Warning: This list contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King.Mufasa: The Lion King premiered on December 20, 2024, as a prequel (and sequel of sorts) to Disney's 2019 film Lion King redo. The latter received mixed reviews from critics and audiences for a variety of reasons, it simply didn't need to stand out as the most obvious. However, in this day and age, one can understand the need to update and improve even the best of Disney's animated films. Unfortunately, Mufasa: The Lion King It doesn't appear to be a winner in this department either.
Much like its predecessor, Mufasa faced mixed reviews upon its release, making us wonder if all those people simply watched the same movie. From the beginning, it was clear that viewers expected a compelling Mufasa story that enriched the original narrative. Yet, Mufasa appears not to have been fully fulfilled, and there are a few possible reasons for this.
10
Mufasa has mediocre music
The Lion King's new score didn't live up to the classic
While some have expressed their appreciation for Lin-Manuel Miranda's contributions, Mufasa is largely underwhelming musically, according to many viewers and critics. Predictably, the songs were compared to the original Lion King soundtrack, composed mainly by the legendary Elton John, which didn't help the new soundtrack at all. Even Elton John himself said that the 2019 remake of The Lion King messed up his music and it seems public opinion is similar for the 2024 version.
Although the film introduced some good tracks, such as "Tell Me It's You" and "Bye Bye", which undoubtedly added depth to the story and the characters who played them, the general music of Mufasa failed to meet the admittedly very high expectations. Instead of delivering the quintessential Disney magic that audiences have come to value, the soundtrack left many disappointed and was considered "mediocre" by FandomWire.
9
Mufasa's animation style is soulless
Mufasa has an uncanny valley effect that no one expected
Many criticized Mufasa for its soulless animation style (or just for being part of a "soulless machine", through THR), which generated considerable controversy online due to its hyper-realistic depictions of animals. The film took a photorealistic approach, aiming to create realistic creatures with intricate detail in fur, skin and movement. While the technical achievements were undoubtedly impressive, the emotional impact of the characters was notably absent.
Despite clearly expressing emotions, the animals in the film still seem strangely lifeless. This paradox of hyperrealism combined with a lack of expressive warmth or depth has left many viewers with a feeling of disconnection and a longing for the charm of classic Disney animation. The uncanny valley effect was probably the last thing anyone wanted to experience in a Lion King film, and this seems to have been one of the main reasons Mufasa I got such mixed reviews.
8
Mufasa's CGI requires little effort
Mufasa's CGI overload failed to heighten the emotional impact
In addition to failing to deliver the charm of Disney animation par excellence, MufasaThe film's use of CGI was described as painful to watch by many viewers. At the same time, the effects manage to be both underwhelming and overbearing, offering very little in the way of creating an emotionally engaging world. Despite the film's clear attempts to push the limits of digital animation, it failed to fully harness the potential of CGI in a way that improved the storytelling.
Instead of enhancing the viewing experience, CGI often distracted from it, making it unsurprising that it was a common point of criticism among viewers.
While no one expected to see an all-out fight between two lions or an on-screen death in Mufasathe film missed the opportunity to use CGI properly for moments of greater emotion, such as battles, dangerous confrontations or moments of raw ferocity. Instead of enhancing the viewing experience, CGI often distracted from it, making it unsurprising that it was a common point of criticism among viewers.
7
Mufasa has questionable plot points
Mufasa's campy story has pacing issues
Although perhaps a controversial approach, Mufasa introduced some questionable plot points to the Lion King canon, which doesn't even serve the film's story on its own. Despite being a prequel/sequel to an iconic story, the film sometimes struggles with pacing and narrative flow. Some moments felt rushed or glossed over, while others were unnecessarily confusing, making the plot feel fragmented and overloaded.
A prime example of this were Timon and Pumbaa (voiced by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively). The duo is one of the most likable characters in the original Lion Kinghelping to balance the more dramatic themes. However, in MufasaHis presence is somewhat forced and out of place, making his role in the plot make little sense. Instead of feeling like natural participants in the plot, the duo's appearances feel more like obligatory nods to fans of the original, which add little to the progression of the narrative.
6
Mufasa's Messy Narrative Adjustment
Mufasa's fragmented plot has an unfinished feel
Mufasaof weird place overall Lion King The timeline seems to be another major reason for its mixed reviews. As a prequel and sequel to the 2019 film Lion King remake, the film had the challenging task of intertwining the past and future of iconic Disney characters and, at the same time, offering something new. However, the execution left many viewers confused.
