Jumanji (1995)

When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped in it for decades - and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game.

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers:

Jonathan Hensleigh (screenplay by), Greg Taylor (screenplay by)

Stars:

Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt

4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Alan Parrish
Jonathan Hyde	...	Van Pelt / Sam Parrish
Kirsten Dunst	...	Judy Shepherd
Bradley Pierce	...	Peter Shepherd
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sarah Whittle
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Nora Shepherd
David Alan Grier	...	Bentley
Patricia Clarkson	...	Carol Parrish
Adam Hann-Byrd	...	Young Alan
Laura Bell Bundy	...	Young Sarah
James Handy	...	Exterminator
Gillian Barber	...	Mrs. Thomas
Brandon Obray	...	Benjamin
Cyrus Thiedeke	...	Caleb
Gary Joseph Thorup	...	Billy Jessup

Storyline

Jumanji, one of the most unique--and dangerous--board games ever, falls into the hands of the curious teen, Alan Parrish, in 1969. Mysterious and magical, the game strands the unsuspecting boy in the lush, savage forests of a mythical realm. Nearly three decades later, the game releases him before the awed eyes of the young orphaned siblings, Judy and Peter Shepherd. Now, the wild and incessant beat of the jungle's tribal drums is calling for the now-adult Alan and the other hesitant players, as the one who rolls the dice must never leave undone what the roll has started. Has anyone ever escaped from the game and Jumanji's formidable foes?

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Plot Keywords:

board game | adventurer | fight | game | year 1995 | 

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Taglines:

It's a jungle in there!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for menacing fantasy action and some mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Judy and Peter find the game in the attic, there are several other board games stacked around and on top of it: the oldest is Monopoly, introduced in 1935. The others are Clue (1949), Careers (1955), Kimbo (1960), Password (1962) and Probe (1964).

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Goofs

When Peter is hanging from the branch to get the game out of the water, "Jumanji" is face-down. But when it cuts to a shot of Peter's face, it is face-up.

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Quotes

[Alan and Sarah have finished the game. Sam reenters the house]
Samuel Alan Parrish: Forgot my speech notes.
Alan Parrish, 1969: [runs up to Sam and hugs him] I'm so glad you're back.
Samuel Alan Parrish: I've only been gone 5 minutes.
Alan Parrish, 1969: [crying] It seems like a lot longer for me.
Samuel Alan Parrish: I thought you told me you were never going to talk to me again.
Alan Parrish, 1969: Whatever I said, Dad, I'm sorry.
[They hug again]
Samuel Alan Parrish: Oh, Alan, I was angry, OK? And I'm sorry, too. Look, you don't have to go to Cliffside if you don't want to. Let's talk it over tomorrow. Man to man.
Alan Parrish, 1969: How about father to son?

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits other than the title.

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Alternate Versions

At the end of the film, Alan and Sarah give Judy and Peter a Christmas gift. In the theatrical version, the kids open their gifts up to reveal new sneakers named "Jumanjis"

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Connections

Spin-off Jumanji (1996)

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Soundtracks

Locomotive Breath
Written by Ian Anderson
Performed by Jethro Tull
Courtesy of Chrysalis Records, a division of EMI, under license from CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

Action and adventure for the kids, and Robin Williams for the adults

Find a comfortable chair, lay out the board, grab the dice, and get ready to play. But remember: once you start this game, you can't stop. If it takes you over twenty years to finish, finish you must.

"Jumanji" is loosely based on the Caldecott Medal-winning children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. The basic premise stays the same: a sister and brother find a strange game based on a jungle safari adventure. When they begin playing it, they find they cannot stop, for the characters and events of the game come to life and start filling their house with monkeys, lions, explorers and other strange things. Only finishing the game will make it all go away.

In the hands of Hollywood, more story is added. Now we have a game spanning 26 years, when one of the two children playing the game in 1969 gets sucked into the game itself. He's trapped there until a fresh pair of children in 1995 find the game and begin playing. The right number is rolled, and out Alan comes...as Robin Williams! Finding the grown girl to complete the group, the four must complete the game before their town is destroyed by the stampeding rhinos, killer pod vines and crazed Great White Hunter.

Robin has some good moments in this film, though he isn't allowed to riff as much as in other vehicles. He's supported by an excellent cast, including a young Kirsten Dunst as the sister of the new pair of children; Jonathan Hyde as both the 1969 father and Van Pelt, the Great White Hunter from the game; and Bebe Neuwirth as the modern children's aunt. The effects are, not surprisingly, ILM-excellent -- necessary in a film of this type. The script was co-written by Van Allsburg to insure the atmosphere of the film and book mesh, but he did not fall into the "This is MY baby" syndrome, and received good help from his two co-writers (for details, see the main page). Highly recommended for old and young alike.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jumanji

Filming Locations:

Olde Woolen Mill - 10 Canal Street, North Berwick, Maine, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,084,370, 17 December 1995

Gross USA:

$100,499,940

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$262,821,940

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Interscope Communications, Teitler Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby Digital 5.1) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) Dolby SR (Dolby 5.1) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) SDDS (8 channels) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) Dolby Atmos (Dolby Atmos) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1) D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1 (D-Cinema prints) (5.1 Surround Sound) (5.1)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1