The Lion King Crowns an Era of Consolidation in Hollywood
“I don’t think critics’ reviews are going to matter as much with this film.”
Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones) and young Simba (JD McCrary).
Source: Disney
Come for the harmonic pairing of Beyoncé and Donald Glover as they sing the Elton John classics, stay for the comedic fireworks of Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner in Walt Disney’s live-action The Lion King.
That’s the standard take from the reviews of one of Disney’s crown jewels this year, which hits theaters nationwide Friday. But critics have given this version of the beloved tale a frosty reception—only 60% are recommending it, according to aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. With an estimated $175 million-plus opening weekend, it’s still likely to record the second-biggest opening of the year so far, behind only Avengers: Endgame.