--- title: "Mufasa: The Lion King: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/mufasa-the-lion-king/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/mufasa-the-lion-king" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 16 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Mufasa: The Lion King (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 16 reviews: 5 positive, 7 mixed, 4 negative. The critics are split, and widely. Most agree that the photoreal animation is an advance on the 2019 remake, with more expressive faces, brighter light and a camera that stays close to the animals, and several credit Barry Jenkins with giving the bond between Mufasa and Taka more feeling than the material had before. The reservations cluster in two places. The songs are found flat or forgettable in most reviews, though The Times and the Los Angeles Times count them among the film’s strengths. And a good many critics say the photoreal style still holds the emotion at arm’s length, and that the prequel never quite makes the case for its own existence. The spread runs from a five-star notice in The Times at one end to The Telegraph and Time Out at the other, both of which find little reason for it to have been made. The middle is soft: handsome, watchable and hard to remember afterwards. ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 17 December 2024. This is a dazzling animated musical that matches photorealistic spectacle with hummable earworms and a mythic sense of story. Mads Mikkelsen delivers a magnificent villain and Lin-Manuel Miranda provides excellent songs. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-disney-prequel-xfksllzbq) ## Slant Magazine — Justin Clark Rating 3/4. 18 December 2024. The prequel is praised as a captivating children’s fable with worthwhile themes of empathy and breaking cycles, though it inherits flaws like discordant songs and comedy from its predecessor. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-barry-jenkins/) ## Total Film — Kelechi Ehenulo Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. This Disney origin story is no Hakuna Matata but stands a class above the 2019 movie as a solid family adventure. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/family-movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 5/3/3. 17 December 2024. The critic calls it a noble effort lacking originality and a human touch, a rousing noble misstep where the filmmaker's signature is too light to make out. Main issues lie in the weak script and songs plus the inherent limits of the photoreal CGI form. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king) ## Radio Times — Kevin Harley Rating 3/5. 17 December 2024. The critic finds it a flawed but fitfully powerful and absorbing CG prequel that gives the tale of brotherhood and betrayal currents of personality and style through visual detail and intimacy. Motivations for the central conflict feel slight and some comic distractions dilute the drama. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/mufasa-lion-king-review/) ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The film is a palatable and entertaining family story with hyper-realistic visuals and classical themes, though the songs fall flat and it may not inspire the same nostalgia as the original. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/mufasa-review-not-a-patch-on-the-lion-king-3436579) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating C. 18 December 2024. The critic sees it as an improvement over the prior remake—brighter and livelier—but still limited by photorealism and studio formulas, not the best showcase for Jenkins' talents. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/mufasa-the-lion-king-review) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic finds Barry Jenkins' verve only faintly shines through in this mildly entertaining origin story. It touches on found-family themes but feels bloodless and impersonal overall. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic sees Jenkins' most mainstream and impersonal work; the CG images impress with gripping moments in the second half as Mufasa embraces his destiny, but like too many origin stories it often rehashes what was once stirring about the material. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/5199968.article) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2024. The film is deemed lifeless and bland despite impressive technology, a wasted opportunity lacking imagination, emotional depth, and cinematic experience. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-disneys-lifeless-bland-mufasa-the-lion-king.html) ## Time Out — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic finds the prequel soulless and without good reason for existing despite clear effort; Jenkins assembles beautiful shots but the photoreal CGI remains cold and characterless while the songs are lacklustre. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-2025) ## IndieWire — Alison Foreman 17 December 2024. The review criticizes the prequel for messy visuals and shaggy storytelling, calling it bland and busy despite Jenkins' involvement. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-barry-jenkins-1235077385/) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 19 December 2024. The critic calls the prequel unnecessary and a sign the franchise is running out of lives, faulting flat characters, repetitive backstories and a flawless protagonist. She singles out Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs as terrific and the dynamic performance of the Taka/Scar character as the most compelling element. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-12-19/review-mufasa-barry-jenkins-beyonce-lin-manuel-miranda-donald-glover) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 17 December 2024. The film is a punchy, heartfelt and ingenious drama with strong storytelling energy from its writer and director. It offers an origin myth for several characters but is let down by a forgettable musical score. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/17/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-storytelling-takes-pride-of-place-in-punchy-origin-tale) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye 17 December 2024. The critic finds the film strained between Jenkins' vision and corporate demands, with a confused narrative despite enterprising direction and strong voice work. Praises the intimate style and some chemistry but notes it chafes against the story. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-barry-jenkins-1236087876/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 19 December 2024. The critic finds the photorealistic prequel pretty and occasionally diverting but ultimately wan, dull and overly familiar despite some sharp moments. She singles out the lush visuals and the occasional departure from Disney formula while noting the story's repetitive focus on royal destiny and weak comedy. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/movies/mufasa-the-lion-king-review.html) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin 20 December 2024. The prequel is largely hopeless and works hard to undermine what made the original great through a craven approach. New songs feel like off-brand substitutes and the exercise feels pointless. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge 17 December 2024. The critic finds the origin story impressive, emotionally satisfying and thoughtful, praising how it deepens familiar characters and adds fresh context through Jenkins’ vision. He singles out the modest, heroic take on young Mufasa, the sibling dynamic and the ensemble songs while noting the technical animation achievements. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-1236250945/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 4/5. 17 December 2024. Barry Jenkins brings signature storytelling to a visually stunning and emotionally charged prequel that succeeds as an engaging addition offering fresh layers. It stands as a major course correction for Disney’s live-action slate with a powerful tale about the making of a king. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) ## Film Stories — Maria Lattila Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic finds it a pleasant surprise despite prequel issues, praising Jenkins' direction for bringing life and spirit, especially in visuals and character focus, but notes pacing problems from storytime framing and uneven balance between hero and villain arcs. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-a-fascinating-if-uneven-prequel/) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 5.5/10. 17 December 2024. While an improvement over the 2019 remake with better facial expressions and some good songs, it suffers from horrid pacing, visual homogeneity, and feels ultimately useless as a prequel. The story rushes through details without pausing for grandeur. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1740391/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) ## Polygon — Petrana Radulovic Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic notes that while the relationship between Mufasa and Taka has potential, the photorealistic animation flattens emotions, songs are unmemorable, and the prequel feels like a DTV knockoff on the big screen due to being constrained by the original. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/disney/498183/mufasa-review-lion-king-live-action-prequel/) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 2024. The critic finds the film a moderate visual improvement over the 2019 remake with solid performances, but criticizes the predictable and unengaging origin story and lack of memorability in the songs; it struggles to justify its existence. [Read the review](https://collider.com/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 17 December 2024. Pete Hammond views the film as a rousing action-adventure buddy movie that emphasizes characters through closeups and romantic moments, high production values, and serviceable songs, though it prioritizes nonstop action over the regal magic of prior versions. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/12/mufasa-the-lion-king-review-barry-jenkins-turns-origin-story-into-rousing-action-adventure-buddy-movie-1236205310/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 4.4. 17 December 2024. The review criticizes the lifeless CGI animation and how even talented director Barry Jenkins can't overcome the format's limitations, resulting in a dull prequel that wastes resources on unnecessary remakes. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/barry-jenkins/mufasa-the-lion-king-2024-movie-review-barry-jenkins-disney) ## The Wrap 17 December 2024. The critic finds it a satisfying, enjoyable prequel that improves on the 2019 remake with more expressive characters, energetic camerawork, vibrant lighting, and serviceable songs, praising Jenkins for making it his own with genuine emotion. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/mufasa-the-lion-king-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/mufasa-the-lion-king.md