Mufasa: The Lion King Review – Disney’s 2025 Prequel Parent Guide

When Disney announced a Lion King prequel directed by Barry Jenkins, I had mixed feelings about another photorealistic adaptation.

After watching Mufasa: The Lion King in theaters with my family, I can say this $200 million production delivers something the 2019 remake couldn’t – genuine emotional depth.

The film, which hit theaters on December 20, 2024, has already grossed $722.6 million worldwide despite mixed critical reception (56% on Rotten Tomatoes).

What makes this 118-minute journey worth your time isn’t just the stunning visuals or Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music – it’s how Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins transforms a corporate mandate into something surprisingly personal.

In this comprehensive review, I’ll break down everything parents need to know, analyze the performances that bring these characters to life, and help you decide whether to catch this in theaters or wait for its Disney Plus release in March 2025.

What is Mufasa: The Lion King About?

Quick Answer: Mufasa: The Lion King is a 2024 photorealistic animated prequel film that explores the origin story of Mufasa, the legendary Lion King, showing how an orphaned cub became the beloved ruler of the Pride Lands.

The story unfolds through Rafiki’s narration to Kiara, Simba and Nala’s daughter, during a storm at Pride Rock.

This framing device cleverly connects the prequel to the existing Lion King timeline while allowing for flashback storytelling.

We meet young Mufasa as an orphaned cub swept away by a flood, separated from his parents.

He’s rescued by Taka, a lion prince who defies his royal parents by befriending this “stray.”

Their brotherhood forms the emotional core of the film – yes, Taka becomes Scar, making this origin story particularly poignant.

The narrative follows Mufasa and Taka’s journey as they flee from a pride of white lions called the Outsiders, led by the ruthless Kiros.

Along the way, they encounter Sarabi (Mufasa’s future queen), Zazu, and Rafiki, building the familiar Pride Lands family we know.

What surprised me most was how the film handles Taka’s transformation into Scar.

Rather than making him purely villainous, Jenkins presents a complex character whose jealousy and heartbreak feel earned through the story’s development.

The climax involves establishing Pride Rock as the sanctuary we recognize, but the journey there explores themes of chosen family, destiny versus determination, and the weight of leadership.

The Voice Cast That Brings Mufasa to Life

Quick Answer: The 2024 Mufasa features Aaron Pierre as young Mufasa, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka/Scar, and Blue Ivy Carter making her feature film debut as Kiara.

Aaron Pierre’s performance as Mufasa stands out as the film’s strongest element.

His voice carries both vulnerability and growing strength, creating a character that feels distinct from James Earl Jones’s iconic portrayal while honoring that legacy.

I noticed Pierre brings a youthful uncertainty that gradually transforms into quiet confidence.

Character	Voice Actor	Notable Performance Aspect
Young Mufasa	Aaron Pierre	Vulnerable yet powerful delivery
Taka/Young Scar	Kelvin Harrison Jr.	Complex emotional range
Kiara	Blue Ivy Carter	Natural, confident debut
Sarabi	Tiffany Boone	Strong maternal presence
Kiros	Mads Mikkelsen	Menacing villain voice

Blue Ivy Carter’s debut deserves special mention – she brings genuine warmth to Kiara that helps ground the framing sequences.

While some critics questioned the casting, I found her performance natural and engaging, especially for a twelve-year-old’s first major role.

Returning cast members including Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), and John Kani (Rafiki) provide continuity with the 2019 film.

Their performances feel more relaxed this time, with Rogen and Eichner’s comedy bits landing better than in the previous film.

The film includes a touching tribute to James Earl Jones, who passed away in 2024, acknowledging his irreplaceable contribution to the franchise.

Barry Jenkins’ Vision: From Moonlight to Pride Lands

Quick Answer: Barry Jenkins, the Academy Award-winning director of Moonlight, brings an intimate, character-driven approach to this massive Disney production.

When Disney announced Jenkins as director, many wondered why the indie filmmaker behind Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk would tackle a Lion King prequel.

After seeing the film, his involvement makes perfect sense – this is fundamentally a story about identity, belonging, and chosen family.

Jenkins spent four years developing the project, working closely with screenwriter Jeff Nathanson to create something more than a corporate cash grab.

His signature visual poetry appears even within the constraints of photorealistic animation.

The director faced unique challenges adapting his intimate filmmaking style to a $200 million animated spectacle.

He chose to focus on close-ups and quiet character moments between action sequences, giving the film an unexpected emotional intimacy.

Production began in 2020, with Jenkins working remotely with animation teams during the pandemic.

This distance actually helped him focus on performance and story over technical spectacle, resulting in stronger character work than the 2019 film.

His influence is most evident in how the film handles Taka’s transformation – it’s not a sudden villain turn but a gradual erosion of brotherhood that feels genuinely tragic.

