In its seventh week of release (30 August – September 2019), Disney’s The Lion King became the all-time top-grossing film in South Africa, with a haul of over R107.6 million since it’s 19 July 2019 release across the continent.
The all-new film from Disney crossed 2018’s Marvel Studios’ Black Panther to claim the record, with both films followed closely by two other Marvel Studios films, namely Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War respectively. This means that Walt Disney Studios releases account for 4 of the top 5 films of all time at the South African box office.
“We continue to celebrate this incredible film with fans across the continent and are thrilled that audiences at home have embraced the iconic storytelling, characters and breath-taking music that can only be delivered by The Lion King.” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President of The Walt Disney Company Africa.
Directed by Jon Favreau, and utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way, Disney’s The Lion King boasts an all-star cast that includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon and South Africa’s own Dr. John Kani as Rafiki. Local music legend Lebo M features on the breath-taking soundtrack as does Pharrell Williams, Elton John, Tim Rice and the cast.
In addition, over 10 000 high school learners from under-served communities saw the film this past August as The Walt Disney Company Africa, in collaboration with Hyundai Santa Fe, FNB and Attacq Foundation ran The Lion King Screening Programme at Ster-Kinekor Theatres. The sessions included an educational conservation talk by The Endangered Wildlife Trust, with snack packs donated by Makro.
Disney’s The Lion King is currently in cinemas.
About The Walt Disney Company EMEA:
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks; Parks, Experiences and Products; Studio Entertainment; and Direct-to-Consumer and International. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of $59.4 billion in its last fiscal year (FY18).
Seeking to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through the power of unparalleled storytelling, The Walt Disney Company has been in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for over 80 years, employing thousands of people across the region and reaching consumers in more than 130 countries. The Walt Disney Company’s iconic brands – including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, FOX, FOX Sports and ESPN – are experienced diversely across the region in cinemas, on TV screens, online, at retail, in Disney Stores and at Disneyland Paris.