7 Shakespeare Adaptations For People Who Hate Shakespeare

6) The Lion King

Yes, The Lion King really is based on Shakespeare – Hamlet specifically – it’s just the dialogue was replaced by cheery Disney songs and words more understandable for young ears. The basic story, however, is essentially intact: uncle to a young prince kills his own brother, and the prince’s father, in order to seize power for himself. The difference, obviously, is that Disney swapped humans for lions and Denmark for the African savanna.

The animation is gorgeous, the voice work is iconic (Jeremy Irons’ sneering Scar and James Earl Jones’ rumbling Mufasa make for memorably mellifluously-voiced foes), and the story remains powerful even in hand-drawn form. It’s one of Disney’s best animated films, made at the height of its 90s revival period, and it’s a Shakespeare adaptation so made for the unconvinced that most aren’t even aware it was taken from Shakespeare at all.