When word first broke that Columbia Pictures was revisiting the murky waters of the Amazon for a 2025 reboot of Anaconda, the collective groan from cinephiles was audible. We live in an era of endless remakes, and the 1997 original, while a cult classic, was fueled by a very specific kind of late-nineties sincerity and animatronic charm. However, under the direction of Tom Gormican, who co-wrote the script with Kevin Etten, this new iteration sheds the skin of a traditional horror flick for something far more peculiar. Released on December 25, 2025, Anaconda (2025) arrived as a holiday alternative to the usual prestige dramas, offering a self-referential comedy that questions why we are so obsessed with remaking the past in the first place.
The film boasts a heavy-hitting comedic ensemble that includes Paul Rudd as Griff, a man tired of being a background player in life; Jack Black as Doug, an energetic wedding videographer; Steve Zahn as the eccentric Kenny; and Thandiwe Newton as Claire. This quartet of childhood friends decides to combat their respective mid-life ruts by traveling to South America to film a low-budget, amateur remake of the original Anaconda. Their meta-adventure takes a sharp turn when they stumble upon a professional, big-budget studio remake being filmed on the same river, only for a real, massive predator to decide that both crews are on the menu. While the box office numbers are still climbing, the film has already sparked a massive conversation about its star-studded cameos, including appearances by Ice Cube, Ryan Reynolds, and even internet icons like Markiplier and PewDiePie.
Story and Screenplay: Remaking the Remake of the Remake
The narrative backbone of Anaconda (2025) is surprisingly poignant for a movie that features a giant snake. At its heart, the screenplay by Gormican and Etten is about the desperate desire to reclaim a lost sense of youth. Our protagonists are not scientists or hunters; they are four people who feel the weight of their years and believe that recreating a movie from their childhood will somehow freeze time. This emotional hook gives the first act a warmth that many creature features lack. The pacing is relentless, moving quickly from the suburban boredom of the characters' lives to the lush, dangerous greenery of the Amazon.
However, the "meta" structure is where the script truly lives and breathes. By having the amateur crew run into a professional studio production, the film becomes a satire of the Hollywood machine. There is a delightful irony in watching a group of people try to make a "real" movie while a corporate entity is nearby turning the same concept into a sanitized, focus-grouped product. That being said, the screenplay occasionally plays it too safe. For a film that wants to mock Hollywood's lack of originality, it sometimes falls into routine comedic rhythms. The humor leans heavily on gross-out gags, such as a lengthy and divisive scene involving an insect sting and the questionable medicinal properties of human urine. While these moments get a laugh from the crowd, they occasionally feel like they belong in a different, less clever movie. The script is strongest when it focuses on the absurdity of the situation, particularly Doug’s realization that they have moved from making a movie to living in one.
Acting and Characters: The Fellowship of the Snake
The undeniable highlight of the film is the chemistry between the four leads. Paul Rudd and Jack Black are a comedic pairing I didn't know I needed until now. Rudd plays Griff with a weary, "straight-man" energy that grounds the more outlandish moments, while Black brings his signature high-octane enthusiasm to the role of Doug. Their friendship feels lived-in and authentic, making you believe these men have known each other since they were wearing flared jeans and listening to grunge. Steve Zahn, as Kenny, provides much of the film’s heart, playing a character who is perhaps a little too invested in the fantasy of their project. Thandiwe Newton rounds out the group excellently, bringing a sharp intelligence and a necessary skepticism that keeps the group from drifting too far into total idiocy.
The supporting cast and cameos add a layer of "event cinema" to the proceedings. Seeing Ice Cube return to the franchise, playing a version of himself, is a stroke of genius that rewards fans of the 1997 original. Ryan Reynolds also pops up in a role that serves as a meta-commentary on his own ubiquitous presence in modern blockbusters. Even the inclusion of influencers like PewDiePie and Markiplier, while perhaps a bit distracting for older viewers, serves the film’s theme of modern content creation versus traditional filmmaking. Despite the crowded call sheet, the film manages to give each of the four main friends a moment of development, ensuring that we actually care whether or not they end up as snake food.
