The Jungle Book

Name: The Jungle Book
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family, Musical
Released: April 15, 2016
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Giancarlo Esposito, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o

2016

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 755 Ratings

See All

7.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.5	Your Score
7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 755 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Jungle Book

Now Playing: The Jungle Book

Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: April 15, 2016 | PG

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Giancarlo Esposito, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson

Summary: Mowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves, finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey ofMowgli (Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves, finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice by Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice by Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice by Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.… Expand

Director: Jon Favreau

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family, Musical

Rating: PG

Runtime: 106 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

88	#88 Best Movie of 2016
23	#23 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
17	#17 Most Shared Movie of 2016

Watch Now

Buy On

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Joe Morgenstern

Apr 14, 2016

The new production, computer-animated except for a living, breathing boy at the center of the action, isn’t pretty or sweet but utterly stunning, as well as very funny; all those vaudeville antecedents haven’t been forgotten. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Apr 14, 2016

By turns sweetly amusing and surprisingly unnerving, crammed with story, song and computer-generated visual splendors, it's such a model of modern crowd-pleasing entertainment that it brings to mind a celebrated quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald about filmmakers who were "able to keep the whole equation of pictures in their heads." Read full review

Peter Travers

Apr 14, 2016

A visual marvel that cuts a direct path to the heart. Read full review

Joe Walsh

Apr 7, 2016

While there is the odd bum note, The Jungle Book is an immersive, visually breathtaking family adventure and a welcome addition to their new spate of live-action reimaginings. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Apr 16, 2016

Well-made and deserves recognition as one of the year’s best family offerings (thus far). Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Apr 3, 2016

Even as the drama and its treatment become increasingly conventional and familiar as the film moves toward its patly (and arguably overly) audience-pleasing wrap-up, the exceptional visual quality and lifelike animal renditions remain stunning throughout. Read full review

Sam C. Mac

Apr 13, 2016

Jon Favreau draws heavily on his film's animated predecessor for plot, characterizations, and more, but doesn't know how to fit these familiar elements into his own coherent vision. Read full review

SEE ALL 49 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

johnmich_123

Apr 15, 2016

From a Theatre artist’s perspective, music speaks for things at sort here...

The Jungle Book is a roaring success! With its CGI, actions and emotions all intact, there is nothing more I could ask from it. While others whine about how absurd the injection of the two short musical piecesFrom a Theatre artist’s perspective, music speaks for things at sort here...

The Jungle Book is a roaring success! With its CGI, actions and emotions all intact, there is nothing more I could ask from it. While others whine about how absurd the injection of the two short musical pieces “Bare Necessities” and “I Wanna Be Like You” turned out in the film, I’d rather those were the evoking and gentle areas in the story; likely serving as asides for the emotionally-larger than life characters, Baloo and King Louie. In fact, I could even hum a tone for Shere Khan, the chilling and villainous Bengal Tiger who would do everything to eradicate Mowgli from the jungle.

Technically, music speaks for things at sort here- hatred, fear, love, frustrations, etc. We can’t entirely get away from it. And music, as a good old piece from musicals and other theatrical conventions, gets a fresh touch in this non-musical live-action adventure. Nonetheless, even with the wolf pack’s stoic pronunciation of the “Laws of the Jungle”, familiar notes are already rung in the audience’s hearts. But, had it been that they decided to turn this into a full musical, the film would definitely flop!

A well-presented story…
Eventually, for the first time since Avatar and Life of Pi, I enjoyed a seamlessly presented story. A story that stands on its own- the Jungle Book will always be remembered as it is. It may not be an utter classic, but it is enough a masterpiece to behold.
Ultimately, the Jungle Book goes beyond the Disney branding as a distinct collaboration of talents, Jon Favreau (Director), Justin Marks (for the characters’ well-paced dialogue), Ben Kingsley (voice of Bagheera), Bill Murray (voice of Baloo), Lupita Nyong’o (voice of Rakhsa), Scarlett Johansson (voice of Kaa), Idris Elba (voice of Shere Khan), Giancarlo Esposito (voice of Akela), debuting actor Neel Sethi (as Mowgli) and most of all, Rudyard Kipling for penning the classic story of the same title.

A wholesome package!
The Jungle Book has everything in it. It could be a political satire when it wants to, or a dark and grim propaganda. It may relieve the intense atmosphere off with a wry humor or tearful goodbye, a little bit of music and jovial monkey dancing as “verfremdungseffekt” and even perhaps a wild chorus of primitive growls that speak of more serious human agenda at hand.

