Release OrderRecommended
0 / 8 watchedRelease order, from the 1994 classic to the 2024 prequel. The remakes close the list as their own continuity.
- 1 The Lion King Theatrical original released June 15, 1994. Start here.
- 2 The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa Series ran 1995 to 1999. Standalone comedy adventures with Timon and Pumbaa.
- 3 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Direct-to-video sequel released October 27, 1998. Follows Simba and Nala's daughter Kiara and the outsider Kovu.
- 4 The Lion King 1½ Released February 10, 2004. Retells the 1994 film from Timon and Pumbaa's view, with Timon's origin up front.
- 5 The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar TV film premiered November 22, 2015. Pilot for The Lion Guard series.
- 6 The Lion Guard Three seasons, 2016 to 2019. Follows Simba and Nala's son Kion and his guard. Set inside Simba's Pride.
- 7 The Lion King (2019 remake) Photorealistic remake released July 19, 2019. Starts a separate continuity from the animated films.
- 8 Mufasa: The Lion King Released December 20, 2024. Mufasa's youth, told in a story framed after the 2019 film.
Chronological Order
0 / 8 watchedStory order for the animated continuity, with the remake pair grouped at the end since they retell and precede that same arc separately.
- 1 The Lion King The saga proper starts here regardless of order.
- 2 The Lion King 1½ Runs parallel to the 1994 film, so it plays second.
- 3 The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa Picks up the duo's comedy adventures after the films they riff on.
- 4 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (first act) Opens after the 1994 film. Pause midway for the next two entries; they fill its middle time jump.
- 5 The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Pilot film. Introduces Kion between Kiara's cubhood and her first hunt.
- 6 The Lion Guard Sits inside Simba's Pride. Return to the 1998 film for its second half, then watch the last two episodes after it.
- 7 The Lion King (2019 remake) Retelling of the 1994 story in the remake continuity. Watch after the animated run.
- 8 Mufasa: The Lion King Prequel to the 2019 remake. Watch last; its framing scenes assume the remake.
About The Lion King
The animated saga runs from the 1994 original through Simba's Pride, the Timon and Pumbaa and Lion Guard series, and the 2004 midquel told from the duo's point of view.
The 2019 photorealistic remake and its 2024 prequel Mufasa form their own continuity, so watch them after the animated run.
Good to know
The Lion Guard sits inside the time jump in the middle of Simba's Pride, except its final two episodes, which play after that film. The Timon and Pumbaa episodes are standalone comedies, so that series can be sampled in any order.
