Nick Jonas Admits This Disney Movie Makes Him Cry
Even celebrities aren’t immune to getting emotional during Disney movies. During a recent appearance at New York City’s 92NY venue, singer and actor Nick Jonas revealed that one beloved Disney classic continues to bring him to tears every time he watches it. And like many parents, he says fatherhood has completely changed the way he experiences the film.
The movie? The Lion King.
Nick Jonas Says Watching ‘The Lion King’ With His Daughter Hits Different
While discussing his upcoming film Power Ballad alongside Paul Rudd and director John Carney, Jonas was asked if there were any movies or songs that consistently made him emotional. His answer came quickly.
“When I cry over a movie, it’s The Lion King,” Jonas admitted.
For many Disney fans, that confession is easy to understand. The animated classic is filled with emotional moments, from Mufasa’s death to Simba’s journey of loss, growth, and redemption. But for Jonas, the experience has become even more meaningful since becoming a father.
Fatherhood Has Changed How He Views Classic Disney Stories
Jonas explained that sharing childhood favorites with his daughter, Malti, has given those stories entirely new meaning. Like many parents, he’s now revisiting movies that shaped his own childhood while seeing them through the eyes of the next generation.
“There’s something really special about getting to share the stories that shaped me with her now,” he said.
That sentiment is one many Disney-loving parents can relate to. Films that once felt nostalgic suddenly carry deeper emotional weight when watched alongside children experiencing them for the first time. The themes of family, loss, responsibility, and unconditional love found throughout The Lion King often resonate differently once viewers become parents themselves.
He’s Not Alone in Getting Emotional During Disney Movies
Let’s be real, The Lion King has been making audiences cry for more than three decades. Since its release in 1994, the film has become one of Disney’s most beloved animated classics, earning critical acclaim, massive box office success, and a devoted fanbase that spans generations.
The emotional impact of scenes involving Mufasa and Simba remains powerful even for viewers who have seen the movie countless times. Jonas also jokingly admitted that movies become even more emotional when watched on airplanes, a confession that drew laughs from the audience and likely felt relatable to many travelers. Something about being 30,000 feet in the air seems to make movie moments hit a little harder.
Parenting Has Influenced More Than Just His Movie Watching
Jonas also discussed how fatherhood has affected him emotionally in other ways. While promoting Power Ballad, he revealed there are scenes in the film that impacted him deeply, despite not appearing in them himself.
According to Jonas, themes involving family and parenthood now resonate much more strongly than they did before welcoming his daughter. He and wife Priyanka Chopra Jonas became parents in 2022 when they welcomed daughter Malti Marie.
Since then, both stars have occasionally shared stories about family life while remaining protective of their daughter’s privacy.
Why Disney Movies Continue Connecting Generations
Jonas’ comments highlight one of Disney’s greatest strengths: creating stories that resonate across generations. Children often connect with the adventure, humor, and memorable characters. Parents frequently discover entirely new layers within those same stories years later.
That’s especially true for The Lion King, which continues finding new audiences more than 30 years after its release. Whether it’s Simba learning to embrace responsibility, Mufasa’s guidance echoing through the story, or the film’s broader themes of family and legacy, the movie remains just as emotionally powerful today as it was in 1994.
And if Nick Jonas tearing up while watching The Lion King with his daughter proves anything, it’s that some Disney movies never lose their magic—no matter how many times you’ve seen them.
