Not many, if any films, have the visual splendor of Disney’s latest attempt; even critics mentioned that the animation far surpassed the 2019 Lion King remake. Reviewers have pointed to dynamic, expressive CGI of African landscapes and animal characters presented with astonishing verisimilitude. Writing for RogerEbert.com, Matt Zoller Seitz termed it a "technological step up,” noting how such ability is extended toward the making of these creatures emotionally vital while retaining its quasi-documentary authenticity.
However, the storyline and musical elements of the movie have received mixed reviews. As per a few critics, the screenplay, by Jeff Nathanson, tries to explain a little too much about the backstory, which makes the pacing choppy and less coherent. The original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda bring in a modern rhythm, but have been termed lackluster compared to the iconic tracks in the original Lion King. Amy Nicholson with the Los Angeles Times wrote, “The new songs lack the immediate earworm quality of classics like “Hakuna Matata.”
Despite those criticisms, Mufasa: The Lion King has resonated with audiences, earning an “A–“ CinemaScore and 85% positive score on PostTrak. Those numbers play out at the box office as the movie positions itself as this year’s family-friendly holiday hit. Strong showings in many of the international markets – including the United Kingdom, India, and China – have helped drive that global total.
All in all, Mufasa: The Lion King is a visually impressive addition to the saga of Lion King, which allows the audience to learn more about the origin of Mufasa. While it may not live up to the magic of its predecessors, its box office results and audience reception make it a notable entry in Disney’s musical canon.