Photorealistic Animation: Evolution from 2019

Quick Answer: The 2024 Mufasa uses enhanced photorealistic CGI that improves on the 2019 Lion King’s technology, allowing for more expressive character animation while maintaining realistic animal appearance.

The animation team made significant improvements over the 2019 film’s sometimes stiff character expressions.

Characters now display subtle facial movements that convey emotion without breaking the realistic aesthetic.

I noticed eyes particularly benefited from technological advances – they feel alive and communicative rather than the dead-eyed look that plagued some 2019 scenes.

The film uses a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Atmos sound mixing, creating an immersive theatrical experience.

Available in both standard and 3D presentations, though I found the 3D added little beyond occasional depth to landscape shots.

One significant improvement involves fur simulation during action sequences.

The flood scene that opens Mufasa’s story showcases water interaction with fur that looks remarkably realistic, setting a high technical bar early.

However, the photorealistic approach still limits musical numbers.

When characters sing, the disconnect between realistic animal mouths and Broadway-style songs remains jarring, though less so than in 2019.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Musical Journey Through Africa

Quick Answer: Lin-Manuel Miranda composed seven original songs for Mufasa, creating a soundtrack that respects African musical traditions while incorporating his signature storytelling style.

Miranda’s involvement brought high expectations given his success with Hamilton and Moana.

His Mufasa songs take a different approach than the original’s Tim Rice and Elton John classics, focusing more on narrative advancement than standalone hits.

“I Always Wanted a Brother” effectively establishes Mufasa and Taka’s relationship in under four minutes.

The song uses call-and-response patterns reminiscent of traditional African music while maintaining Miranda’s rapid-fire lyrical style.

“Bye Bye” serves as the villain song for Kiros and his pride, though it lacks the memorable menace of “Be Prepared.”

Miranda aimed for something more militaristic and threatening, but the result feels generic compared to classic Disney villain songs.

The soundtrack’s strongest moment comes with “Brother Betrayed,” where Taka’s transformation into Scar gets musical expression.

Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s performance here rivals any dramatic moment in the film, conveying years of resentment in three minutes.

If you’re looking for high-definition movie streaming options to rewatch the original Lion King before seeing Mufasa, several platforms offer both the 1994 and 2019 versions.

Critical Reception: Mixed Reviews and Audience Divide

Quick Answer: Mufasa received mixed critical reviews with a 56% Rotten Tomatoes score, while audiences responded more positively with an 89% audience score, highlighting a significant critic-audience divide.

The critical response has been notably polarized, with reviews ranging from praise for Jenkins’ direction to criticism of the unnecessary prequel concept.

Professional critics averaged a 56% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, calling it “visually accomplished but narratively uneven.”

“Barry Jenkins brings unexpected depth to what could have been a soulless cash grab, even if the photorealistic animation still limits emotional expression.”

– Variety Review

Audiences have responded more warmly with an 89% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and 6.6/10 on IMDb from over 76,000 users.

This 33-point gap between critics and audiences suggests general moviegoers found more to enjoy than professional reviewers.

Box office performance tells another story of moderate success.

The film earned $722.6 million worldwide against its $200 million budget, making it profitable but not a runaway hit like other Disney releases.

Opening weekend brought in $35.4 million domestically, lower than projected but steady through the holiday season.

International markets, particularly China and Japan, showed stronger enthusiasm than domestic audiences.

CinemaScore audiences gave it an “A-” rating, indicating those who saw it generally enjoyed the experience despite mixed word-of-mouth.

Parents particularly appreciated the film more than critics, with family-focused reviews praising its themes and relatively gentle approach to conflict.

Parent’s Guide: Is Mufasa Suitable for Your Children?

Quick Answer: Mufasa is rated PG and generally suitable for children 7 and older, though the 118-minute runtime and some intense scenes may challenge younger viewers.

After taking my 8-year-old and 10-year-old to see it, I can offer specific guidance for parents considering this film.

The 118-minute runtime is the biggest challenge – it’s 30 minutes longer than most animated films, and I noticed younger children getting restless around the 90-minute mark.

Content-wise, several scenes might upset sensitive children:

1. Opening flood sequence: Mufasa loses his parents in a dramatic flood (off-screen death but emotionally intense)
2. Chase scenes: Multiple sequences of lions being hunted by the villainous Outsiders
3. Betrayal theme: Taka’s transformation into Scar involves jealousy and betrayal that might confuse younger viewers
4. Mild violence: Lion fights with no blood but clear conflict and danger

For comparison, I’d rate it slightly more intense than Frozen but less scary than The Lion King’s wildebeest stampede.

Children who handled Encanto or Moana well should be fine with Mufasa’s emotional content.

Consider preparing younger children by explaining it’s Simba’s dad’s story as a young lion.

This context helps them understand the narrative structure and reduces confusion about timeline.

How Mufasa Connects to the Lion King Legacy

Quick Answer: Mufasa serves as both prequel to the original Lion King story and sequel to the 2019 remake, using a framing device with Simba’s daughter Kiara to connect all three films.

