All 5 The Lion King Movies in Order

It all began with little Simba, a prince in an animal kingdom where the sun always seems to shine, until jealousy, guilt and loss put him to the test. The original animated film is a masterpiece: grand and personal, musical and dramatic. Scar, one of Disney's most charismatic villains, and a soundtrack that still lives in hearts worldwide make it a timeless classic.

The story continues with Simba as the adult king and father of the curious Kiara. When she falls in love with Kovu, a lion from Scar's exiled followers, old tensions flare up again. The film has a clear Romeo and Juliet character, with tragedy, reconciliation and moral lessons. The animation is simpler than the original, but the emotion holds up. A worthy, if modest, expansion of the universe.

No grand drama this time, but a comic side story. The Lion King 1½ retells the original film from the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa. What were they doing during the big events? How did they come up with 'Hakuna Matata'? The result is light, surprisingly self-aware and cleverly woven between existing scenes. Not essential, but a charming ode to the comic sidekicks.

With this remake, Jon Favreau brought the story to a new generation. It's visually breathtaking thanks to hyperrealistic CGI that looks almost like a nature documentary. But it wasn't without criticism: the lifelike animals struggled to convey emotion, which for many cost the story its soul. Beyoncé and Donald Glover add star power, and it became one of the highest-grossing films ever, but it lacks the warmth and expression of the original animation.

In this prequel, directed by Barry Jenkins, we go back in time to Mufasa's youth as an orphaned cub and his complicated bond with Taka, the lion who would become Scar. The style stays true to the 2019 remake, but the pace is calmer, with more emphasis on character and symbolism. Less spectacle, more mythology.