"Mufasa: The Lion King" streams on Disney+ March 26

"Mufasa: The Lion King," a prequel to Disney's 2019 live-action film, is coming to Disney+ this week. The movie will be available for streaming on March 26, 2025. Directed by Barry Jenkins, who won an Oscar for "Moonlight," the film premiered in theaters on December 20, 2024. It then became available for digital streaming through premium video on demand on February 18. The story follows young Mufasa, voiced by Braelyn Rankins, who meets another lion named Taka, voiced by Theo Somolu. This meeting begins a journey for a group of misfits who are trying to find their destinies. The film features notable voices, including Aaron Pierre as adult Mufasa and Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, who later becomes known as Skar. Other stars include Tiffany Boone, Mads Mikkelsen, Seth Rogen, and Donald Glover, reprising his role as Simba. To watch "Mufasa: The Lion King," viewers need a Disney+ subscription. There are two plans: an ad-based option for $9.99 a month and an ad-free plan for $15.99 monthly or $159.99 annually. Initially, the film performed modestly at the box office, earning $35 million during its opening weekend. However, it picked up steam and has made nearly $253.3 million domestically and $464.1 million internationally, totaling around $717.4 million worldwide. The production budget was $200 million. The movie received a mixed response from critics, earning a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers noted that while Jenkins' direction and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda added depth, the animation style was criticized. In contrast, audiences rated the film much higher, with an 89% score based on thousands of user ratings. "Mufasa: The Lion King" is rated PG.