The Lion King 35mm

30th Anniversary / Presented in 35mm! 

The Lion King follows Simba, a young heir who is forced to flee after his uncle Scar kills his father and usurps the throne. Growing up in exile, Simba returns to challenge Scar and end his tyrannical rule over the kingdom.

The original songs were written by British legend Sir Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer. Inspired by African wildlife and his personal experiences, Zimmer composed the film’s score linearly, with the piece “…To Die For” becoming particularly personal due to his own father’s death, prompting him to create a “serious requiem” for Mufasa’s death scene.

The story is modeled primarily on William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, with influences from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses, as well as Homer’s Odyssey.

The film remains the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time. It received two Academy Awards® and the Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.