With a budget of $200 million, “Mufasa: The Lion King,” directed by Barry Jenkins, was described by The New York Times as a “sleeper success,” or a film that didn’t do very well during opening, but later profited dramatically. It earned $11.5 million during its opening weekend and later grossed nearly $630 million globally, as of Jan. 27.
The film, a prequel to the original “The Lion King,” tells the story of Mufasa’s journey to becoming the leader of Milele.
Early on, Mufasa is swept away by a great flood and rescued by Tuku, a cub from another lion kingdom, and brought to Tuku’s father, the pride’s leader.
A central issue arises early in the film. In nature, dominant lions often attack cubs outside of their pride to ensure only their own offspring continue the bloodline. Given Mufasa’s outsider status, it would seem logical for the pride leader to view him as a threat.
As the story continues, Mufasa is ambushed by white lions known as the Outsiders. After a second attack, Mufasa and Tuku are forced to leave the pride, embarking on an intense journey. Along the way, they encounter some other characters, including Sarabi, a starry female lioness.
From this point, another conflict arises. In nature, two male lions encountering a lioness would typically fight over her, a dynamic reflected in the tension between Mufasa and Tuku regarding Sarabi.
As they continue on their journey, they finally get to Milele. Once in Milele, they are cornered by the Outsiders, and Tuku reveals the plot twist of the film.
As the film reaches its end, Milele is changed into what it is seen in the original “The Lion King” with Mufasa as the King of Milele.
Despite its illogical moments throughout the film, “Mufasa: The Lion King,” is a great film. It has a good storyline and great visuals. With it being a Disney film, there is an understanding of how the film had to be child friendly. But the storyline could have been different from other Disney films, changing the story from jealousy to something new or something not usually seen in a Disney film, such as deception or war and peace.
Overall, “Mufasa: The Lion King” is a film about connections and how other cultures and individuals can overcome their differences and come together. It also highlights the challenges within families and the importance of confronting personal struggles. At its core, the film underscores the value of leadership, showing that true leadership isn’t solely about strengths but also about wisdom and compassion.