The roaring lion you see before every MGM movie is one of the most iconic openings in film history—and it's legally protected. The roar is a registered trademark of MGM, making it one of the most famous sound marks in Hollywood.

But here's the twist: the sound might not come from a lion at all. Audio engineers have long enhanced the lion's roar—or replaced it entirely—with deeper, more dramatic tiger roars to make it more cinematic.

And that lion you’re seeing? It hasn’t always been the same one. In fact, MGM has used at least seven different lions over the years, beginning in 1917. The most famous is Leo, introduced in 1957, whose face has graced thousands of films since.