Localization

When the movie was first released in 1994, it numbered 28 versions overall in as many languages
and dialects worldwide, including a special Zulu version made specifically for the movie in South
Africa, where a Disney USA team went to find the Zulu voice-actors. This is not just the only Zulu
dubbing ever made by Disney, but also the only one made in any African language, other
than Arabic.[49][50] The Lion King marks also the first time a special dubbing is released in honor of a
Disney movie background, but not the last: in 2016 the movie Moana received a special Tahitian-
language version,[51] followed in 2017 by a Māori version,[52] and in 2018 by a Hawaiian version;[53] in
2019 the movie Frozen 2 was dubbed into Northern Sami, even though the first movie was not.[54][55]

Home media
The Lion King was first released on VHS and laserdisc in the United States on March 3, 1995,
under Disney's "Masterpiece Collection" video series. The VHS tape contained a special preview
for Walt Disney Pictures' then-upcoming animated film Pocahontas, in which the title
character (voiced by Judy Kuhn) sings the musical number "Colors of the Wind".[56] In addition,
Deluxe Editions of both formats were released. The VHS Deluxe Edition included the film, an
exclusive lithograph of Rafiki and Simba (in some editions), a commemorative "Circle of
Life" epigraph, six concept art lithographs, another tape with the half-hour TV special The Making of
The Lion King, and a certificate of authenticity. The CAV laserdisc Deluxe Edition also contained the
film, six concept art lithographs and The Making of The Lion King, and added storyboards, character
design artwork, concept art, rough animation, and a directors' commentary that the VHS edition did
not have, on a total of four double sided discs. The VHS tape quickly became the best-selling
videotape of all time: 4.5 million tapes were sold on the first day[57] and ultimately sales totaled more
than 30 million[58] before these home video versions went into moratorium in 1997.[59] The VHS
releases have sold a total of 32 million units in North America,[60] and grossed $520 million in sales
revenue.[61] In addition, 23 million units were shipped overseas to international markets. [62]
On October 7, 2003, the film was re-released on VHS and released on DVD for the first time,
titled The Lion King: Platinum Edition, as part of Disney's Platinum Edition line of DVDs. The DVD
release featured two versions of the film on the first disc, a remastered version created for the
2002 IMAX release and an edited version of the IMAX release purporting to be the original 1994
theatrical version.[63] A second disc, with bonus features, was also included in the DVD release. The
film's soundtrack was provided both in its original Dolby 5.1 track and in a new Disney Enhanced
Home Theater Mix, making this one of the first Disney DVDs so equipped. [64] By means of seamless
branching, the film could be viewed either with or without a newly created scene – a short
conversation in the film replaced with a complete song ("The Morning Report"). A Special Collector's
Gift Set was also released, containing the DVD set, five exclusive lithographed character portraits
(new sketches created and signed by the original character animators), and an introductory book
entitled The Journey.[59] The Platinum Edition of The Lion King featured changes made to the film
during its IMAX re-release, including re-drawn crocodiles in the "I Just Can't Wait to Be King"
sequence as well as other alterations. [63] More than two million copies of the Platinum Edition DVD
and VHS units were sold on the first day of release. [57] A DVD box set of the three The Lion King films
(in two-disc Special Edition formats) was released on December 6, 2004. In January 2005, the film,
along with the sequels, went back into moratorium. [65] The DVD releases have sold a total of
11.9 million units and grossed $220 million.[66]
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the Diamond Edition of The Lion King on
October 4, 2011.[67] This marks the first time that the film has been released in high-definition Blu-
ray and on Blu-ray 3D.[67][68] The initial release was produced in three different packages: a two-disc
version with Blu-ray and DVD; a four-disc version with Blu-ray, DVD, Blu-ray 3D, and digital copy;
and an eight-disc box set that also includes the sequels The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The
Lion King 1½.[67][68] A standalone single-disc DVD release also followed on November 15, 2011. [67] The
Diamond Edition topped the Blu-ray charts with over 1.5 million copies sold. [69] The film sold 3.83
million Blu-ray units in total, leading to a $101.14 million income. [70]
The Lion King was once again released to home media as part of the Walt Disney Signature
Collection first released on Digital HD on August 15, 2017, and on Blu-ray and DVD on August 29,
2017.[71]
The Lion King was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K digital download on December 3, 2018.[72] It
was the first traditionally animated, "classic" Disney film to be re-released in 4K.

