Jumanji (1995)

Joe Johnston’s Jumanji is one of the most distinctive family adventure films of the 1990s – a film that blended practical effects, groundbreaking CGI, and a surprisingly dark emotional core to deliver a story that was as much about courage, redemption, and second chances as it was about stampeding elephants and giant spiders.

Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1981 illustrated children’s book, the film took the book’s central concept – a magical board game that unleashes jungle chaos – and expanded it into a full-blown adventure narrative, adding a deeply human story about loss, fear, and growing up.

The film opens in 1869 with two boys burying a mysterious box, terrified of what it contains. A century later, in 1969, young Alan Parrish (Adam Hann-Byrd) discovers the box and the board game within. He begins to play with his friend Sarah Whittle (Laura Bell Bundy), but when the dice land on a fateful number, Alan is literally sucked into the game, vanishing into the jungle. Sarah is left traumatised, blamed by townsfolk for Alan’s disappearance.

Flash forward twenty-six years to 1995: orphaned siblings Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter Shepherd (Bradley Pierce) move into the now-dilapidated Parrish mansion with their Aunt Nora (Bebe Neuwirth). They discover the game and, upon playing, unleash a series of increasingly dangerous events – giant mosquitoes, rampaging monkeys, and a ferocious lion – before accidentally freeing an adult Alan (Robin Williams), who has been living in the game’s jungle world all this time. Together with a grown-up Sarah (Bonnie Hunt), they must finish the game to reverse its effects, all while surviving a series of escalating threats, including the big-game hunter Van Pelt (Jonathan Hyde).

At its heart, Jumanji is a story about facing one’s fears and taking responsibility. Alan must overcome his strained relationship with his father, his childhood fear of abandonment, and the guilt he feels about Sarah’s life being disrupted. Sarah, too, must confront her trauma and learn to trust again. Judy and Peter, who have lost their parents, are coping with grief, and their participation in the game mirrors their journey to find courage and hope.

Robin Williams is the emotional anchor of the film. Known primarily at the time for his manic comedic energy, Williams tempers his usual rapid-fire humour with a performance that is layered and heartfelt. His Alan is both a man out of time and a traumatised child in a grown man’s body. Williams convincingly conveys the psychological cost of being trapped in a hostile jungle for decades, balancing moments of humour with palpable vulnerability.

Bonnie Hunt delivers one of the film’s most underrated performances as Sarah. Her character begins as a bundle of neuroses, fearful and withdrawn, but grows steadily braver as the film progresses. Kirsten Dunst, even at a young age, demonstrates her natural charisma and emotional range, giving Judy a spunky yet sensitive personality. Bradley Pierce’s Peter is likewise well-cast, capturing the quiet resilience of a child who has had to grow up too quickly.

Jonathan Hyde is excellent in dual roles, playing both Alan’s stern father and the villainous Van Pelt. This casting choice cleverly symbolises Alan’s internal struggle, as Van Pelt becomes a metaphorical representation of Alan’s fear of paternal authority and expectation.

Joe Johnston, who had previously directed Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and would go on to helm Jurassic Park III and Captain America: The First Avenger, brings a sense of classic adventure to the film. The tone is surprisingly mature for a family film of its era, dealing with heavy themes like parental pressure, loss, and childhood trauma, yet balancing them with humour and spectacle.

Johnston also strikes a careful tonal balance between excitement and menace. The dangers unleashed from the game are genuinely threatening – the stampede and the carnivorous plants are shot with a sense of real peril – but the film never tips over into outright horror. This balance is part of what has allowed Jumanji to remain a childhood favourite for decades; it treats its young audience seriously while still offering moments of comic relief.

For 1995, Jumanji was technically ambitious. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) handled the visual effects, using early CGI to create creatures like the monkeys and stampede animals. While some of the CGI has aged and can look cartoonish by modern standards, the practical effects – such as the lion in Alan’s house, the animatronic spiders, and the collapsing house finale – still hold up remarkably well and add a tangible sense of danger.

The production design is equally memorable. The Parrish mansion serves as both a gothic family home and an evolving battleground as the game wreaks havoc on its interior. By the end of the film, the house has been almost entirely consumed by the jungle, symbolising the complete blurring of the line between fantasy and reality.

On its release, Jumanji received mixed critical reviews but was a commercial hit, grossing over $260 million worldwide. Over time, it has become a nostalgic favourite and is now widely regarded as a 1990s classic. Its legacy was further cemented by its spiritual sequels – Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) – which reimagined the concept for a new generation.

Part of the film’s enduring appeal lies in its emotional depth. While it is remembered for its adventure set-pieces, its underlying message about confronting fears, repairing broken relationships, and taking responsibility for one’s life gives it resonance beyond its visual spectacle.

Jumanji (1995) is more than just a family adventure movie; it is a story about growing up, second chances, and the power of facing one’s fears head-on. Robin Williams gives one of his most heartfelt performances, supported by a strong cast, engaging direction, and a premise that remains compelling even today. While some of the CGI may look dated, its emotional core and imaginative concept have ensured its place as one of the most beloved adventure films of the 1990s.

A thrilling, heartfelt, and surprisingly dark family adventure that combines Robin Williams’ charisma with a genuinely compelling story. A 1990s classic that still holds its magic.