Mufasa: The Lion Kinghas debuted with only a slightly better Rotten Tomatoes score than the 2019TheLion Kingremake. While the 2019 movie was a box office hit that grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, it received a more divided critical response. Instead of being a remake,Mufasa: The Lion King’s storyserves asboth a prequel and a sequel to its 2019 predecessor. It features Rafiki (John Kani) telling the story of young Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Scar, previously known as Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) to Mufasa’s granddaughter, Kiara (Blue Ivy Carter).
OnRotten Tomatoes,Mufasa: The Lion Kinghas debuted with a 58% Tomatometer score, a minimal improvement over the 2019The Lion King’s 51% score.Mufasa: The Lion King’s current score is based on 55 reviews and will likely fluctuate as more reviews are added during the movie’s opening weekend in theaters. The 2024 movie does not have a Popcornmeter score yet, while 2019’sThe Lion Kinghas a favorable Popcornmeter score of 88%.
What This Means For Mufasa: The Lion King
Critics Are Divided
Mufasa: The Lion King’s Tomatometer score is disappointingafter the overwhelmingly positive first reactions to the movie. ScreeRant’s Rachel LaBonte awarded the movie seven out of 10 stars in herMufasa: The Lion Kingreview, saying that"it manages to justify its existence by telling a compelling story"and that"Pierre voices Mufasa with a youthful gravitas that is perfectly paired with the lion he will someday become.“Director Barry Jenkins' creative vision and the performances of Pierre and Harrison are largely highlighted by critics as the movie’s greatest strengths.
Is Mufasa: The Lion King Suitable For Children? A Parent’s Guide To Disney’s Prequel
Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to 2019’s The Lion King, which was a huge hit for children and families, and Mufasa seems to be following suit.
As for whyMufasa: The Lion Kinghas a rotten Tomatometer score,many reviews still take issue with the movie’s visual aesthetic. This was a common criticism of the 2019 movie, and one that the newest installment tries to correct by making the realistic animals appear more expressive, but it may not have done enough to fix the issue. Another matter pointed out in negative reviews is the music, which is largely discussed as not being memorable.
Our Take On Mufasa: The Lion King’s Rotten Tomatoes Debut Score
It Is Unlikely To Negatively Affect The Movie’s General Appeal Or Box Office Success
While I expectedMufasa: The Lion Kingto have a better Rotten Tomatoes score, it does not affect my interest in the movie, and is unlikely to have a negative effect on box office success. I amstill interested in seeing Jenkins' original take on the origins of Mufasa and Scar, a new story that will do more than retread the same ground as the beloved original movie. Even in some of the more negative reviews, there is acknowledgment of this being done well.
The Lion King’s mixed reviews in 2019 did not stop it from becoming one of the highest grossing movies of the year.
As a family-friendly movie released during the holidays, along with being connected to a well-known IP,Mufasa: The Lion Kingis still poised to enjoy plenty of box office success.The Lion King’s mixed reviewsin 2019 did not stop it from becoming one of the highest grossing movies of the year. The theatrical and box office landscapes have changed significantly since 2019, soMufasa: The Lion Kingmay not reach the same financial heights as the previous movie, but it will probably still perform well at the box office, regardless of the Rotten Tomatoes score.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Cast
Mufasa: The Lion King explores the origins of the beloved character Mufasa, focusing on his youth as a lost cub who encounters Taka, a royal heir. Their meeting initiates an epic journey of self-discovery and destiny, featuring a group of misfit companions navigating the challenges of their world.