Box office
The Lion King grossed $422.8 million in North America and $545.7 million in other territories, for a
worldwide total of $968.5 million.[2] It is currently the 46th highest-grossing film of all time,
[73]
 the eleventh highest-grossing animated film of all time worldwide and the fourth highest-grossing
film of Walt Disney Animation Studios (behind Frozen, Frozen 2 and Zootopia).[74] The film was also
the highest-grossing motion picture of 1994 worldwide.[75] After its initial run, having earned $763.4
million,[76] it ranked as the second-highest-grossing film of all time worldwide, behind Jurassic Park.
[77]
 It held the record for the highest-grossing animated feature film (in North America, outside North
America, and worldwide) until it was surpassed by the computer animated Finding Nemo (2003).
With the earnings of the 3D run, The Lion King surpassed all the aforementioned films but Toy Story
3 to rank as the second-highest-grossing animated film worldwide—later dropping to ninth, and then
tenth, surpassed by its photorealistic CGI remake counterpart—and it remains the highest-grossing
hand-drawn animated film.[78] It is also the biggest animated movie of the last 50 years in terms of
estimated attendance.[79] The Lion King was also the highest-grossing G-rated film in the United
States from 1994 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2019 until its total was surpassed by the
computer-animated Toy Story 4 in August 2019 (unadjusted for inflation).[80]

Original theatrical run

In the first two days of limited release in two theaters it grossed $622,277 and for the weekend it
earned $1,586,753, placing tenth place at the box office for the weekend. [81] The average of $793,377
per theater stands as the largest ever achieved during a weekend [82] and it was the highest-grossing
opening weekend on under 50 screens, beating the record set by Star Wars in 1977 from 43
screens.[83] The film grossed $3,766,690 from the 2 screens in just 10 days. [84]
When it opened wide, The Lion King grossed $40.9 million – which at the time was the fourth biggest
opening weekend ever and the highest sum for a Disney film  – to top the weekend box office.[14] It
also earned a rare "A+" rating from CinemaScore.[85] In September 1994, Disney pulled the film from
movie theaters and announced it would be re-released during Thanksgiving in order to take
advantage of the holiday season.[86] By the end of its original theatrical run, in spring 1995, it had
earned $312.9 million,[2] being the second-highest-grossing 1994 film in North America
behind Forrest Gump.[87] Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 74 million tickets in the US
in its initial theatrical run,[88] equivalent to $812.1 million adjusted for inflation in 2018. [89]
Outside of North America, the film grossed $358 million in 1994, before grossing $103
million worldwide in 1995.[90] It went on to earn $455.8 million overseas during its initial run, for a
worldwide total of $768.6 million.[76]

Re-releases
IMAX and large-format
The film was re-issued on December 25, 2002, for IMAX and large-format theaters. Don Hahn
explained that eight years after The Lion King got its original release, "there was a whole new
generation of kids who haven't really seen it, particularly on the big screen." Given the film had
already been digitally archived during production, the restoration process was easier, while also
providing many scenes with enhancements that covered up original deficiencies. [40][91] An enhanced
sound mix was also provided to, as Hahn explained, "make the audience feel like they're in the
middle of the movie."[40] On its first weekend, The Lion King made $2.7 million from 66 locations, a
$27,664 per theater average. This run ended with $15.7 million on May 30, 2003. [92]
3D conversion
In 2011, The Lion King was converted to 3D for a two-week limited theatrical re-issue and
subsequent 3D Blu-ray release.[67][93] The film opened at the number one spot on Friday, September
16, 2011, with $8.9 million[94] and finished the weekend with $30.2 million, ranking number one at the
box office. This made The Lion King the first re-issue release to earn the number-one slot at the
American weekend box office since the re-issue of Return of the Jedi in March 1997.[78] The film also
achieved the fourth-highest September opening weekend of all time. [95] It held off very well on its
second weekend, again earning first place at the box office with a 27 percent decline to $21.9
million.[96] Most box-office observers had expected the film to fall about 50 percent in its second
weekend and were also expecting Moneyball to be at first place.[97]
After its initial box-office success, many theaters decided to continue to show the film for more than
two weeks, even though its 3D Blu-ray release was scheduled for two-and-a-half weeks after its
theatrical release.[96] In North America, the 3D re-release ended its run in theaters on January 12,
2012, with a gross $94.2 million. Outside North America, it earned $83.4 million. [98] The successful
3D re-release of The Lion King made Disney and Pixar plan 3D theatrical re-releases of Beauty and
the Beast, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., and The Little Mermaid during 2012 and 2013.[99] However,
none of the re-releases of the first three films achieved the enormous success of The Lion King
3D and the theatrical re-release of The Little Mermaid was ultimately cancelled.[100] In 2012, Ray
Subers of Box Office Mojo wrote that the reason why the 3D version of The Lion King succeeded
was because, "the notion of a 3D re-release was still fresh and exciting, and The Lion King (3D) felt
timely given the movie's imminent Blu-ray release. Audiences have been hit with three 3D re-
releases in the year since, meaning the novelty value has definitely worn off." [101]