Directed by Tom Gormican.
Anaconda was released in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2025.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.
Anaconda (2025) Movie Review
Anaconda (2025) is a fun and silly movie that does not take itself too seriously.
The story follows a group of friends who travel into the jungle to remake an old snake movie they loved when they were younger.
Things quickly go wrong when they face real danger in the wild.
Jack Black and Paul Rudd are the highlights of the film, bringing lots of humor and friendly energy to the story.
The movie mixes comedy, action, and a little bit of suspense.
Some scenes are exciting, while others are clearly made to make you laugh.
The giant snake is more fun than scary, and the jungle setting looks great on screen.
While the story is simple and sometimes messy, it is still entertaining.
Anaconda (2025) is best enjoyed as a light movie night pick.
If you want laughs, adventure, and a nostalgic feel, this movie is worth watching.
CR Ratings – 7.2/10
Anaconda (2025) Actors
Jack Black as Doug McCallister
DOB: August 28, 1969.
Bio: American actor, comedian, and musician best known for his high-energy physical comedy and elastic screen presence.
He broke out through alternative comedy and supporting roles before becoming a leading man with School of Rock.
Role: Doug McCallister is a wedding videographer and one half of a lifelong friendship that drives the film’s story.
Along with his best friend, Doug travels into the jungle to shoot a low-budget remake of the 1997 cult hit Anaconda.
Interesting facts: This role marks a return to ensemble comedy for Black, leaning into his talent for situational panic and character-driven humor rather than pure parody.
Notable works: School of Rock, Nacho Libre, Tropic Thunder, Kung Fu Panda franchise, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.
Paul Rudd as Ronald “Griff” Griffen Jr.
DOB: April 6, 1969.
Bio: American actor, writer, and producer widely regarded as one of contemporary comedy’s most enduringly likable screen presences.
Rudd has built a career that moves comfortably between studio comedies, independent films, and blockbuster franchises.
Role: Ronald “Griff” Griffen Jr. is an aspiring actor whose unrealized ambitions help set the film in motion.
Griff convinces his longtime friends to join him on a jungle-set project inspired by the cult legacy of Anaconda, presenting himself as more confident and connected than he truly is.
Interesting facts: Rudd’s performance leans heavily on character-based humor rather than overt gags, allowing the comedy to emerge naturally from stress and failed leadership.
Notable works: Clueless, Role Models, I Love You, Man, Ant-Man franchise, Living with Yourself.
Steve Zahn as Kenny Trent
DOB: November 13, 1967.
Bio: American actor celebrated for his versatility across comedy, drama, and adventure films.
Over a decades-long career, he has become known for playing relatable, slightly eccentric characters who bring warmth and authenticity to ensemble casts.
Role: Kenny Trent is part of the central friend group drawn into the film’s ill-fated jungle expedition.
Positioned between Doug’s enthusiasm and Griff’s ambition, Kenny functions as the most grounded and practical member of the trio.
Interesting facts: Zahn has extensive experience in adventure and survival-set films, which makes him a natural fit for a project that blends comedy with wilderness danger.
Notable works: That Thing You Do!, Saving Silverman, War for the Planet of the Apes, The White Lotus.
Thandiwe Newton as Claire Simons
DOB: November 6, 1972.
Bio: British actor with an internationally acclaimed career spanning independent cinema, major studio films, and prestige television.
Known for her intelligence, emotional precision, and ability to convey layered interior lives, Newton has consistently played women navigating power, vulnerability, and moral complexity.
Role: CClaire Simons is an old friend of the central group who becomes involved in the ill-fated jungle expedition.
More grounded and observant than most of the crew, Claire often serves as a stabilizing presence as tensions rise.
Interesting facts: Newton is known for being selective about genre projects, often choosing roles that allow for character-driven storytelling within larger commercial frameworks.
Notable works: Crash, Westworld, Beloved, Mission: Impossible II, Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida
DOB: November 1, 1996.
Bio: Portuguese actor who gained international recognition with her breakout role in The Suicide Squad (2021).
Trained in theatre and fluent in multiple languages, Melchior has steadily built a cross-Atlantic career, moving between European productions and major Hollywood projects.
Role: Ana Almeida is a skilled boat captain operating along the Amazon River who crosses paths with the film’s central group.
Self-possessed and guarded, Ana presents herself as someone deeply familiar with the dangers of the jungle and its illicit economies.
Interesting facts: Melchior’s casting reflects the film’s interest in blending recognizable international talent with grounded genre storytelling.
Notable works: The Suicide Squad, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Portuguese film and television projects.
Selton Mello as Carlos Santiago Braga
DOB: December 30, 1972.
Bio: Brazilian actor, director, writer, and producer with a career spanning film, television, and theatre.
Widely regarded as one of Brazil’s most versatile screen talents, Mello is known for naturalistic performances that balance emotional intelligence with lived-in realism.
Role: Carlos Santiago Braga is a local Amazonian guide and snake handler whose deep familiarity with the jungle makes him a crucial presence once the group’s situation turns genuinely dangerous.
Carlos operates as a practical counterweight to the outsiders’ improvisation, measured, experienced, and fully aware of the risks the environment presents.
Interesting facts: Mello’s involvement added local star power in Brazilian markets and helped anchor bilingual elements of the story.
Notable works: The Clown (O Palhaço), My Name Ain’t Johnny, Lisbela and the Prisoner, extensive Brazilian film and television work.
Ice Cube as Himself (cameo)
DOB: June 15, 1969.
Bio: Ice Cube is a rapper, actor, writer, and producer who transitioned from pioneering West Coast hip-hop as a founding member of N.W.A. into a long-running film career.
