It feels like just yesterday that we were all debating whether we actually needed a prequel to a remake of a 1994 classic. But here we are in 2026, and Barry Jenkins’ Mufasa: The Lion King has officially transitioned from a big-screen spectacle to a living room staple. If you’re asking can you watch mufasa at home, the answer is a resounding yes. You've actually got more ways to see it now than when it first roared into cinemas.
The movie had a massive run, pulling in over $700 million globally, which is wild considering how skeptical people were at first. Disney played the long game with the release schedule. They didn't just dump it on streaming immediately. They made us wait, following that old-school windowing strategy that seems to be making a comeback lately.
Where to Stream Mufasa Right Now
Honestly, the most straightforward way to catch the flick is on Disney Plus. It’s been sitting in their library since late March 2025. If you already pay for the service, you basically just have to type "Mufasa" into the search bar and you're good to go. It’s included in the standard subscription, so no "Premier Access" nonsense or extra fees like they used to do during the pandemic.
If you aren't a subscriber, you aren't totally out of luck. You can still find it on the usual digital storefronts. I’m talking about:
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- Apple TV (formerly iTunes)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Google Play Movies
- Fandango at Home (which some of us still call Vudu)
The digital purchase usually runs around $19.99, while renting it for a 48-hour window is typically about $5.99. It’s kind of a steep price for a one-time watch, but if you have a pack of kids who want to watch the "I Always Wanted a Brother" scene forty times in a row, buying it is the move.
The Technical Specs for Your Home Theater
If you’ve spent a fortune on a 4K OLED TV and a fancy soundbar, you're in luck. The version streaming on Disney Plus supports 4K Ultra HD and Dolby Vision. It looks incredibly sharp—sometimes so sharp it's a bit eerie seeing those photorealistic lions with human expressions.
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The audio is mixed in Dolby Atmos. If you have a surround sound setup, those stampede scenes and the Kiros confrontation actually carry some weight. It’s a lot different than hearing it through tiny laptop speakers, that's for sure.
Why People Are Still Searching Can You Watch Mufasa at Home
A lot of the confusion stems from how Disney changed their release patterns. Back in the day, movies hit Disney Plus about 45 days after theaters. With Mufasa, they waited nearly 100 days. It stayed in theaters for a long time because it was a "sleeper hit," according to box office analysts at Deadline.
Basically, because it did so well in December 2024 and January 2025, the home release got pushed back to maximize ticket sales. Now that we're well into 2026, it's firmly established in the "at-home" phase of its life cycle.
Physical Media Lives On
Surprisingly, people are still buying the discs. There’s a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray collector’s edition that came out in April 2025. It includes a bunch of extras that you don't always get on the streaming version, like:
- A full-length sing-along version (great for some, a nightmare for others).
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes on how Barry Jenkins used VR to direct the "live-action" shots.
- Music videos for the Lin-Manuel Miranda tracks.
There’s something about owning the physical copy that just feels more permanent, especially with how often streaming services rotate their libraries—though, to be fair, Disney is unlikely to ever remove a Lion King property from Disney Plus.
The Verdict on the Prequel
Look, whether you like the "live-action" style or not, the story of young Mufasa and Taka (before he became Scar) is actually pretty touching. It’s got a different vibe than the original—less Shakespearean and a bit more like an adventurous road movie.
If you're planning a family movie night, it's a solid choice. It's about two hours long, which is the sweet spot for keeping kids' attention without it becoming a marathon.
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Next Steps for You:
If you want to watch it tonight, check your Disney Plus account first. If you don't have one, head over to the Amazon or Apple TV store to see if they have any "bundle" deals with the 2019 Lion King movie, as they often discount them together. Just make sure your internet connection is stable enough for 4K streaming so you don't end up with a pixelated mess during the big musical numbers.