Mufasa: The Lion King | 2024 | PG | – 1.4.2

Why is “Mufasa: The Lion King” rated PG? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “action/violence, peril and some thematic elements.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes some flirting and tender snuggling between lions, several scenes of lions fighting causing death and injuries, animals being caught in a rush of water causing some injuries and death, animals falling from cliffs, many discussions of the circle of life and some name-calling. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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Prequel to The Lion King saga, which follows the story of Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and how he gained his animal kingdom’s respect after fighting a group of other lions bent on controlling all of the land. Also with the voices of Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Blue Ivy Carter, John Kani, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Donald Glover and Beyoncé. Directed by Barry Jenkins. [Running Time: 2:00]

Mufasa: The Lion King SEX/NUDITY 1

 – A male and a female lion sing about how they feel about each other and another male overhears them and is jealous (he sings, “She should be mine”); the two lie next to each other and rub their cheeks together. Male and female lions rub their heads together expressing tenderness in a couple of scenes. Male lions rub their heads together expressing a brotherly bond. A lion gives another lion advice about how to speak to a female lion when he says he likes her. A small bird says, “I once had a crush on a flamingo.”

Mufasa: The Lion King VIOLENCE/GORE 4

 – Two large lions prowl near a female lion and two young males and they attack the female: one of the males lunges at the attacker and they fight, one throws the other and he crashes into a rock (we understand that the thrown lion dies) and the other runs off (the female and the young male limp back to their pride but we do not see injuries or blood). A lion reprimands a young male lion for leaving his son to die; many female lions circle the young male in a threatening manner and we understand that they kill him. Two lions fight and one is thrown into a cavern where he lies unconscious briefly; he stumbles through the dark cave and the other lion lunges toward him, pins him and raises his paw to kill him, saying, “Blood for blood” as he slashes another lion across the face (we see a bloody gash across his eye). Two lions fight and fall into water, one tries to pull the other under the surface and a large boulder falls pinning one of the lions under it as the other swims to the surface. Two lions fight and one is thrown across rocks and into water below (he moans but is still alive).
► Many lions climb across tall rock outcroppings over a deep crevasse to reach three other lions; one lion knocks a large beehive out of a tree that releases many angry bees that scare elephants and cause them to trample knocking over the outcroppings and throwing lions to the ground (presumably dead), and one lion is knocked unconscious when she is kicked by an elephant and a male takes her to safety. A lion with many other lions gathered around him threatens another lion for taking his son; two young lions run away and are chased by others through a jungle to a river’s edge where one lion says they need to swim and the other says they need to stay and fight the king; one young lion pushes the other, both fall into the water and swim away catching onto a branch until another lion chases them; the attacking lion is attacked by a crocodile and the other two get to safety. A wall of snow breaks out from under a lion sending him tumbling down and over rocks before reaching the bottom where he sees other lions that had been tracking him and his party walking toward him. Lions pick up the scent of other lions chasing them. Lions surround a bird and another bird picks him up and carries him away to safety. An earthquake opens a deep hole in the ground and several lions fall in (presumably dead).
► Rain drops fall on animals and they gather at a watering hole; a large rush of water speeds toward them and several animals are washed away, a lion struggles to help his cub and throws him out of the water to a craggy collection of timber and rocks that he tries to cross to reach his mother, but an elephant crashes into it sending the cub through the air and into the water; he is then washed far away clinging to a tree trunk. Crocodiles swim fast toward a lion cub in a river and he struggles to climb out; another lion cub grabs his paws, digging its claws into him (we see some blood) and an adult roars loudly scaring the crocodiles away and pulls the cub to safety.
► Several female lions circle two young male lions threateningly for being outsiders. A lion threatens to eat a lion cub calling him a stray and says that outsiders are never allowed to join them. A lion standing on a rock cliff over flames burning below lunges toward a meerkat and a boar and he is pushed over the cliff and into the flames below. Several lions tracking other lions are frustrated when they lose the scent after a bird spreads snow across their tracks. A young cub is afraid when a storm brews with thunder and lightning; a meerkat, a boar and a mandrill try to keep her calm. Two young male lions walk alongside a mandrill and one roars at him, the mandrill sizes him up and keeps walking nonplussed.
► We hear that a lion makes a deal to sacrifice others to save himself. A lion is told about his father’s death. A lion talks to his son about how to lie about running away from a fight. Many animals urge a lion to banish another lion. A lion tells another lion that one day a lion will betray him. A lion tells his son that males “protect the pride as we nap.” Two characters talk about a 3-legged zebra. Two animals sing a song and one says they had better stop before “legal sends them letters.”
► A mandrill is banished accused of summoning the devil and they say that he has brought a curse to them all. A lion sends two young male lions away to start a new life when the pride is threatened by other lions. A lion trips a lion cub when he and another cub race; the lion reprimands the cub that lost. A pregnant lion finds shelter presumably to deliver her cub. A lion sleeps and calls for his mother when he dreams of what happened when they were separated.
► A mandrill catches a fish and puts it back in the water gently. Two lion cubs are stuck with tines from porcupines. A warthog eats bugs while being told a story (like nuts or popcorn). A warthog says he needs to have a bathroom break and when he returns he insists that he washed his hooves, but leaves again to actually wash.

Mufasa: The Lion King LANGUAGE 2

 – 1 mild scatological term, name-calling (pathological liar, hideous revolting stench, stray, clumsy, nothing but trouble, heathen, naked animals, wounded coward, sock puppet, gross, baboon, outcast), exclamations (wow, man alive). | profanity glossary |

Mufasa: The Lion King SUBSTANCE USE

 – None.

Mufasa: The Lion King DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Family, the circle of life, bravery, courage, standing up for your community, isolation, fate, revenge, mercy, betrayal, fearing those that are different, understanding, confidence, truth, extinction, doubt, power, skills, destiny, stories, right, imagination, fairy tales, hope.

Mufasa: The Lion King MESSAGE

 – Every being has a place in the circle of life.