The Lion King Remake Dominates Dutch Box Office in 2019

Surprisingly, it was the remake of The Lion King that surpassed all of these films in terms of audience numbers.nnIn recent years, Walt Disney Pictures has shown a preference for producing live-action remakes of their classic animated films. The trend began with 2014's Maleficent, and since then, a live-action remake has been released annually.

In 2019, Disney released a total of five remakes, including Dumbo, Aladdin, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Lady and the Tramp, and The Lion King. The latter remake still ranks within the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time, which explains its popularity as the most visited film in the Netherlands that year.nnDirector Jon Favreau, known for kickstarting the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man in 2008, further solidified his success with a remake of The Jungle Book in 2016.

Following the immense box office success of The Jungle Book, Disney greenlit a remake of The Lion King. This decision proved to be extremely lucrative, as The Lion King raked in over $1.6 billion in revenue worldwide, surpassing the already impressive numbers of The Jungle Book.

In the Netherlands alone, the film grossed over $34 million and was enjoyed by more than three million viewers.nnBuilding on the triumph of The Lion King remake, a prequel titled Mufasa: The Lion King was announced for release in 2020. This upcoming film delves into the backstory of a younger Mufasa, exploring how he ascended to the title of 'Lion King'.

Additionally, audiences will witness the origin of the rivalry between Mufasa and Scar, shedding new light on their complex relationship dynamics. Mufasa: The Lion King is scheduled to hit theaters in December, promising to captivate audiences with a fresh perspective on the beloved characters and lore of the iconic franchise.