Magnanimously, the Jungle Book reawakens the Lion King in its head-docking stampedes, resurrects the Passion of the Christ in Mowgli’s bearing of the weight for the greater good and stupendously animates Alice Walker’s Flowers in Mowgli’s rite of passage, symbolized by the Red Flower (Torch of Fire) he carries facing Shere Khan.

As mentioned earlier this film will roar at all ages since it is more than just a children’s action, adventure and entertainment tale. It will snarl at you, shaking and swinging you from the gut.
(One last note though: Don’t bother watching this if not in IMAX 3D. Otherwise, you might only end up cheating yourself of the spectacle.)… Expand

15 of 25 users found this helpful1510

FreedomFighters

Jan 9, 2017

Disney's live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book" is so far ahead of their other live-action adaptations that you kind of can't even compare them here: "The Jungle Book" is a tremendous film that's faithful to the source material, wonderfully acted, well-written and well-directed, whileDisney's live-action adaptation of "The Jungle Book" is so far ahead of their other live-action adaptations that you kind of can't even compare them here: "The Jungle Book" is a tremendous film that's faithful to the source material, wonderfully acted, well-written and well-directed, while also featuring some painstaking visual excellence that might even be some of the best of 2016. Make it a point to catch "The Jungle Book," because it's truly a wonder to behold.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

KayVen17

Dec 14, 2016

Deutsche Review - Kritik

Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von UserscoreDeutsche Review - Kritik

Der folgende Test ist in 5 Kategorien zusammengefasst. Diese 5 Kartegorien ergeben die Gesamtpunktzahl von 0 - 100 Punkten. Um einen passenden Userscore zu geben wird auf oder abgerundet. Bei 84 Punkten ergibt das einen User Score von 8. Bei 86 einen von Userscore von 9. Falls eine 85 kommt entscheide ich ob ich es eher positiv oder negativ nehme. Regeln verstanden?
Dann sind hier meine Punkte.

Mein persönlicher Score = 86/100
Mein User Score = 9/10

Lohnenswert? = JA!
Fortsetzung erwünscht? = Lieber nicht… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

JamesIrish68

Dec 28, 2018

The CGI is nothing short of outstanding. The very young Mowgli accounted for himself admirably after a slightly shaky start. Did amazingly well considering he was acting with a blue screen background the entire movie. The animals are all voiced by A Listers to good effect.
Only two songs inThe CGI is nothing short of outstanding. The very young Mowgli accounted for himself admirably after a slightly shaky start. Did amazingly well considering he was acting with a blue screen background the entire movie. The animals are all voiced by A Listers to good effect.
Only two songs in the movie but two good ones. They worked nicely.
It's a Disney tale of course so predictable and simple enough that even the youngest in the family can follow. Nuanced enough to criticise mankind and the devastation we have caused and are causing to the natural world. Very enjoyable… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RobBob99

Apr 19, 2016

The Jungle Book is the most visually engrossing movie I've seen since Gravity. The voice cast including Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Christopher Walken and many others are all outstanding additions to the film. That being said I do feel as if The Jungle Book is overrated. NeelThe Jungle Book is the most visually engrossing movie I've seen since Gravity. The voice cast including Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Christopher Walken and many others are all outstanding additions to the film. That being said I do feel as if The Jungle Book is overrated. Neel Sethi is fine as Mowgli but there are a few awkward moments. The story to me wasn't that investing even though it stays true to the source material (which I appreciate), just to me, I wasn't completely into the whole story.It's without a doubt a good movie but not the great one everyone has been making it to be.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

Jack97

May 5, 2016

I never saw the original Jungle Book nor did I read the book so I was more or less unfamiliar with the story. But this Jungle Book movie is quite darn impressive I must say. The visual effects are the best I've seen so far this year. I believe this film has set a new standard for CGI at theI never saw the original Jungle Book nor did I read the book so I was more or less unfamiliar with the story. But this Jungle Book movie is quite darn impressive I must say. The visual effects are the best I've seen so far this year. I believe this film has set a new standard for CGI at the movies. The story, although simple, is well executed. The voice acting is top notch (Bill Murray and Idris Elba especially), and the film has the good old Disney adventure vibe to add the needed entertainment and excitement. Overall a solid outing from Disney.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

Joshua023

May 18, 2016

They must of had a low budget it just sucked. Music was the hole thing. this was stupid. I'll just have my kid watch the first one. How could you leave out the great monkey song Im lost. sucks...

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

SEE ALL 152 REVIEWS