I attended a free screening in exchange for this honest Mufasa: The Lion King review. All opinions are my own.
Mufasa: The Lion King is part of THE LION KING franchise and a prequel to The Lion King (2019). A live-action adventure, musical, and family major motion picture, it’s rated PG. A large cast includes new and returning actors: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Directed by Barry Jenkins. Produced by Mark Ceryak and Adele Romanski. Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Mufasa: The Lion King opens with a short, but heartfelt, tribute to James Earl Jones before the story begins. The movie begins with the characters from the previous The Lion King (2019), Simba and Nala need to go away and young cub Kiara is worried, but she’s being cared for by Timon and Pumbaa, plus Rafiki. There’s a storm, and to calm Kiara, Rafiki begins a story about her grandfather, Mufasa. The Mufasa origin story is told in flashbacks.
Rafiki tells the story in his wonderful way, and Timon and Pumbaa add their humor, while Kiara learns the history of Mufasa. There had been a drought for more than two years, and the pride was going to move, a storm erupts, and while they were celebrating the rain, a flash flood carries Mufasa away. He wanders, going forward toward the light and the land beyond to find his destiny. As he travels, he’s saved by Taka, another cub and heir to his father’s pride. While his father doesn’t want Mufasa in the tribe, he allows him to stay with Taka’s mother.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa is gifted and can sense things ahead of time, in addition to being a strong leader and fighter—he lives up to the meaning of his name: King. When a tribe of white lions comes to fight, Mufasa and Taka must leave. They have adopted each other as brothers. Along the way, they encounter Sarabi, and they continue the journey. They are found friends and family, and they also are joined by a young Rafiki on their journey. While Taka and Mufasa have adopted each other as brothers, Taka remains jealous of Mufasa, and this has caused many problems.
They face challenges on their travels, and they make it to the Pride Lands, but they are not out of danger, and it will take everyone in the Pride Lands to come together, but will they? We learn how some things have come to be, like Pride Rock, and the importance of The Circle of Life, family, friendship, and the bonds they carry.
The movie is full of drama, an epic battle, danger, and fun. It’s entertaining, and the visual effects are amazing and feel realistic with the beautiful imagery. The music enhances the film, and it has many catchy songs with the familiar Disneyesque sound.
Mufasa: The Lion King is a fantastic movie, perfect for the holiday season. It imbues the warmness of friends and family, coming together, and celebrating life. But it also has some thematic elements which may be too much for very young children, so parents should use their own judgment. Mufasa teaches us that we can overcome many obstacles to find our destiny, but there is strength in numbers, so we know we are not alone in our journey to become who we are.
Mufasa: The Lion King is an epic adventure for the holiday season and beyond, delighting the audience, and captivating us in the story of a cub-to-king of the Pride Lands.
Official Mufasa: The Lion King Trailer
Mufasa: The Lion King Final Trailer
How to Watch Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa: The Lion King opened in theaters Dec. 20, 2024. It is now available to watch on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video or to buy on Blu-ray/DVD.
Mufasa: The Lion King
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