Netflix has found its new #1 movie in a 9-year-old action adventure sequel that made $962 million at the box office when it hit theaters in 2017. While it’s not uncommon for older movies to become popular again on the streaming service, this one has skyrocketed up the charts in its first two days on the platform, proving that the franchise still has a lot of life left in it.
Premiering on Dec. 20, 2017, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle serves as a direct sequel to the 1995 Robin Williams movie, uniting Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan for an all-new adventure. Made for $90 million, the film took in more than 10X its budget at the box office, ultimately walking away with $962.5 million in receipts.
Also starring Nick Jonas, Rhys Darby and Bobby Cannavale, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle picks up a little over 20 years after the events in the first movie, and sees four high school students stumble upon a retro video game that transports them into the dangerous world of Jumanji. Appearing as adult avatars, the kids must navigate treacherous jungles, deadly obstacles, and a ruthless villain while learning to work together in order to survive and get back home.
‘Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle’ Has Once Again Become a Hit on Netflix
Added to Netflix on Apr. 5, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has proven to be a huge hit for the streaming service. In just its first couple of days, the film has jumped the line to become the most popular movie in the United States (per Flix Patrol), beating back the likes of Anaconda, Black and Blue, and the new true-crime documentary, The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson.
Sadly, the fourth entry in the franchise (counting 2005’s Zathura), Jumanji: The Next Level, which reunited Johnson, Black, Hart, Gillian, and Jonas, is not available on any streaming platform at the moment, so for those looking to continue the adventure once you’re done with Welcome to the Jungle, you’ll have to settle on a digital rental or purchase.
‘Jumanji’ Will Return on Christmas Day 2026
Speaking of Jumanji: The Next Level… the 2019 sequel was yet another box office smash that brought in $801 million worldwide – albeit against a bigger budget than Welcome to the Jungle had. Still, the film proved profitable, which made the decision to put another movie into development pretty easy.
