The Lion King: Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic score REVEALED for 2019 ‘live-action’ remake

The 2019 digitally-rendered remake, being touted as “live-action”, is in cinemas next week, just weeks after the new versions of Aladdin and Dumbo.

Reviews have been pouring out, and its initial score on Rotten Tomatoes is 61%, as things stand at time of publication.

This puts it only marginally clear of the 60% threshold films need to pass in order to dodge the dreaded “rotten” label.

Rotten Tomatoes’ percentage is based simply on how many reviews are generally positive, and how many are negative.

Metacritic, meanwhile, works out a score based on the specific grades and ratings each critic gives.

At time of writing, the film is on 56/100 based on 28 critics’ verdicts.

For comparison, Aladdin settled on 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, while Dumbo ended up with 46% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic.

The Jungle Book – which had the same director as The Lion King; Jon Favreau – is currently the best-rated remake to date: it’s on 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic.

Pete’s Dragon also fared well; winning 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic.

The original 1994 Lion King has 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 83 on Metacritic.

It’s bad news for anyone growing fatigued by all these remakes, as there are still plenty to come.

Lady and the Tramp is going straight to Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, when that launches in November; and Mulan will follow in 2020.

The Sword in the Stone is also destined for Disney+, while full theatrical releases are expected for The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lilo and Stitch, Pinocchio and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Interestingly there has been growing fan demand for a re-interpretation of Hercules, but that remains one of the few to not receive the remake treatment just yet.

The Lion King boasts an impressive cast; including Donald Glover as Simba and Beyonce as Nala.

James Earl Jones reprises his role as Mufasa from the animation.

The Lion King is out on July 19.