Published: November 9, 2026 · Last updated: November 9, 2026 · 2 min read
The Lion King is a story about a young lion prince who faces challenges to reclaim his rightful throne. Two versions of this narrative exist, each featuring different production teams and voice casts.
Spoiler-free comparison using public data.
The Lion King vs The Lion King: Side by Side
| The Lion King (1994) | The Lion King (2019) | |
|---|---|---|
| Genres | Animation, Family, Drama | Adventure, Drama, Family, Animation |
| Runtime | 89 min | 118 min |
| Directed by | Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff | Jon Favreau |
| Top cast | Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons | Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Oliver, Donald Glover |
| US rating | G | PG |
| IMDb | — | — |
| Rotten Tomatoes | — | — |
| Metacritic | — | — |
| TMDB score | 8.3/10 | 7.1/10 |
How They Compare on the Numbers
- The Lion King is the longer film by 29 minutes (118 vs 89).
- The Lion King has the higher TMDB score (8.3 vs 7.1).
- The Lion King came out first (1994-06-15).
- Shared genres: Animation, Family, Drama.
- Shared cast: James Earl Jones.
What Each Movie Is About
The Lion King
Young lion prince Simba, eager to one day become king of the Pride Lands, grows up under the watchful eye of his father Mufasa; all the while his villainous uncle Scar conspires to take the throne for himself. Amid betrayal and tragedy, Simba must confront his past and find his rightful place in the Circle of Life.
The Lion King
Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival.
Which Should You Watch First?
Start with The Lion King if:
- This 1994 animated family drama features voice acting from Matthew Broderick and Jeremy Irons.
- The film has an 89 minute runtime and holds a 8.3 score on TMDB.
Start with The Lion King if:
- This 2019 adventure drama features Donald Glover and BeyoncƩ providing voice work for the characters.
- The film has a 118 minute runtime and holds a 7.1 score on TMDB.
The 1994 film is a shorter, higher-scoring animation compared to the longer 2019 adventure film.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is longer, The Lion King or The Lion King?
The Lion King is longer by 29 minutes, according to TMDB.
Where do the ratings come from?
From TMDB and, where shown, OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic). They were checked on November 9, 2026 and change over time.
Data checked on November 9, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
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About this guide. Published by Morfeli on November 9, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer) and are summarized with AI assistance. This page is a data summary, not a critic’s review or a personal opinion; nobody here claims to have rated the title. Scores and details change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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