Anaconda 2025: How's the Review of Jack Black and Paul Rudd's Movie?

Anaconda is the comedy reboot of a horror franchise you never asked for.Our review: https://t.co/o0ZG7ryRTw pic.twitter.com/DLHpEVE7na

— IGN (@IGN) December 25, 2025

Anaconda 2025 received mixed reviews from critics.

On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 44 based on 18 reviews, indicating a fairly polarized reception.

Solzy at the Movies gave it a 3/5, while Nerdist called the trailer “the most ridiculous clip of 2025.”

Several critics praised the film as a “meta-action comedy” that successfully blends creature mayhem with reflections on nostalgia and unfulfilled dreams.

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence stated that the film is “far less scary than its campy 1997 predecessor, but far funnier—intentionally.”

The solid chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jack Black was also a positive highlight, making the film “easy enough to pass as a comedy with a bit of clumsy, effects-based creature action.”

However, many critics also gave negative reviews.

Some considered it a “weak horror-comedy satire” that “falters” and “lacks sharp characters.”

Matt Singer of ScreenCrush gave it a 4/10, criticizing Hollywood’s over-reliance on legacy IP (intellectual property).

Mashable complained about “too much intrigue and underwhelming inside jokes,” while Plugged In highlighted the violence and strong language as content issues.

Mark Hanson of Slant Magazine even lamented that “Anaconda’s most important star, the snake, gets the worst treatment.”

Anaconda 2025 premiered at The United Theatre on Broadway in Los Angeles, California, on December 13, 2025.

Sony Pictures Releasing then officially released it in the United States on December 25, 2025.

The following day, on December 26, 2025, ODEON Cinemas also began showing the film to the public.

Directed by Tom Gormican, who also wrote the screenplay with Kevin Etten, the film is based on the original 1997 Anaconda story written by Hans Bauer, Jim Cash, and Jack Epps Jr. Gormican is known for his directing style, which blends comedy and action.

The development of the Anaconda reboot was announced by Columbia Pictures on January 24, 2020.

Tom Gormican was appointed director in March 2023, followed by the announcement of Jack Black and Paul Rudd as the leads in August 2024.

Principal photography began in January 2025 in Queensland, Australia, and wrapped in late February 2025.

The plot of Anaconda 2025 centers on Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and Ronald “Griff” Griffen Jr. (Paul Rudd), two childhood friends experiencing a midlife crisis.

They decide to pursue a long-held dream: making a spiritual sequel to their favorite horror film, Anaconda (1997).

Together with their friends, Kenny Trent (Steve Zahn) and Claire Simons (Thandiwe Newton), they head to the Amazon to begin filming.

However, their plans are thrown into disarray when the hired anaconda goes missing, and they encounter a giant, real-life anaconda instead.

The film has been described as a “movie-within-a-movie” concept, where the characters attempt to recreate the original film, but with far more realistic consequences.

In addition to Jack Black and Paul Rudd, the film also stars Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida, Selton Mello as Carlos Santiago Braga, and Ione Skye as Malie McCallister, Doug’s wife.