Anaconda 2025 Review: Unfunny, Unnecessary, and Uninspired

The Anaconda trailer made it clear that Jack Black and Paul Rudd will deliver comedy, yet placing them in a creature-feature horror context somehow strips away the suspense that defined the genre.

Our Anaconda 2025 review describes how the film is a logic-less ride that tests the audience’s tolerance, positioning itself as an over-the-top spoof rather than a grounded revival.​

Plot details of Anaconda (2025)

The story focuses on lifelong friends, Doug (played by Jack Black) and Ronald (Paul Rudd), both facing midlife crises, who set out to remake the 1997 horror classic. Traveling to the Amazon with a small crew to shoot an independent film, their project takes a dangerous turn when they encounter a real anaconda, transforming the production into a chaotic fight for survival.​

See the trailer for Anaconda right here:​

Actors’ performances in Anaconda (2025)

Jack Black was a great choice for the role of a wedding videographer who desperately wants to direct a full-length feature film. He is going through a midlife crisis and still brings high energy to the role. While his exaggerated comedy lands occasionally, it soon grows repetitive, echoing the same issue seen in A Minecraft Movie (2025).

Paul Rudd brings his familiar Ant-Man charm to Anaconda, marked by subtle yet signature comedic timing. His humorous moments never feel histrionic, as he maintains a consistently cool, understated presence.​

Thandiwe Newton’s role fell victim to the thinly written role, although she appeared the strongest. The supporting performances from Steve Zahn, Selton Mello, and Daniela Melchior are adequate.​

What do critics add to Anaconda 2025 review?

Anaconda 2025 is considered a disappointing follow-up to the 1997 original by the critics. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus says,

“The premise might be ripe for a raucous action-comedy, but this meta reboot of Anaconda can’t detach its jaws wide enough to swallow so many conflicting tones.” [Source]

Interestingly, the Rotten Tomatoes scores of Anaconda (1997) and Anaconda (2025) are quite similar, but the original was a box office success. Nearly three decades ago, critics felt that only creature-feature fans would appreciate the film’s “silliness,” and the same sentiment seems to apply today.

One of today’s critics mentioned that the only thing good in 2025 Anaconda was the CGI; there was nothing noteworthy other than that. The extra wittiness failed to deliver an entertaining experience, whereas the humor didn’t feel funny enough.

The movie felt “irrelevant” and missed the attempt of giving thrills, especially those who were craving for nostalgia since the day they saw its trailer, the critics believed. The film was forgettable despite great star power. 

Fans’ reaction

The fans had almost the same feelings, except that the audience score is higher than that of the critics. The viewers found the jokes “recycled” and their expectations weren’t met when the great comedic duo, Jack Black and Paul Rudd, were in the cast.

The film remains largely predictable, squandering what could have been a great comeback filled with surprises. Even one of them declared that the “best parts of the movie are only in the trailer”. Oops!

Is it worth watching?​

You’re probably better off skipping this one. The blend of humor and wackiness didn’t work for me; what could have been a nostalgia-fueled creature feature instead became a weak remake that wasted both its script and cast.

Considering Tom Gormican’s limited directorial experience- and the fact that his debut, That Awkward Moment (2014), was followed by an eight-year gap due to poor reception and modest box-office returns- it becomes easier to understand why the Anaconda reboot ultimately falters.​

Although he did not disappear entirely during the eight-year gap, he stayed active through co-writing scripts and serving as an executive producer. He returned to directing with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), which received generally positive reviews.​

With Anaconda, Gormicon wanted to offer a meta-commentary on Hollywood with four friends attempting to make their own independent remake in the Amazon. Utilizing the comedic chemistry of the two stars was an attempt to make humor intentional. It could be that the director wanted to use a similar formula to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, placing celebrity actors with an absurd, “fun-bad” vibe.  

Comedy-horror remakes of serious horror classics are a gamble. Comedy only works when the scares are fully understood initially. Comedy should be able to relieve the tension of a scary situation- not replace it.​

Anaconda (2025) turned nostalgia into a punchline and did not comprehend the notion that doing so could make the film feel dismissive rather than clever. This is one of the remakes that can’t decide if it wants laughs or fear, ending up with neither.​

What we liked

• Paul Rudd’s restrained comedic performance
• His occasionally comedic chemistry with Jack Black
• Strong CGI work
• A self-aware concept on paper

What could be better​

• Inconsistent tone
• Overreliance on exaggerated comedy
• Weak script and thinly written characters
• Predictable storytelling
• Misuse of nostalgia
• Lack of genuine scares
• Star power over substance

Here’s a detailed breakdown of our rating for Anaconda (2025):

Story/plot	3/10
Characters and acting	3/10
Direction and pacing	3/10
Visuals and cinematography	5/10
Soundtrack/score	4/10
Themes and message	2/10
Emotional impact	2/10
Creativity/originality	2/10
Rewatchability	2/10

Our rating: 3

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Is Anaconda (2025) available for online streaming?

Columbia Pictures distributed Anaconda (2025) (PG-13) and is now available for online streaming through video-on-demand (VOD) services, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. 

Genre: Jungle adventure, action, comedy

IMDb rating: 5.7

Rotten Tomatoes: 47 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 75 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Steve Zahn

Director: Tom Gormican

Writers: Tom Gormican, Kevin Etten, Hans Bauer

Producers: Tom Gormican, Kevin Etten, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller

Release date: December 25, 2025

Movie runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

Do you think comedy-horror remakes like Anaconda (2025) work, or should some classics be left untouched? Sound off in the comments!