How To Watch Jumanji Movies In Order (2024)

The Jumanji franchise may have been around for decades now, but it is currently stronger than ever due to the success of the revival movies, so here is how many Jumanji films there are and how to watch them all in order. The classic Robin Williams fantasy movie was one of the biggest hits of the 1990s, with it going on to spawn several sequels all the way into the 2010s. With another Jumanji movie already confirmed, now is the perfect time to catch up on the franchise, with this being the proper viewing order.

1995's hit classic Jumanji is the film that started it all, with the Robin Williams movie following two kids that stumble upon a magical board game. Although the titular game seems fun at first, it quickly turns into a parade of horrors, with the jungle-themed events of the game quickly coming true. Although the kids managed to stay safe from the horrors of Jumanji after the end of the first film, that was far from the end of the game's reign of terror, with the Jumanji franchise returning several more times to continue the storyline.

Jumanji Movies In Release & Chronological Order

The Jumanji series currently consists of three movies, with a fourth one on the way. Luckily, the release order and the chronological order of the three Jumanji films are the same, as the two modern Jumanji movies are sequels to the original film. The Jumanji series starts out with the first film, which was released and takes place in 1995, although the film does start out in 1969 to explain how Alan Parrish got stuck in Jumanji. Although the 1995 film was the only mainline Jumanji film for many years, this isn't the case anymore.

The next entry in the Jumanji series is 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which focuses on a new cast of characters who have to deal with Jumanji after it turns itself into a video game. This still wasn't the end of the Jumanji franchise, as it returned again for a third film titled Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019. With a fourth Jumanji movie on the way, it seems like there are still more stories to tell surrounding the cursed game and those who are unfortunate enough to play it.

Where Does Zathura Fit Into The Jumanji Watch Order?

Although there are currently only three mainline Jumanji films, the franchise does expand beyond this series, with there also being another movie in the franchise titled Zathura: A Space Adventure. Much like Jumanji, Zathura: A Space Adventure centers around another game that turns out to have horrible effects on reality, although this time the game is themed after science fiction.

Zathura: A Space Adventure was released in 2005, and in the Jumanji franchise, it is set between the original Jumanji and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. The film is the only time the titular board game has been explored in the Jumanji franchise, with the subsequent sequels going back to focusing on the jungle-themed game. While Zathura: A Space Adventure is considered to be the black sheep of the Jumanji franchise, it is still a great pick for Jumanji fans, and it is supposed to be watched before the modern sequels.

Why It's Important To Watch The First Jumanji Movie Before The Others

Although the various Jumanji movies may be seemingly disconnected at first glance, it is actually important to watch the first Jumanji movie before the others. The Jumanji sequels have references and Easter eggs that hint at Alan Parrish's time in the game, and these will be missed out on by viewers who haven't seen the original. On top of that, the Jumanji sequels rely on knowledge that is given by the first film, with it being easier to understand what is going on by viewers who are familiar with how the game works.

Zathura: A Space Adventure is a spinoff of Jumanji rather than a sequel, meaning that the two films don't share any major connections. However, Zathura takes place in the same universe as Jumanji, meaning that fans who are wanting to get the full franchise experience need to check out Zathura: A Space Adventure after watching the original Jumanji. There is a lot to experience in the franchise outside of the original Jumanji, with the current four films not being the end of the series in the wake of the announcement of Jumanji 4.

Jumanji

PG

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Jumanji is an action-adventure comedy film by director Joe Johnston and starring Robin Williams. Two orphan siblings move into a home occupied by the former Parrish family, whose son disappeared years ago. When the two start playing a mysterious board game known as "Jumanji," they unknowingly release the missing Alan Parrish later, along with various other jungle-themed dangers that can only be stopped if they finish the game.

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Director

Joe Johnston

Release Date

December 15, 1995

Studio(s)

TriStar Pictures , Interscope Communications

Distributor(s)

Sony Pictures Releasing

Writers

Jonathan Hensleigh , Greg Taylor , Jim Strain

Cast

Robin Williams , Kirsten Dunst , David Alan Grier , Bonnie Hunt , Jonathan Hyde , Bebe Neuwirth

Runtime

104 Minutes

Franchise(s)

Jumanji

Sequel(s)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle , Jumanji: The Next Level , Jumanji 4

Budget

$65 Million