On screen, he has balanced hard-edged dramatic roles with broad studio comedies, becoming a recognizable crossover figure in American pop culture.
Role: Ice Cube appears briefly as himself in a self-aware cameo that references his starring role in the original Anaconda (1997).
The appearance functions as a meta nod rather than a plot-driving moment, reinforcing the film’s playful tone and its “remake-about-a-remake” concept.
Interesting facts: Ice Cube was one of the most memorable cast members of the 1997 Anaconda, and his cameo here serves as a deliberate callback rather than a continuation of that character.
Notable works: Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Barbershop series, N.W.A. discography.
Ione Skye as Malie McCallister
DOB: September 4, 1970.
Bio: American actor who became a defining face of late-1980s and early-1990s cinema after her breakout role in Say Anything….
Over the decades, she has built a steady career in independent films and supporting studio roles, often bringing understated warmth, wit, and emotional credibility to ensemble casts.
Role: Malie McCallister is Doug’s wife, a grounded, emotionally intelligent presence who represents the stable life Doug risks by chasing an increasingly absurd and dangerous filmmaking dream.
While not part of the jungle expedition, Malie’s role provides emotional contrast, highlighting what is at stake beyond the comedy.
Interesting facts: Skye’s casting subtly nods to 1990s cinema while placing her in a contemporary ensemble comedy-horror.
Notable works: Say Anything…, Wayne’s World, Fever Pitch.
Ben Lawson as Brant Markham (TV MD)
DOB: February 6, 1980.
Bio: Australian actor who has built a solid international career across American and Australian television.
He is frequently cast as polished professionals and authority figures, bringing controlled energy and credibility to doctors, executives, and media-facing characters.
Role: Brant Markham is an on-screen television doctor and media personality, part of the film’s meta “media-within-the-movie” satire.
His segments parody the slick professionalism of TV experts who package danger and adventure as content, contrasting sharply with the chaotic and genuinely lethal jungle situation unfolding around the main characters.
Interesting facts: Lawson’s role is small but used to lampoon how media-savvy professionals treat dangerous location shoots as PR.
Notable works: The Good Place, Firefly Lane, 13 Reasons Why.
Rui Ricardo Diaz as João
DOB: April 25, 1978.
Bio: Brazilian film and television actor known for grounded, naturalistic performances, often portraying working-class or regional characters.
He has built a steady career in Brazilian cinema and TV, where his understated style and physical presence make him well suited to roles rooted in place and environment rather than spectacle.
Role: João is a local guide and tracker whose knowledge of the Amazon places him in a morally complex position as the crew pushes deeper into danger.
Rather than acting as a traditional helper, João serves as a quiet counterweight to the outsiders’ recklessness.
Interesting facts: Casting Brazilian actors like Diaz in local roles helped preserve linguistic realism and cultural specificity during the Amazon-set sequences.
Notable works: Brazilian film and TV credits.
John Billingsley as Jerry
DOB: May 20, 1960.
Bio: American character actor known for his work in science fiction television, most notably Star Trek: Enterprise, and for reliable, nuanced supporting performances across film and TV.
He excels at portraying grounded, everyman characters who add humor or humanity to ensemble casts.
Role: Jerry is a behind-the-scenes crew member whose nervous, cautious personality highlights the chaos of the low-budget jungle shoot.
He functions as the film’s “practical conscience,” providing comic relief and grounding moments of tension.
Interesting facts: Billingsley’s extensive TV career and recognizable presence give audiences a comforting anchor in ensemble-driven stories.
Notable works: Star Trek: Enterprise, The X-Files, NCIS, and guest appearances across various TV series.
Dan Silveira as Timo
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Brazilian actor and stunt performer known for physically demanding roles in film and television.
He brings authenticity and grounded presence to action sequences, particularly those set in the Amazon or requiring local expertise.
Role: Timo is a local tracker who encounters the giant anaconda early in the story.
His encounter sets the stakes for the film, highlighting the real danger of the jungle and propelling the main crew into panic.
Interesting facts: Several of the most physically demanding sequences used local stunt performers and actors to ensure cultural and physical authenticity.
Notable works: Local Brazilian film and TV credits; stunt and action work.
More Actors
• Jennifer Lopez as cameo.
• Diego Arnary as Paulo.
• Jarred Blakiston as Groom.
• Sebastian Sero as Charlie.
FAQ – Anaconda 2025 Movie
What is Anaconda (2025) about?
Anaconda follows a group of lifelong friends who head into the Amazon to make their dream version of the 1997 Anaconda movie, but things take a real and dangerous turn when a giant snake appears. The film mixes comedy and adventure with creature-feature action.
Is Anaconda a remake of the 1997 film?
No, while inspired by the original, the 2025 Anaconda is an original story with a fresh, self-aware twist.
How long is Anaconda (2025)?
The runtime is 99 minutes.
Where was Anaconda filmed?
Principal photography was shot in Queensland, Australia (Village Roadshow Studios and surrounding locations), which doubled for the Amazon. Primetimer
Where can you watch Anaconda at home?
It is currently in theaters, with home streaming expected on Netflix in spring 2026 after the theatrical run.
Conclusion
Anaconda (2025) is an entertaining reboot that focuses more on fun than fear.
Strong chemistry between the lead actors, playful humor, and a classic jungle setting make it enjoyable, even if the story is simple.
It may not impress viewers looking for serious horror, but it succeeds as a light, nostalgic adventure.
Overall, it’s a good choice for anyone wanting an easy, laugh-filled movie night.