This past weekend (23-25 August 2019), after 6 weeks at the top of the South African Box Office and over 1.2 million attendances, Disney’s The Lion King passed R100 million, becoming the third film in history to do so.
With over R101m in local box office takings, the all-new film joins the R100m club that already features last year’s Black Panther and this year’s Avengers: Endgame, both from Marvel Studios. Together with 2018’s Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War, Walt Disney Studios releases now account for the top 4 films of all time at the South African Box Office.
Directed by Jon Favreau, and utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, Disney’s The Lion King boasts an all-star cast that includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon and South Africa’s own Dr. John Kani as Rafiki. Local music legend Lebo M features on the breath-taking soundtrack as does Pharrell Williams, Elton John, Tim Rice and the cast.
“We are thrilled at the overwhelming response that South African audiences have shown The Lion King, a story grounded on the continent that celebrates so much of the creativity and beauty of what Africa has to offer,” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are equally delighted that the stories from our studios, whether they be Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios or 20th Century Fox, continue to resonate with local audiences to this extent – we look forward to sharing more upcoming releases in 2019, including Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in October as well as Frozen 2 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker this festive season.”
This past weekend also saw the culmination of The Lion King Screening Programme whereby The Walt Disney Company Africa, in collaboration with Hyundai Santa Fe, FNB and Attacq Foundation saw up to 10 000 high school learners from under-served communities across the country experiencing the ground-breaking new film at Ster-Kinekor Theatres.
Disney’s The Lion King is currently in cinemas.
About the Film:
Disney’s The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savannah where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
