Anaconda - due to hit the screens on December 25th 2025 - is no ordinary reboot of the 1997 cult classic monster movie that starred Jennifer Lopez & Ice Cube. Directed by the same mind behind The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent , Tom Gormikian, it's an action-comedy remake that playfully spoofs the Hollywood remake machine. The film takes the form of a clever "movie inside a movie" concept.
Starring Jack Black as Doug, a wedding videographer, and Paul Rudd as Griff, an actor scratching by, the movie follows these lifelong buddies as midlife crises drive them to re-do their favourite childhood film, Anaconda. Joined by Thandi Newton & Steve Zahn, they set off to the Amazon jungle to shoot a low-budget remake that they'd crowdfunded - things get chaotic as fiction & reality start to collide and a massive real-life anaconda turns their shoot into a survival horror.
The film has been rated PG-13 for its language, violence and some suggestive content, clocking in at 99 minutes. Expect fourth-wall breaking, nods to the original and some wicked meta-commentary on the whole remake thing.
The chemistry between Rudd & Black is seriously impressive - their banter feels genuinely heartfelt and the comedy is infectious. Rudd works his charm , while Black keeps his energy in check, surprising us with his understated talents. Supporting actors like Steve Zahn bring some much-needed zaniness to the mix and fans of the original will be spotting Easter eggs and cameos all day long.
The reviews have been all over the place but some have praised it as one of the funniest films of the year - Common Sense even called it "a lightweight but funny meta-remake" and Deadline dubbed it "hilarious in its comic reinvention" . Yep, it's trying to channel the absurdity of Tropic Thunder
But though the high-concept premise is interesting, it doesn't quite stick the landing - the jokes in the middle get a bit lost and by the time the big threat shows up, the movie turns into just your average action scenes. Not to mention the trailer pretty much gives away all the good gags.
Critics like Variety, IndieWire, IGN & even the legendary Roger Ebert all agreed that "all the fun got squeezed out of the self-reflexive idea" , the CGI snake leaves a bit to be desired and the whole thing just felt a bit sluggish.
Metacritic scored it 44 out of 100, while Rotten Tomatoes gave it 41% from the critics. Reviews were pretty mixed - some people loved it, while others just saw a missed opportunity.