Jumanji
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 18
  3. Negative: 6 out of 18
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    The film is a gloomy special-effects extravaganza filled with grotesque images, generating fear and despair.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Jack Mathews
    30
    Something bad happened on the way from the book to the movie. [15Dec1995 Pg. F.01]
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  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Rita Kempley
    30
    The script boasts more writers than the computerized menagerie's got megabytes, but they haven't come up with much variety or humor in what is essentially a string of catastrophes.
  4. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    25
    Mostly trite and tacky despite Robin Williams's strenuous acting.
  5. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: John Leland
    20
    Director Joe Johnston ("Honey, I Shrunk the Kids") turns this fantasy into a mean-spirited exercise in terror.
  6. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    10
    Director Joe Johnston's elaborately dressed kids' movie--about a board game that sucks its players into a perilous jungle overrun by lions, rhinos, monkeys, crocodiles and spiders--spends so much time on the how of special effects that it neglects the why of characterization.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. ShlumGuy
    9
    Metacritic got this one WRONG, this was a great movie. Too many people compare the book to the movie directly which is horribly bias, and unfair. Judge this movie without the book in mind, it is unfair to do otherwise. If you do, which you should since every other movie should be judged that way, this way a great movie!… Full Review »
  2. danielb1982
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I consider this movie as one of my all time favourite movies, and also Robin Williams as one of my favourite actors.

    This is the story of Alan Parish who finds a board game, which unknown to him releases the inhabititants of the game, depending on the role of the dice.
    While playing the game with a girl called Sarah from his street, they both decide to stop playing the game, but Alan un-wittingly throws the dice, and the game punishes him, by sucking him into the game with the message ' In the jungle you must wait, till the dice reads five or eight'.
    Many years later Judy & Peter who have moved into Alans house, find the game, and begin playing it, and Peter eventually throws an eight, thus releasing alan from the game.
    What follows in an action paced film, with great special effects.

    If you want to watch a great film then get this one.    … Full Review »
  3. BobS.
    10
    Awesome movie. Action, adventure, comedy.
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