Mia and the White Lion (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Mia and the White Lion is a 2019 adventure drama directed by Gilles de Maistre, starring Thor as Charlie, Mélanie Laurent and Daniah De Villiers. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $35.5 million worldwide on a $9.6 million budget. It won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 2017. Critics gave it 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Gilles de Maistre
- Studio
- A Contracorriente Films
- Budget
- $9.6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Mia and the White Lion About?
The premise of Mia and the White Lion without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An 11-year-old girl named Mia forges a remarkable connection with Charlie, a rare white lion, on her family’s rural farm in South Africa. As they grow together, their bond strengthens, but Mia discovers her father intends to sell Charlie to trophy hunters. Driven by love and determination, she undertakes a courageous journey to protect her cherished friend and prevent him from falling into the wrong hands, ultimately fighting for his freedom and their extraordinary friendship.
Mia and the White Lion Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- singing in a car
- girl lion relationship
- animal in title
- pet lion
- white lion
- color in title
- runaway girl
- teenage girl
- teenage boy
- 10 year old
- 12 year old
- 13 year old
+38 more Show fewer
- 15 year old
- englishman abroad
- reference to manchester united
- reference to wayne rooney
- girls' soccer
- south africa
- schoolgirl uniform
- underage driving
- broken promise
- frenchwoman abroad
- night terror
- character name in title
- mother daughter relationship
- father daughter relationship
- brother sister relationship
- soccer fan
- lion cub
- shopping mall
- husband wife relationship
- video call
- wild animal
- lion
- giraffe
- zebra
- elephant
- ostrich
- hippopotamus
- christmas
- christmas present
- baby bottle
- feeding an animal
- sidecar
- vacuum cleaner
- rainbow
- restaurant
- shooting star
- spitting on someone
- spitting in someone's face
Mia and the White Lion Cast & Characters
Thor leads the cast as Charlie, with Mélanie Laurent as Alice Owen and Daniah De Villiers as Mia Owen. Directed by Gilles de Maistre; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Gilles de Maistre
- Thor as Charlie
-
Mélanie Laurent as Alice Owen - Daniah De Villiers as Mia Owen
-
Langley Kirkwood as John Owen
Also Starring in Mia and the White Lion
· 9 more- Ryan Mac Lennan Mick Owen
- Brandon Auret Dirk
- Lillian Dube Jodie
- Tessa Jubber Enclosure Hunter
- Lionel Newton Kevin
- Paul Davies Helicopter Sniper
- Ashleigh Harvey School Teacher
- Benjamin Garrad Daniel
- Elvis Trevor
More from Gilles de Maistre
More films directed by Gilles de Maistre, best-rated first: The Quest of Alain Ducasse, Autumn and the Black Jaguar, Moon The Panda and The Wolf and the Lion.
Mia and the White Lion Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Mia and the White Lion 52 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in art & craft (65) and weakest in story & flow (50).
Mia and the White Lion Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Mia and the White Lion offers a visually engaging family drama with genuine emotional warmth, though it is undercut by script weaknesses and uneven performances. While many viewers praise the bond between Mia and the lion and commend its heartfelt environmental message, critics point to contrived dialogue and inconsistent pacing. The film’s artful cinematography and poignant moments are offset by predictable plot developments and occasional ethical concerns about its handling of real animals. In sum, it yields a moderately engaging but flawed experience.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 65
In terms of art and craft, the film delivers consistently striking visuals but is hampered by uneven direction. Critics and audiences note the polished cinematography and evocative production design, especially in the outdoor sequences, while also pointing to moments of clumsy staging. Overall, the visual appeal remains a notable strength despite directional inconsistencies.
- Character & Emotion 55
When it comes to character and emotion, the film offers a heartfelt bond between Mia and her lion but suffers from indifferent acting and limited depth. Viewers often praise the genuine warmth and chemistry in key scenes, yet critics point to the lack of substantial emotional peaks and uneven performances. The net effect is a modestly resonant but flawed character dynamic.
- Story & Flow 50
In terms of story and flow, the narrative is heartfelt and accessible but marked by predictable developments and implausible turns. Reviewers highlight the engaging premise of a girl’s bond with a lion and commend its thematic intentions, while also critiquing choppy pacing and contrived dialogue. The overall plot yields a moderately engaging but often uneven experience.
- Sensory Experience 60
When it comes to sensory experience, the film presents an immersive visual style and a subtle soundtrack, though sound design remains unobtrusive. Audiences appreciate the naturalistic environments and the tactile portrayal of the wildlife, while some note uncertainty over digital versus practical effects. Ultimately, the sensory aspects convey a pleasing atmosphere without fully compensating for narrative shortcomings.