With flashbacks, completely new plots, and a complete set of never-before-seen characters, the film's structure often lacks clarity in how it connects to the original. Lion Kingevents, making it more difficult for some to follow the story. Attempting to satisfy new and old fans of The Lion King it just seemed to complicate the narrative, as the film didn't fully commit to either the past or the future, leaving both timelines feeling somewhat incomplete.
5
Mufasa and Scar's Family Dynamics
Mufasa and Scar's relationship came as a surprise to many
Another possible reason that Mufasa received mixed reviews could have been the decision to highlight the now-controversial family dynamic between Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) and Scar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). In the original film, it is implied that the two lions are blood brothers, with sibling rivalry being the central driving force of the story. It is their relationship that adds significant emotional depth and stakes to the conflict.
In the original Lion King film, it is implied that the two lions are blood brothers, with sibling rivalry being the central driving force of the story.
However, in the 2024 installment, it is confirmed that Mufasa was effectively adopted. Although Mufasa and Scar's history and relationship in The Lion King have already been addressed by filmmakers, not everyone was aware of the fact that the pair were not relatedwhich is why it may have left a bitter taste for them. In any case, Mufasa it has undoubtedly lost some of the complexity that made the pair's rivalry so compelling.
4
Scar's Redemption Arc
Mufasa humanizing a villainous legacy
In Mufasawe discover that Scar was originally called Taka. Although audiences have come to know and love him as one of cinema's most iconic villains, he has now unexpectedly become a Disney villain who is almost a hero. Once it is established that Mufasa and Taka are not biological brothers, Mufasa taking the throne from him makes little sense.
In Mufasa: The Lion Kingit is revealed that Taka obtained his iconic scar by bravely intervening to protect Mufasa from Kiros during a fight.
It's true that Taka isn't the firstborn, meaning he was never first in line to rule the Pride Lands, but choosing a newcomer who isn't directly related to anyone in the pride doesn't sit well with some. At times it feels like this narrative was some sort of attempt to humanize Scar and provide a backstory that softened his villainous character. Even though this twist added depth to Scar's character, also confused the clear morality that The Lion King had already established.
3
Mufasa's low emotional impact
Mufasa has a high budget, no emotions
When too much CGI meets an arguably cluttered narrative, a lack of emotional depth is inevitable at some point. According to critics and viewers, Mufasa it often failed to deliver the emotional peaks it intended, leaving certain moments in the film glossed over. With a hefty budget of US$200 million, which makes this Lion King installment one of the most expensive in the franchise, one would hope there would be at least some emotional resonance going on.
Despite delivering new and innovative material to the Lion King franchise, the 2024 edition evidently lacks the richness that made the original film so iconic. The emotional impact of the main sibling relationship that was supposed to be the driving force of the narrative was, unfortunately, lost somewhere along the way, probably also contributing to Mufasaof mixed Front desk.
2
Mufasa's Supercharged Runtime
Mufasa has 118 minutes of impact drained
For many, Mufasa is unnecessarily long. Clocking in at nearly two hours (118 minutes to be exact), the film is just as long as the 2019 film and almost half an hour longer than every other animated film in the franchise. Despite being part of one of Disney's most beloved stories of all time, the film could have been more impactful with a more concise approach. This is especially true when characters like Timon and Pumbaa are mostly just there as Easter eggs.
The prolonged running time also contributes to a feeling of fatigue, as the plot sometimes struggles to maintain momentum. While there were some scenes that had the potential to be explored further, others felt padded, making the length even more noticeable. As a result, Mufasa it lost a little more of its impact as the slower pace made it harder for viewers to stay engaged and emotionally invested.
1
Mufasa is a for-profit remake
Mufasa doesn't have the Disney spark
As predicted in the remakes of a beloved Disney classic, many viewers felt that the hyperrealistic Lion King the films lack a real reason to exist within a larger context. Since the 2019 film already seemed unnecessary to many, questions about Disney's decision to revisit the Lion King franchise started to appear even before Mufasa arrived in theaters. For most fans, the 1994 animated masterpiece is a near-perfect story that requires no further reinterpretation.
However, although Disney Lion King plan could be terrifying, will likely make billions, which seems to answer the question of its purpose. Still, this apparent lack of creative intent is undoubtedly one of the key factors in the mixed reception of Mufasa: The Lion King, with fans craving originality rather than reimagined content of an already beloved story.
Source: Rotten tomatoes, FandomWire, THR