Jumanji
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Synopsis
When two children find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in its jungle for decades—along with a host of terrifying dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.
Plot
In 1869, two boys bury a cursed chest. Exactly a century later, in 1969, young Alan Parrish unearths it to find a board game called Jumanji. He plays it with his friend Sarah Whittle, but upon rolling the dice, Alan is magically sucked into the game’s jungle, and Sarah is chased out of the house by a swarm of bats. Fast forward 26 years to 1995: orphaned siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd move into the abandoned Parrish house with their aunt. They discover Jumanji in the attic and begin to play. Their rolls summon giant mosquitoes, mischievous monkeys, and a ferocious lion. More importantly, Peter rolls a five, which releases a now-adult Alan Parrish from his jungle prison. Alan realizes that to reverse the chaotic jungle elements wreaking havoc on their town, they must finish the game. The catch is that they need all the original players, forcing them to track down a deeply traumatized, adult Sarah to complete the harrowing adventure.
Ending Explained
The town is thrown into absolute chaos as the game unleashes a stampede of rhinos, a massive monsoon, giant poisonous spiders, and Van Pelt, a ruthless big-game hunter who is determined to kill Alan. In the final chaotic climax, the house splits in two from a massive earthquake generated by the game. With Van Pelt cornering him and holding a gun to his head, Alan makes his final roll of the dice. He gets the exact number needed to reach the center of the board and softly whispers the winning word: “Jumanji.” Just as Van Pelt fires his gun, the game creates a massive magical vortex that sucks everything it had unleashed—the animals, the vines, and Van Pelt—back into the board. Time immediately reverses back to 1969. Alan and Sarah are children again, but they retain all their memories of the alternate timeline. They throw the cursed game into a river chained to bricks. In the new 1995 timeline, Alan and Sarah are happily married, expecting a child, and running a successful shoe empire. They meet Judy and Peter at a Christmas party and prevent their parents from taking the ski trip that originally killed them. The film ends on a beach in a French-speaking country, where the familiar, ominous drumbeats of Jumanji are heard from a half-buried box in the sand.
What We Think About This Movie
What We Liked
The frenetic, roller-coaster pacing established by director Joe Johnston that refuses to let the audience catch their breath.
Robin Williams’ surprisingly dramatic and grounded performance, adding a deep layer of sorrow to an otherwise wacky premise.
The visual effects, which for the time were groundbreaking, serve to enhance the perilous narrative rather than purely showing off.
The great comedic timing and sight gags, particularly from Bonnie Hunt and David Alan Grier as the bewildered police officer.
What We Didn't Like
The animatronics and CGI, while impressive for 1995, can occasionally look a bit dated to modern eyes.
The intensity of the jungle hazards (giant spiders, carnivorous plants, a relentless hunter) pushes the PG rating to its absolute limits, potentially terrifying younger viewers.
Who Should Watch
Families looking for a classic, high-stakes 90s adventure film.
Fans of Robin Williams wanting to see a perfect balance of his dramatic and comedic skills.
Audiences who enjoy fast-paced, imaginative fantasy concepts.
Who Should Skip
Parents with very young or easily frightened children, as the animal attacks and sudden scares are quite intense.
Movie Details
Where to Watch Jumanji in the USA
Frequently Asked Questions About Jumanji
Is Robin Williams in the entire movie?
No, Robin Williams plays the adult version of Alan Parrish and appears about 25 to 30 minutes into the film, after the 1995 timeline is established.
Is Jumanji based on a book?
Yes, it is based on the 1981 children's picture book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.
Is the movie too scary for kids?
While it is a family film, Jumanji has elements of horror and intense suspense (giant spiders, a stalking hunter, sudden animal attacks) that can be genuinely frightening for children under 7 or 8.
Did they make sequels to this movie?
Yes! Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) is a spiritual successor, and the franchise was officially continued with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019).
