Classic Film Review #13: The Lion King (1994)

Available on: Disney+

Arguably the greatest Disney film of all time, The Lion King resoundingly answers the age-old question that has plagued many a creative – what would Hamlet be like if its main characters were played by lions? The answer to which, of course, is – bloody well brilliant.

Still capable of rendering the most emotionally stoic of adults to blubbering wrecks, this tale of Simba the lion’s exile from, and eventual return to, the fictional kingdom of Pride Rock is one that continues to resonate with audiences in a manner that is ingeniously simple. Unfussy throughout, it features all the traits of a classic arc – a sympathetic hero, excellent comic relief, and a truly dastardly villain.

Throw in an all-time classic story from Elton John and you’ve got yourself one heck of a movie.