Mufasa: The Lion King
This photorealistic prequel tells the origin story of Simba's father, from orphaned cub to Pride Lands leader, and carries the same big heart as its predecessors alongside some genuinely intense action. The villain and several peril sequences are likely too frightening for the youngest viewers, but older kids will find a lot of warmth and themes worth talking through together.
A great fit for kids around 7 and up who have already enjoyed The Lion King and can handle animal peril and some implied deaths.
If you’d rather skip
A dam bursts during a rainstorm, triggering a stampede and a massive flood that sweeps young Mufasa away from his parents; the scene is loud, prolonged, and emotionally distressing, depicting child-parent separation.
Mufasa's parents are lost in the flood, leaving him an orphan; the separation is played with genuine sadness and is likely to upset younger or sensitive viewers.
Kiros ambushes Mufasa from behind a waterfall with a creepy echoing voice and a sudden lunge at his neck; a classic jump-scare setup that will startle younger children.