<P> The Lion King had a limited release in North America on June 15 , 1994 , playing in only two theaters , El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall in New York City . It still earned $1,586,753 across the weekend of June 17 -- 19 , standing at the tenth place of the box office ranking . The average of $793,377 per theater stands as the largest ever achieved during a weekend . The wide release followed on June 24 , 1994 , in 2,550 screens . The digital surround sound of the film led many of those theaters to implement Dolby Laboratories ' newest sound systems . The Lion King grossed $40.9 million -- which at the time was the fourth biggest opening weekend earning ever and the highest sum for a Disney film -- to top the weekend box office . It also earned a rare `` A + '' rating from CinemaScore . By the end of its theatrical run , in spring 1995 , it had earned $312,855,561 , being the second - highest - grossing 1994 film in North America behind Forrest Gump . Outside North America , it earned $455.8 million during its initial run , for a worldwide total of $768.6 million . Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 74 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run . </P>
<P> The Lion King had a limited release in North America on June 15 , 1994 , playing in only two theaters , El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall in New York City . It still earned $1,586,753 across the weekend of June 17 -- 19 , standing at the tenth place of the box office ranking . The average of $793,377 per theater stands as the largest ever achieved during a weekend . The wide release followed on June 24 , 1994 , in 2,550 screens . The digital surround sound of the film led many of those theaters to implement Dolby Laboratories ' newest sound systems . The Lion King grossed $40.9 million -- which at the time was the fourth biggest opening weekend earning ever and the highest sum for a Disney film -- to top the weekend box office . It also earned a rare `` A + '' rating from CinemaScore . By the end of its theatrical run , in spring 1995 , it had earned $312,855,561 , being the second - highest - grossing 1994 film in North America behind Forrest Gump . Outside North America , it earned $455.8 million during its initial run , for a worldwide total of $768.6 million . Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold over 74 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run . </P>
when did lion king come out in theaters
when did lion king come out in theaters
June 24 , 1994
June 24 , 1994