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 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".[1] 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, on a total of four double sided discs. The VHS quickly became the best-selling videotape of all time: 4.5 million tapes were sold on the first day[2] and ultimately sales totaled more than 30 million[3] before these versions went into moratorium in 1997.[4] The VHS releases have sold a total of 32 million units in North America,[5] and grossed Template:US$ in sales revenue.[6] In addition, 23 million units were shipped overseas to international markets.[7]
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 featured two versions of the film on the first disc, a remastered version created for the 2002 IMAX release and an edit of the IMAX version made to resemble the original 1994 theatrical version.[8] A second disc, with bonus features, was also included. 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.[9] 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.[4] 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.[8] More than two million copies of the Platinum Edition DVD and VHS units were sold on the first day of release.[2] 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.[10] The DVDs have sold a total of 11.9 million units and grossed Template:US$.[11]
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the Diamond Edition of The Lion King on October 4, 2011.[12] This marks the first time that the film has been released in high-definition Blu-ray and on Blu-ray 3D.[12][13] 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.[12][13] A standalone single-disc DVD release also followed on November 15.[12] The Diamond Edition topped the Blu-ray charts with over 1.5 million copies sold.[14] The film sold 3.83 million Blu-ray units in total, leading to a $101.14 million income.[15]
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 two weeks later.[16]
The Lion King was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K digital download on December 3, 2018.[17] It was the first traditionally animated, "classic" Disney film to be re-released in 4K.
Timeline[]
| Format | Cover | Release Date(s) | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VHS | March 3, 1995 | Walt Disney Home Video | Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection | |
| Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection Deluxe Edition | ||||
| Laserdisc | September 20, 1995 | Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection | ||
| Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection CAV Deluxe Edition | ||||
| VHS | October 7, 2003 | Walt Disney Home Entertainment | Platinum Edition | |
| Spanish release | ||||
| DVD | 2-Disc Platinum Edition | |||
| Blu-ray | October 4, 2011 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Diamond Edition | |
| DVD Packaging | ||||
| Blu-ray 3D | Diamond Edition | |||
| DVD | November 15, 2011 | DVD Edition | ||
| August 29, 2017 | Signature Collection release | |||
| Blu-ray | August 29, 2017 | |||
| 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray | December 4, 2018 | |||
| Blu-ray | March 2, 2021 | 2-Movie Collection with the 2019 remake |
Supplements[]
- Main article: The Lion King/Home media/Supplements
Advertised on:[]
| Title | Release Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Theatrical Release | ||
| 1 | Aladdin | October 1, 1993 |
| 2 | The Muppet Christmas Carol | November 12, 1993 |
| 3 | The Fox and the Hound | March 4, 1994 |
| 4 | The Return of Jafar | May 20, 1994 |
| 5 | Beauty and the Beast Platinum Edition | October 8, 2002 |
| Home Video Release | ||
| 1 | Disney's Sing Along Songs: Circle of Life | December 16, 1994 |
| Platinum Edition | ||
| 1 | 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | January 21, 2003 |
| 2 | Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World Special Edition | February 25, 2003 |
| 3 | Inspector Gadget 2 | March 11, 2003 |
| 4 | Treasure Planet | April 29, 2003 |
| 5 | Atlantis: Milo's Return | May 20, 2003 |
| 6 | Treasure Island | |
| 7 | The Rescuers | |
| 8 | The Jungle Book 2 | June 10, 2003 |
| 9 | Air Bud: Spikes Back | June 24, 2003 |
| 10 | Sounder | |
| 11 | Piglet's Big Movie | July 29, 2003 |
| 12 | Bringing Down the House | August 5, 2003 |
| 13 | The Lizzie McGuire Movie | August 12, 2003 |
| 14 | Stitch! The Movie | August 26, 2003 |
| 15 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | September 2, 2003 |
| 16 | The Brave Little Toaster | |
| 17 | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | |
| 18 | The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue | |
| 19 | Sleeping Beauty Special Edition | September 9, 2003 |
| 20 | Holes | September 23, 2003 |
| Diamond Edition | ||
| 1 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | September 14, 2010 |
| 2 | Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue | September 21, 2010 |
| 3 | Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition | October 5, 2010 |
| 4 | Oceans | October 19, 2010 |
| 5 | The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos | |
| 6 | The Search for Santa Paws | November 23, 2010 |
| 7 | Fantasia Special Edition | November 30, 2010 |
| 8 | Fantasia 200 Special Edition | |
| 9 | The Sorcerer's Apprentice | |
| 10 | Walt & El Grupo | |
| 11 | Waking Sleeping Beauty | |
| 12 | The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story | |
| 13 | Secretariat | January 25, 2011 |
| 14 | Bambi Diamond Edition | March 1, 2011 |
| 15 | Tales from Earthsea | March 8, 2011 |
| 16 | Tangled | March 29, 2011 |
| 17 | The Incrdibles | April 12, 2011 |
| 18 | Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure | April 19, 2011 |
| 19 | Gnomeo & Juliet | May 24, 2011 |
| 20 | The Fox and the Hound 2-Movie Collection | August 9, 2011 |
| 21 | Mars Need Moms | |
| 22 | Dumbo | September 20, 2011 |
| 23 | Spooky Buddies | |
| 24 | African Cats | October 4, 2011 |
- ↑ Opening to The Lion King 1995 VHS [True HQ] (January 31, 2015). Retrieved on July 17, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Lion King home video selling figures. ComingSoon.Net (October 9, 2003). Retrieved on July 7, 2006.
- ↑ Susman, Gary. ""Lion King" sets new records with DVD release", Entertainment Weekly, October 13, 2003. Retrieved on August 16, 2008.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 TLK on Home Video. Lionking.org. Retrieved on September 24, 2006.
- ↑ Charts - TOP VENTES VHS. Retrieved on November 24, 2018.
- ↑ Grover, Ronald (February 16, 1998). The Entertainment Glut. Bloomberg L.P.. Retrieved on May 1, 2017.
- ↑ Citation.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Lion King: Platinum Edition DVD Review (Page 2) which shows the differences between the film presented on the DVD and the original theatrical cut. UltimateDisney.com. Retrieved on January 24, 2009.
- ↑ The Lion King Special Edition (April 16, 2003). Retrieved on September 18, 2006.
- ↑ Out of Print Disney DVDs. UltimateDisney.com. Retrieved on September 24, 2006.
- ↑ Charts - TOP VENTES DVD. Retrieved on November 24, 2018.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "Audiences to Experience Disney's "The Lion King" Like Never Before", May 26, 2011. Retrieved on May 26, 2011.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Exclusive: Lion King 3D Blu-ray Details", May 25, 2011. Retrieved on May 26, 2011.
- ↑ Latchem, John (October 18, 2011). 'Lion King,' 'Fast Five' Propel Blu-ray to Record-breaking Week. Home Media Magazine. Retrieved on December 24, 2011.
- ↑ C.S.Strowbridge (March 1, 2012). Blu-ray Sales: Vamp Defeat Tramp. The Numbers. Retrieved on March 1, 2012.
- ↑ John[sic] Favreau Shares First Look at Live-Action LION KING at D23 Expo. Broadway World (July 17, 2017). Retrieved on July 17, 2017.
- ↑ The Lion King - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review | High Def Digest.