Despite being released in 1994, the original Disney film The Lion King the film still has particular acclaim when it comes to box office ratings, and the huge changes in the industry over the last 30 years mean that even the studio that made the film probably won’t be able to break its own record. While there are some harsh realities to take into account when rewatching The Lion Kingis still widely considered one of the best Disney films of all time. The Lion King made a big noise when it was released and continues to be enjoyed to this day.
With a confirmed release date for Mufasa: The Lion Kingthe prequel to the rebooted version of the franchise is set to expand the saga like never before. Although the 1994 film had sequels, none of them came close to the success of the first film. In fact, the original’s triumph remains one of the studio’s greatest achievements to this day, thanks to the animated film’s interesting record.
The original Lion King is the highest-grossing 2D animated film
The 1994 animated classic still holds strong
Even three decades later, 1994 The Lion King is still the highest-grossing traditionally animated film at the box office (via The Numbers). Looking at a ranking of the most profitable animated films of all time, The Lion King is undefeated when it comes to 2D animation. There have been countless films animated this way since The Lion Kingrelease, making it all the more impressive that it has yet to be surpassed.
2019 The Lion King does not take away the 2D registration of its predecessor because it relies on CGI. However, with Box Office Mojo reporting that the 2019 version grossed over $1.6 billion, the remake is in second place overall on the list.
Interestingly, the 2019 remake is also on the list – despite being marketed as live-action. There’s a simple reason for this: it’s not really live action. The remake was made to closely mimic a realistic aesthetic, but required a lot of use of animation to do so. Therefore, although it is far above the original in the box office ranking of animated films, 2019 The Lion King does not take away the 2D registration of its predecessor because it relies on CGI. However, with Mojo Box Office reporting that the 2019 version grossed over $1.6 billion, the remake is second overall on the list.
Most of the highest-grossing animated films are CGI
The Lion King did well to maintain its place on the list
While animated films are still as popular as they’ve ever been – if not even more so – the medium used to create these worlds has changed a lot since 1994. Although some of the The Lion Kingcontemporaries, such as 1992 Aladdin and 1995 Pocahontas, are among the top 100 highest-grossing animated films, none of them make it into the top 50. In fact, The Lion King itself is outside the top 10despite raising more than US$988 million.
In the future, it’s hard to see CGI films slowing down, so it’s likely that all 2D films will end up falling further in the ratings.
The most modern 2D animated film on the list is from 2007 The Simpsons Movie. Despite the long wait for a feature-length production of Matt Groening’s legendary show and how well it was received, it still can’t compete with the CGI entries on the list. It falls slightly outside the top 50 films, with the entries above and below a mix of projects that preceded and followed it. In the future, it’s hard to see CGI films slowing down, so it’s likely that all 2D films will end up falling further in the ratings.
Will another 2D animated film beat The Lion King’s record?
2D animated films no longer tend to receive the same attention
Although 2D animated films are still made today, it is very rare for them to be released in theaters. One of the few exceptions to this rule is anime films – especially anything from Studio Ghibli. General taste has shifted towards CGI films from established franchises or at least from a proven studio like Pixar, Dreamworks, Illumination or even Disney. Now, 2D animated films are much more likely to come directly to streaming platforms rather than being shown in traditional theaters, which means they hardly have a chance to take The Lion Kingtitle of.
What’s much more likely is that one day animated film ratings will be completely devoid of any 2D entries. Given the art form’s legacy and its impact on cinema over the decades, this is a pretty grim thing to consider, but it’s certainly possible given the current direction of things. Then again, this could mean that The Lion King lasting this long and still being at the top of the list is a sign that it will continue to hold the title of highest-grossing 2D animated film indefinitely – especially without any real challengers.
Source: The Numbers, Mojo Box Office