Robin Williams' $262.8M Hit On Netflix Is A Reminder Of Something We've Been Waiting 5 Years For

The 1995 Robin Williams classic, Jumanji, is trending on Netflix, serving as a reminder about one long-awaited release. Like in many of his films, the late great Robin Williams is absolutely electric in the family-friendly adventure film. Jumanji is a beloved movie that also features a young Kirsten Dunst, and, like many films shared on the streaming service, it’s quickly risen to the top of Netflix’s charts. Jumanji doesn’t have exceptional reviews on IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes, but the franchise has consistently performed at the box office.

In 2017, Jumanji was rebooted for a new era in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. While the original film dealt with a board game, the modernized version embraced the world of video games, with stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan transported into a digital world. The sequel was a critical and commercial success, with improved scores over the original on various review sites and grossing a whopping $995.3 million at the box office. In 2019, Jumanji: The Next Level continued the trend, making $801.7.

Jumanji 4 Is Taking A Long Time To Happen

It’s Been 5 Years Since The Last Jumanji Movie Despite Commercial Success

Every Jumanji movie has been commercially successful, with the recent two making an enormous profit. Generally speaking, that type of success results in an instant sequel, yet there’s been five years with barely any news on the development of Jumanji 4. The main stars have kept relatively busy, with Jack Black having a successful run of animated movies, including the $1 billion success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. He and Kevin Hart will also star in the upcoming adaptation of the video game Borderlands in 2024. Karen Gillan starred in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 in 2023.

Oddly, the only Jumanji star who hasn’t been particularly busy in the 2020s is The Rock, who’s only had one film released since 2021. This is out of character for the 52-year-old actor, who was one of Hollywood’s hardest-working actors consistently throughout the 2010s, releasing at least two movies practically every year. He’s likely the most vital piece in re-assembling the Jumanji cast for another sequel, and another Jumanji movie could be the answer to The Rock’s box office spiral after Black Adam and Jungle Cruise flopped.

Why Jumanji 4 Still Needs To Happen

Jumanji Is A Timeless, Light-Hearted Franchise Everyone Can Enjoy

Aside from just studios making money, Jumanji is a fun, light-hearted franchise that’s perfect for an easy-to-consume watch with some laughs. It’s never going to be the biggest or most exciting movie in a given year, but Jumanji fulfills the need for child-friendly action/adventure movies that have a genuine heart to them. While the original film is nostalgic, the modern sequels have a delightful cast with consistently enjoyable chemistry and humor. The Rock and Kevin Hart are an especially fun duo together on screen.

Part of the fun with Jumanji: The Next Level was the addition of even more stars, with Danny DeVito and Awkwafina adding to the cast. Jumanji 4 could continue this trend, adding more exciting characters to the mix. The film’s premise is similar to Toy Story in that it will always have some variation to explore depending on evolving technology. Jumanji is a timeless classic that can fit any generation, and it seems like only a matter of time before Sony Pictures follows it up with another rendition.

Related

Jumanji 4 Needs More Than Next Level’s OG Actor Return To Unite The Rock & Robin Williams’ Movies

Jumanji: The Next Level brought back a member of the original Jumanji’s cast, and Jumanji 4 needs to go even further with this strategy.

How The Jumanji Sequels Compare To Robin Williams’ Movie

The Jumanji Sequels Offer A Modernized Perspective On The 1990s Classic

Ultimately, the modern Jumanji sequels are very different in humor and aesthetics from the original 1995 version. Aside from just taking place in a video game rather than a board game, the difference in era alters the film’s tone significantly. While the original was an adventure movie, the 2017 and 2019 sequels lean more into action, which makes sense given The Rock’s involvement. The humor is also more suited to 2010s action/comedy, while the ’90s Jumanji leans into Robin Williams’ incomparable charisma and humor.

Long-awaited movie sequels and reboots have a bad reputation, but, in many ways, the different Jumanji movies are perfectly suited for their respective eras. It’s commonly believed that the new sequels are the best Jumanji movies, but they’re so difficult to compare due to the tone and genre changes. The original Jumanji was innovative visually for the ’90s, but it’s often criticized for being too dark for a child-friendly movie. The newer films are more consistently approachable and are, therefore, arguably the better versions.

Jumanji

Jumanji is an action-adventure comedy film by director Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams. Two orphan siblings move into a home occupied by the former Parrish family, whose son disappeared years ago. When the two start playing a mysterious board game known as “Jumanji,” they unknowingly release the missing Alan Parrish later, along with various other jungle-themed dangers that can only be stopped if they finish the game.

Director

Joe Johnston

Release Date

December 15, 1995

Cast

Robin Williams , Kirsten Dunst , David Alan Grier , Bonnie Hunt , Jonathan Hyde , Bebe Neuwirth

Runtime

104 Minutes