3. The Lion King (1994)
Based on: Hamlet
We’re not going to debate that The Lion King is one of Disney’s greatest masterpieces. The animated film is exceptional in almost every way, and its status as a Shakespeare adaptation has become common knowledge in recent years. The reason it’s on this list, though, is simply that it’s actually a pretty weird adaptation when you think about it.
Taking the timeless story of Hamlet and using it as a framework for a narrative is a pretty common practice. Applying it to anthropomorphized animals and aiming it at children is decidedly less common. Making a play widely considered a blood-soaked tragedy palatable for a young audience is no mean feat, and Disney managed to use Hamlet as a springboard for an instant family classic.
What makes The Lion King even weirder as a Shakespeare adaptation is how well it works. The use of various species of animals fits shocking well with the story, and it makes the narrative easier to understand for even the youngest audiences. The Lion King is – conceptually at least – a very weird adaptation of Hamlet, and its undeniable success only adds to that strangeness.