Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Jungle Cruise and The Suicide Squad, we’re counting down our favorite movies set in the jungle. Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
“If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Not only is this absolutely a true statement, but it’s also just one out of many immortal quotes from Predator that, to this day, hasn’t been improved upon. And we’ve had one direct sequel, two “let’s put Alien and Predator in the same movie, that should be fun, right, guys?” movies that weren’t fun, and not just one, but two… indirect sequels? Re-imaginings? How would you even classify Predators (2010) or The Predator (2018)? But that doesn’t really matter, as neither of those reaches the quality of this film, which is a bit weird, to be honest, because it’s not like this is Shakespeare level of quality or anything like that. And yet, it is so goddamn fun. Everything from the jungle setting, to the iconic score, heat vision, cast, and most importantly, the simplicity of the story is what makes this movie such a cult classic. I think that’s the reason the other movies have failed. All of them tried to be too smart for their own good. Whereas, when you are watching the original Predator, it’s not trying to be anything but great, old fashioned fun with bunch of funny one-liners, simple enough story, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who’s just so buff, it’s totally possible he would have single-handedly dealt with a predator like that, no questions asked. I re-watch this every couple of years and I am always surprised how well it holds up and most importantly, how much fun I always have with it. That’s what makes this an all-time classic in my book — the rewatchability element, where no matter how many times you see this movie, you will always enjoy it. “Get to the choppaaaaah!” (Luke Burian)
Let me be very clear, the original Jumanji is not a children’s film, and anyone who says otherwise is either trying to deceive you, or wasn’t paying attention to the movie. Here’s the breakdown: Alan Parrish (Robin Williams) is a young boy from the ’60s who is kidnapped by a possessed board game, and subjected to 30 years of jungle-based torture at the hands of a 19th-century bounty hunter, rabid pygmy monkeys, and a poorly rendered Tiger. And that’s just the start of the nightmare. We get the rare opportunity here to see Williams play a villain, as the now-adult Parrish returns to finish the game by dragging in his severely traumatized friend, Bonnie Hunt, who was present to bear witness to his abduction into Satan’s personal Narnia. Not even the inclusion of two new children/victims is enough to deter Parrish from completing the demon board game and breaking the curse. To top it off, even the timeline isn’t sacred as the completion of the game erases the preceding 30 years and god knows how many accomplishments, relationships, and families along with it. Yes, we are presented with what looks to be a happy ending, with Williams and Hunt married and in love, but the thud, thud, thud of Jumanji beats on, washed up upon a new shore, panting for its next victim. I swear this board game has ruined more lives than monopoly. (Ian Whittington)
There are few movies I will go out of my way to recommend to someone, and Tropic Thunder is 100% at the top of that list. You have some downright hilarious moments with a knockout cast that literally has everybody all wrapped in an engaging story that is like a blanket of comedic genius. It does have its issues and valid criticisms, with two specific cases that jump out almost immediately, but it sets out on a goal to poke fun at Hollywood and actors, and boy, does it succeed. Each and every person cast in this film is downright perfect for their roles, from Ben Stiller, to Jack Black, and even Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey in roles that frankly feel a little too perfect. Honestly, I’m not sure these two had lines in the script, but that the screenwriters and director Ben Stiller just said to act natural. Anyway, even if you’ve seen this a thousand times or have never taken a chance on it, stop what you’re doing and watch it now… okay, depending on when you see this, maybe finish the BEC first. (Joseph Davis)
Apocalypto has to be one of the most ambitious films ever made. Starring a mostly unknown cast of Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors speaking exclusively in the Yucatec Mayan language, the film follows a group of Mayan hunters in the year 1502. Despite some historical inaccuracies, it is hard to escape the feeling that you are watching a significant piece of world history unfold in real time. However, unlike many historical films, it is fast-paced and thrilling. Unexpectedly humorous in one moment and brutally violent in the next, Apocalypto is a cinematic experience unlike any other, and I would firmly recommend it to any movie lover in search of a truly singular experience. (Foster Harlfinger)
