On December 20, 2024, the movie Mufasa: The Lion King hit the box office and came in a close second in earnings to the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. However, it soon overtook the latter in the second and third weeks, grossing about $370 million so far, a total that is growing promisingly.
But why was this movie such a hit? Despite the 55% review on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an 89% on the popcorn meter, proving its popularity across many demographics. There is no denying that Mufasa is a feel-good, exciting movie that continues the story that we all know and love.
The movie begins when Mufasa is just a young cub, and he too, like his son Simba, is separated from his family due to a tragic event. He then finds refuge in another cub, Taka, and his family, with whom he was raised. Mufasa and Taka grow up as brothers and must find their way through the world together. Tragedy strikes and the brothers must run from their family. On the way, Mufasa finds his future wife, Sarabi, her bird friend Zazu, and a wandering baboon, Rafiki. The group faces many challenges as they try to find refuge in Milele, a land where they can live without fear of neighboring tribes.
Some HHS students have seen the movie, and most have positive reviews of the film, despite it being a children’s movie. HHS Junior Hannah Giveny who saw the movie in theaters over break says, “I thought that the storyline was really good.” She continues, “However, I didn’t really love the music because it didn’t feel like The Lion King or like Lin Manuel Miranda’s usual soundtracks, which is what I was hoping for. I thought it was cute, but the music wasn’t my thing.”
Additionally, HHS sophomore Kate McBride also saw the movie on holiday break, “I really liked it! It was a really entertaining movie,” remarked McBride. With the movie being a continuation of a story that we all know and love, it is really cool to see the story of the Lion King continue generationally. Because this film is a prequel of the 1994 movie, high school students, 30-year-olds, and children alike will be able to watch and enjoy this film, whether it be due to nostalgia or pure childhood joy. Mufasa: The Lion King is in theaters now and can be expected to be added to streaming services like Disney+ in March or early April.