Direction and Technical Aspects: A Jungle of Contradictions
Tom Gormican brings the same meta-analytical eye to Anaconda that he brought to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. His vision for the film is clear: he wants to deconstruct the genre while still providing the thrills of a jungle adventure. Visually, the film is stunning when it focuses on the natural world. The cinematography captures the Amazon with a vibrant, almost neon-green intensity that makes the setting feel both beautiful and claustrophobic. The production design of the "amateur" film set versus the "professional" one is also a great visual gag, highlighting the disparity between passion and corporate funding.
Where the direction falters, unfortunately, is in the depiction of the titular monster. One would expect that in 2025, with the advancements in CGI, the snake would be a terrifying marvel of technology. Instead, the anaconda often looks like a leftover asset from a low-budget digital short. The attacks lack the weight and tactile horror of the animatronic snake from thirty years ago. There is a weightlessness to the creature's movements that breaks the immersion, turning what should be moments of high tension into unintentional comedy. Gormican seems more interested in the human reactions to the snake than the snake itself, which is a valid choice for a comedy but a disappointing one for a film carrying the Anaconda name. The editing is sharp during the comedic banter but feels a bit frantic during the action sequences, likely to hide the flaws in the digital creature.
Trailer Anaconda (2025)
Music and Atmosphere: Big Snakes and Bold Beats
The atmosphere of Anaconda (2025) is set almost immediately by its soundtrack. Using Sir Mix-A-Lot’s "Baby Got Back" as a recurring motif is a bold, hilarious choice that tells the audience exactly what kind of movie this is. It’s a film that embraces the ridiculousness of its title. The score doesn't try to mimic the dread of Jaws; instead, it feels like a party. The mood is consistently light, even when the characters are in mortal peril, which creates a strange but enjoyable cognitive dissonance.
The sound design is effective at building a sense of place. The constant drone of insects and the distant splashes in the river create a rich tapestry of sound that makes the Amazon feel alive. However, the film never truly commits to a "horror" atmosphere. There are no jump scares that land with real impact, and the tension is almost always undercut by a quip or a physical gag. For those looking for a genuine thrill ride, the atmosphere might feel a bit too safe. But for those who want a breezy, fun experience that feels like a jungle-themed hang-out movie, the audio-visual tone is spot on.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Cast Chemistry: The bond between Rudd, Black, Zahn, and Newton is the film's strongest asset, making the "childhood friends" trope feel fresh and sincere.
- Meta-Comedy: The satire directed at Hollywood’s obsession with remakes and the contrast between amateur and professional filmmaking is genuinely clever.
- Cameo Usage: The appearances by Ice Cube and Ryan Reynolds are handled with a wink and a nod that adds to the fun without derailing the plot.
- Nostalgic Heart: The film successfully taps into the feeling of mid-life malaise and the desire to reconnect with one's past.
What doesn't work:
- Subpar CGI: The snake itself is a major letdown, lacking the detail and physical presence necessary to be a credible threat.
- Lack of Tension: The film prioritizes comedy so heavily that there is almost zero sense of actual danger or stakes during the action scenes.
- Repetitive Humor: While the cast is funny, some of the gross-out humor (specifically the pee joke) feels outdated and goes on for far too long.
- Shallow Satire: While the meta-elements are fun, the film stops short of making any truly biting or original points about the film industry.
Final Verdict: A Fun, If Toothless, Adventure
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Anaconda (2025) is a bizarre, often hilarious, and ultimately charming movie that feels more like a reunion special than a horror film. It’s a movie that knows you’ve seen the original, knows you’ve seen the sequels, and knows you’re probably tired of reboots. By leaning into that fatigue and making it the central theme of the story, Gormican has created something far more watchable than a straight-faced remake would have been. It is a testament to the power of a great cast that even when the special effects fail to impress, the human element keeps you engaged.
This film is a perfect choice for a group of friends who grew up on 90s blockbusters and want to see their favorite comedic actors play off each other in a tropical setting. It’s a popcorn movie in the truest sense, meant to be enjoyed with a large soda and very little intellectual heavy lifting. However, fans of the "Creature Feature" genre who were hoping for a terrifying new take on the giant snake will likely leave the theater feeling hungry. The snake might be big, but it lacks bite.
Recommendation: Go see this if you love Paul Rudd and Jack Black and want a good laugh, but don't expect to be checking under your bed for snakes afterward. It’s a fun holiday ride that prioritizes smiles over scares.
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