Mia and the White Lion

Mia and the White Lion (2018) is a family adventure drama you can watch online on iFILM, directed by Gilles de Maistre. Ten-year-old Mia leaves London behind when her parents take over a lion-breeding farm in South Africa, and at first she hates every minute of it.

Then a white cub named Charlie arrives. The girl and the lion grow up side by side, and over three years their bond outgrows everything else in her life. When Mia learns what the farm really has planned for a grown male lion, she runs — heading across the veld to find Charlie a place where he can live free. Melanie Laurent plays her mother, caught between her husband's business and her daughter's loyalty.

What sets this one apart is simple: no CGI. The crew filmed for three years so that young Dania De Villiers and a real lion could literally grow up together on camera, which gives their scenes a closeness you rarely see in kids' films. It's a good pick for animal lovers who want honesty over sugar, including a clear-eyed look at trophy hunting. Stream Mia and the White Lion (2018) online on iFILM.