With nostalgia very much dominating the world of TV and film production, it seems that just about any classic property could return for a revival or long awaited sequel. We've seen this through a ton of projects, with some reboots faring better than others. One of these revivals that hit theaters last year was Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. While the film was originally met with some backlash by purists and those who took umbrage with Karen Gillan's costume, the film really stood on its own two feet once it arrived in December. A critical success, Welcome to the Jungle has also been making an insane amount of money at the box office. And it's now passed a new milestone: $900 million worldwide gross.
This wild new report comes to us from Deadline, which reports that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle passed the $900 million mark over this past weekend. When the film debuted in December it had some tough competition, and was able to edge out DC's disappointing Justice League movie for box office supremacy. Offering a holiday movie for all generations, Jumanji instantly became a hit domestically. And with international markets opening up, the money just keeps rolling in. Perhaps the biggest kicker is that it hasn't even debuted in Japan yet, which has the possibility of being a serious market for the blockbuster.
When the film's announcement first arrive, there were plenty of skeptics out there. Critics feared that the new film would besmirch the legacy of the iconic original film, especially with Robin Williams having passed before it was made. But Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle actually succeeded by distancing itself from the 1995 classic. The film is almost nothing like the original, only making a passing references to Robin Williams' character Alan. With strong performances by a fantastic cast, Into the Jungle was modern, zany, and wholly original.
Considering the massive sum of money Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is making for Sony, it seems like only a matter of time before a sequel is announced. The new video game format allows the franchise to possibly function as an anthology series, with different kids being sucked into the game. Actors like Jack Black and Kevin Hart could play the same avatar, just inhabited by someone else. I had the chance to speak with Karen Gillan about a possible sequel, and she seemed particularly excited at the possibility of playing another role within the shoes of her avatar Ruby Roundhouse. Dwayne Johnson is one of the busiest people in show business, and as a producer/star of the film he'd no doubt love for momentum on a sequel to begin.
Check back with CinemaBlend for updates on the Jumanji franchise, and possible sequel. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