- Rewatch Factor 55
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s emotional moments and striking visuals offer occasional appeal, yet its predictable plot and ethical controversies limit repeat viewings. Some viewers note that the central lion-girl relationship retains charm on subsequent watches, but others find the uneven pacing and scripted simplicity to diminish lasting engagement. Overall, rewatch value remains moderate.
-
IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 52 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.9 /5
33 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Mia and the White Lion Plot Summary
What happens in Mia and the White Lion from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ten-year-old Mia Owen’s world is completely transformed when her family decides to leave their home in London to take over a lion farm in Africa. Here, a special bond blossoms between Mia and a magnificent white lion cub named Charlie, who brings joy back into her life after their move.
Full summary
The whole story of Mia and the White Lion, scene by scene
Mia and the White Lion Box Office & Budget
Mia and the White Lion grossed $35.5 million worldwide on a $9.6 million budget, 3.7 times what it cost. $399,471 came from the US and Canada and $35.1 million (99%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$35.5M
3.7× its budget
- US & Canada
- $399.5K
- International
- $35.1M
- Budget
- $9.6M
Mia and the White Lion Awards & Nominations
Mia and the White Lion won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 2017.
2 wins5 nominations1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 2017 2 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Dev Patel
- Won Best Adapted Screenplay
- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Nicole Kidman
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Original Music
Mia and the White Lion Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip MIA AND THE WHITE LION | IT'S A MIRACLE (ONLY IN THEATERS APRIL 12)
How Well Do You Know Mia and the White Lion?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What city does Mia's family move from to manage the lion farm?
Cars in Mia and the White Lion
27 cars on screen, including the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Land-Rover Defender 110 Pickup.
-
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Main role -
Land-Rover Defender 110 Pickup Main role -
Chang Jiang CJ 750 M1S Important role -
2007 Hummer H3 Important role
Mia and the White Lion Also Known As
34 alternative titles, including “미아와 흰 사자 찰리” and “Mia en de witte leeuw”.
- Also known as
-
- 미아와 흰 사자 찰리
- Mia en de witte leeuw
- Mi Mascota es un León
- Mia i biały lew
- ミアとホワイトライオン 奇跡の1300日
- Mia und der weiße Löwe
- Mia e il leone bianco
- میا و شیر سفید
- Mia és a fehér oroszlán
- Mia a bílý lev
- Mia och det vita lejonet
- 白狮奇缘
+22 more Show fewer
- Пригоди Мії та білого лева
- A Menina e o Leão
- Миа и белый лев
- Mia a biely lev
- Mia și leul alb
- Mia y el león blanco
- Mia in beli lev
- Mia e o Leão Branco
- Mija ir baltasis liūtas
- Mia ja valkoinen leijona
- Το Κορίτσι και το Λιοντάρι
- มีอากับมิตรภาพมหัศจรรย์
- 我和我的小白獅王
- Mia un baltā lauva
- Миа и Белият лъв
- 화이트 라이언 찰리
- Миа и бели лав
- La Mia i el lleó blanc
- מיה והאריה הלבן
- Vahşi Dostum
- Mia và Chú Sư Tử Trắng
- Mia i bijeli lav
Seen Mia and the White Lion?
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Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Lion, The Lion and Cheetah.
Mia and the White Lion FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Mia and the White Lion, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Mia and the White Lion?
Mia and the White Lion runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Mia and the White Lion released?
Mia and the White Lion was released on April 12, 2019.
Who directed Mia and the White Lion?
Mia and the White Lion was directed by Gilles de Maistre.
More films by Gilles de Maistre Who is in the cast of Mia and the White Lion?
Mia and the White Lion stars Thor as Charlie, Mélanie Laurent as Alice Owen and Daniah De Villiers as Mia Owen, among 13 credited actors.
How much did Mia and the White Lion make at the box office?
Mia and the White Lion grossed $35.5 million worldwide ($399,471 domestic, $35.1 million international) on a budget of $9.6 million.
How is Mia and the White Lion rated?
Mia and the White Lion has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 52 on Metacritic, 73% on TMDB and 2.9/5 on Letterboxd.
What awards did Mia and the White Lion win?
Mia and the White Lion won 2 awards from 5 nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 2017.
Does Mia and the White Lion have a post-credit scene?
No. Mia and the White Lion has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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