Jumanji 1995 - Ranking Every Robin Williams Movie
Is Jumanji (1995) a good movie? Yes, Jumanji is a dark, thrilling, and emotionally resonant 1995 family adventure movie. Despite some severely dated early CGI effects, Robin Williams delivers a fantastic 5-star performance as a traumatized survivor. In our ultimate movie ranking and review, it stands as a nostalgic classic that brilliantly balances magical chaos with genuine heart.
The Premise: What is Jumanji (1995) About?
In 1969, young Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game called Jumanji and accidentally unleashes a magical curse that traps him inside the game's jungle world for decades. Flash forward twenty-six years later, two kids—Judy and Peter Shepherd—find the game, roll the dice, and accidentally release an adult Alan (Robin Williams), who returns deeply traumatized.
Together, they must finish the game to undo the apocalyptic chaos they’ve unleashed on their town, dodging wild animals, natural disasters, and a relentless hunter who looks like he stepped straight out of Ace Ventura 2.
Directed by Joe Johnston, the film is an adaptation of the 1981 children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. The movie features a stellar supporting cast, including Bonnie Hunt, a young Kirsten Dunst, and Jonathan Hyde, who cleverly pulls double-duty playing both Alan's strict father and the villainous hunter, Van Pelt.
What Works: A Kids' Movie With Actual Stakes
A lot of people don’t realize Jumanji is based on a children's book, but the movie does a phenomenal job expanding the original story to add real emotional weight and meaning.
The absolute best part of this film is that it is dark and dangerous, but it never treats kids like idiots. There is real emotional depth here as the characters deal with fear, courage, and growing up, all wrapped inside a wild adventure.
And can we talk about the fictional town of Brantford for a second? What small New England town has this much crime? People are warming their hands over barrel fires in downtown, and kids wander into abandoned factories like they’re playgrounds. Honestly, when lions start busting out of board games, it just feels like a natural progression for this town.
What Doesn't Work: Dated CGI and Bad Board Game Strategy
Alright, let’s talk about the elephant, or rather, the monkeys, in the room. The special effects have not aged well. Even by 1995 standards, the CGI monkeys look incredibly rough. However, if you just use the headcanon that "that’s what monkeys look like inside the board game," it makes the movie much easier to watch.
The only other major frustration is the characters' terrible gameplay strategy. They constantly roll the dice, freak out at the new horror they've unleashed, and then just stop playing. You know the rules! You have to reach the end to make it all stop—just roll the dice faster! Thankfully, they finally figure this out and speed up the pace for the climax.
The Robin Williams Ranking & Performance Score
Robin Williams Performance Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars) Playing Alan Parrish is no easy task. Robin Williams has to portray a character who looks rugged and strong on the outside, but is deeply depressed, traumatized, and scared on the inside, all while literally running from lions. It is a masterful, 5-star performance.
Good Mourning Robin Ranking: While Jumanji is incredibly nostalgic and holds up as a thrilling ride, it doesn't quite reach the cinematic heights of Aladdin or Mrs. Doubtfire. In our highly competitive Robin Williams ranking, it sits just below Being Human.
Aladdin
The Fisher King
Good Morning Vietnam
The World According to Garp
Awakenings
Mrs. Doubtfire
Dead Poets Society
Hook
Moscow on the Hudson
Being Human ⭐
Jumanji
Toys
Popeye
FernGully
Club Paradise
Cadillac Man
Best of Times
The Survivors
FAQ: Jumanji (1995) Movie
Is Jumanji (1995) based on a book? Yes, the movie is based on the 1981 children’s picture book of the same name, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg.
Who played Alan Parrish in Jumanji? Robin Williams played the adult version of Alan Parrish, who spends 26 years trapped inside the magical board game.
Who played the kids in Jumanji (1995)? The Shepherd children were played by a young Kirsten Dunst (Judy) and Bradley Pierce (Peter).
Is Jumanji (1995) too scary for kids? While it is an incredible family film, it is famously dark and dangerous for a kids' movie. It features giant spiders, aggressive lions, and a man actively hunting the main characters with a rifle. Parents of very young children should proceed with caution.
How does Robin Williams' performance in Jumanji rank? In our review, Robin Williams earns a perfect 5-star score. He perfectly captures the complex emotions of a man who is physically an adult, but emotionally stunted by the trauma of being trapped in a jungle for decades.