Understanding where Mufasa fits in the Lion King timeline helps appreciate its narrative choices.

The film operates on two temporal levels – Kiara’s present (after the 2019 film) and Mufasa’s past (before the original story).

The movie reveals several franchise connections that recontextualize the original film.

We learn Pride Rock wasn’t always the royal seat but became so through Mufasa’s leadership and vision.

Scar’s scar origin gets a new explanation tied to his betrayal of Mufasa rather than a simple hunting accident.

The relationship dynamics feel organic to the established lore.

Timeline Order	Film	Story Focus	Year Released
1st	Mufasa (past scenes)	Mufasa’s origin	2025
2nd	The Lion King	Simba’s journey	1994/2019
3rd	The Lion King II	Kiara’s story	1998
4th	Mufasa (present scenes)	Kiara learns history	2025

Easter eggs throughout reward franchise fans – watch for young Rafiki’s first attempt at his iconic fruit-painting technique.

The film also explains how the Pride Lands’ various species came to coexist peacefully under Mufasa’s revolutionary “Circle of Life” philosophy.

Future franchise implications remain open-ended.

The film’s ending suggests potential for exploring Simba’s reign or Kiara’s future adventures, though Disney hasn’t announced additional films.

Is Mufasa: The Lion King Worth Watching?

Quick Answer: Mufasa is worth watching for Lion King fans and families seeking quality entertainment, though it works better as a streaming experience than a must-see theatrical event.

After spending 118 minutes with Mufasa, I can recommend it with specific caveats.

The film succeeds where the 2019 remake failed by focusing on character development over technical showcase.

Barry Jenkins elevates material that could have been a cynical cash grab into something with genuine emotional weight.

Aaron Pierre’s vocal performance alone makes this worth experiencing, creating a Mufasa that honors James Earl Jones while establishing his own identity.

The film’s exploration of how Scar became a villain adds complexity to the franchise mythology.

However, the photorealistic animation still limits emotional expression, particularly during musical numbers.

The runtime feels excessive for family audiences, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs, while serviceable, lack the memorable quality of the original soundtrack.

My recommendation depends on your situation:

• Theater viewing: Worth it if you’re a devoted Lion King fan or have children 8+ who love Disney films
• Wait for streaming: Better choice for families with younger children or casual Disney viewers
• Skip entirely: Only if you strongly disliked the 2019 remake or have no connection to the franchise

For those interested in movie streaming platforms, Mufasa will arrive on Disney Plus in March 2025, making it accessible for home viewing where you can pause for bathroom breaks.

Theater vs Streaming: Making the Right Choice

Quick Answer: Choose theaters for the full audiovisual experience and if your children can handle 2-hour films; opt for Disney Plus streaming if you have younger kids or prefer controlling the viewing experience.

The theatrical experience offers stunning visuals and Dolby Atmos sound that home setups can’t fully replicate.

Wide landscape shots of the Pride Lands and the climactic Pride Rock sequence benefit from the big screen treatment.

Theater tickets average $15-18 per person, making a family of four investment around $60-72 plus concessions.

Compare this to waiting three months for Disney Plus, where your existing $7.99 monthly subscription covers unlimited viewing.

Consider these factors for your decision:

1. Child attention spans: Can they sit still for 2 hours?
2. Budget considerations: $70+ for one viewing vs streaming subscription
3. Viewing control: Ability to pause for breaks at home
4. Social experience: Kids might enjoy the communal theater atmosphere
5. Technical quality: Superior sound and visuals in theaters

The film will likely offer digital rental for $19.99-24.99 before hitting Disney Plus, providing a middle-ground option.

This lets you watch at home sooner while maintaining some special event feeling for family movie night.

Many movie streaming options will eventually include Mufasa in their Disney collections, though Disney Plus remains the primary platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: A Worthy Addition to the Pride

Mufasa: The Lion King succeeds in expanding the Lion King mythology with genuine emotional depth and strong performances.

Barry Jenkins brings his indie sensibilities to this massive production, creating moments of surprising intimacy within the spectacle.

While it doesn’t reach the heights of the 1994 original, it significantly improves upon the 2019 remake.

The film’s exploration of brotherhood, betrayal, and destiny resonates beyond simple children’s entertainment.

Aaron Pierre creates a memorable young Mufasa, while Kelvin Harrison Jr. makes Scar’s villain origin genuinely tragic rather than cartoonishly evil.

Parents should prepare for the extended runtime and some emotional intensity, but most children 7 and older will enjoy this return to the Pride Lands.

At $722.6 million worldwide, audiences have spoken – this is a Lion King story worth telling, even if it doesn’t roar quite as loudly as its predecessors.

Whether you catch it in theaters or wait for Disney Plus, Mufasa offers enough heart and spectacle to justify its existence in the beloved franchise.