AFRICAN CATS
An exciting wildlife adventure with adorable cubs and real danger.
Should You Watch It?
AFRICAN CATS makes wildlife feel like an adventure. Its narrative keeps viewers captivated as lion and cheetah families face injury, rival predators, and the daily dangers of life in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
The film’s strongest appeal is its adorable cubs and the excitement surrounding their survival. But the danger is real within the documentary’s story, and very young children may become upset or fidget during slower stretches.
Take older children and adults who can handle intense animal danger. For very young children, choose something gentler.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, two animal families struggle to raise their young. Layla, an injured lioness, tries to protect her cub Mara within the River Pride, while Sita, a female cheetah, raises three male cubs.
Nearby, a powerful rival lion and his sons threaten the pride, while hyenas and other predators create danger for both families. Samuel L. Jackson narrates this wildlife story of parents and cubs trying to survive.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means AFRICAN CATS is a good, engaging documentary with some limitations. It has an enjoyable, exciting narrative that keeps viewers captivated, and the cubs provide an especially strong emotional appeal.
The film does have some lulls. Those slower passages may cause really young children to fidget in their seats. Still, the combination of wildlife danger, family struggle, and adorable young animals gives the documentary enough momentum to make it worthwhile for its intended audience.
The Worldview
AFRICAN CATS presents a light moral worldview with little objectionable content. It centers on lion and cheetah cubs surviving various dangers in a Kenyan park reserve, including attacks, predators, and the struggle to find food.
The documentary also uses some anthropomorphism of animals. Predators try to deceive their prey, and the animals’ conflicts are presented through an enjoyable narrative about families protecting and raising their young. The source review does not provide a fuller worldview analysis.
The film’s central picture is of living creatures seeking food and surviving within the world they inhabit. Scripture says, “The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God” (Psalm 104:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light moral worldview with little objectionable content about lion and cheetah cubs surviving various dangers in a park reserve in Kenya; no foul language; some intense fighting between lions, capturing and eating other animals, lions and cheetahs chase down other animals to eat them, older animals go off to die, and surviving scary attacks by other big cats, hyenas and alligators; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking; and, some anthropomorphism of animals, predators try to deceive their prey, and very young children may be scared for the baby lion and cheetah cubs.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The animal families work to protect and raise their young. What responsibilities has God given parents and families?
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 · Proverbs 22:6The documentary shows animals facing danger and death as part of life in the wild. How can remembering that God cares for His creation shape the way we treat animals?
Psalm 104:21 · Proverbs 12:10Predators try to deceive their prey. Why does Scripture tell us to be truthful rather than deceptive?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22Some young viewers may be scared for the cubs. What helps you bring fear to God instead of letting fear control you?
Psalm 56:3–4 · 1 Peter 5:7The Final Word
AFRICAN CATS is an enjoyable, exciting wildlife documentary with adorable cubs and enough danger to trouble very young viewers. For older children and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP.