James Cameron didn’t just give us a movie with Avatar. He gave us a world. Say what you want about the film, there’s no denying that when it came out, it was one of the most unique theater experiences audiences had to date (there’s a reason it’s made almost three billion dollars!) with its incredible utilization of 3D, groundbreaking special effects, and, of course, the beautifully realized world of Pandora. Is it essentially just Dances with Wolves in space? Yes. But is there another movie where nine-foot aliens ride dragons while fighting giant mechs? Sure, it may not be the most original, but Cameron’s abilities as a storyteller and world builder shine here and provide for a fascinating movie full of action, heart, and a rather ham-fisted, but still poignant message about respecting nature. Cameron’s world building wasn’t the only impressive thing about this movie, though. The cast is the most underrated part of Avatar with veteran actors like Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, CCH Pounder, and Wes Studi in supporting roles. And you can’t forget Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington giving some of the best performances of their careers in the lead roles (possibly a hot take, but I stand by it). The cast’s performances are especially impressive when you consider they were mostly acting against nothing. Avatar is a great adventure that’s worthy of your time. Grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild, fun, and emotional ride. (Jeffery Rahming)
Long before Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt navigated the jungles, Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn rode in the original Jungle Cruise. Bogart and Hepburn were the original river-fairing odd couple in John Huston’s The African Queen. Bogart plays a grizzled loner who lives his life upon his shop. Hepburn is a missionary who is too prim and proper to deal with the rugged jungle life. But they both need each other… and soon want to be with each other. This budding love affair is sparked by the endless charisma of its star leads who were a few of the pillars of old Hollywood. Throw in rapids and German soldiers, and this unlikely pair heads out on a secret mission to take the battle to the enemy. There is plenty to love when it comes to Huston’s classic adventure into the jungle. (Shane Conto)
I think it’s safe to say, when most people hear the name Sir Alec Guinness, they immediately think of Star Wars. I was the same way until about a year ago when I was fortunate enough to finally knock Bridge on the River Kwai off my list of shame. This winner of seven Oscars, including best picture, director, actor and screenplay is about stubbornness, pride, and madness, and deserves every award it received. Every decision Guinness’ character, Colonel Nicholson, makes is steeped in one of the three aforementioned qualities as the movie progresses. His performance is so endearing that you suffer with him when he stubbornly will not yield to the Japanese commander’s demands. You feel pride along with him regarding the work he and his men accomplish in the planning, construction, and completion of the bridge. You understand the madness that he succumbs to when the fruits of his labor come under attack. After only one viewing, I knew that I loved this movie enough for it to be included in my top-100 favorite movies of all time and it has climbed the list with each subsequent viewing. (Nick Ferro)
Listen, I know what you’re thinking. “Jungle movies” implies mosquitos, sweat, and tribal civilizations. Maybe even a Mayan curse or two! I put it to you, however, that all a jungle movie really needs to be a proper jungle movie, is adventure! Up has adventure in spades, from the initial flight of Carl’s home powered by a multitude of balloons, to the trek through South America in search of the place Carl and his wife always dreamed of, to the confrontation with the movie’s villain aboard a blimp. No, Up does not have a Mayan curse, but it does have dogs that can talk, a giant, colorful bird with a love of chocolate and a sarcastic streak, and — as mentioned — a house flying from New York City to South America under a collection of balloons! Come on! Up’s finest moments are of course in its fantastic opening sequence, but the rest of the movie feels like a warm hug from Pixar itself. (Chris Bakker)
From its first scene, Jurassic Park was always going to be a banger, and it managed to change the way movies were made forever. If you aren’t aware of how, look up the legend of how a rogue ILM employee secretly developed tech (that still holds up almost 30 years later) that avoided the dinosaurs being rendered in stop motion. It’s an adventure film at heart, but with an undoubted giant, up-front scoop of horror thrown in for good measure, with so many iconic scenes, and yet another iconic John Williams score that still manages to make me shed a tear during that first reaction to seeing a Brachiosaurus. Spielberg manages to capture our minds and steal our breath as Isla Nublar becomes a character of its own. The dinosaurs are the stars of the show here, however, our main characters are well-fleshed-out and well performed. What a treat Jeff Goldblum is. You become fully immersed in the suspense and tension during the relentlessly intense second and third acts. As time marches on, Jurassic Park has only managed to cement itself as an all-time classic cinematic experience. (Adam Ritchie)
The prolific filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola crafted one of the finest war films of all time. Apocalypse Now is a descent into the hellish world of war, through the eyes of Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Martin Sheen). He has been tasked with seeking out and assassinating the highly decorated rogue Green Beret, Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Coppola and his crew constructed a surreal journey through the lush jungles of Vietnam with every frame delving the viewer into the heart of madness. Willard is a war-torn and troubled man that has been ravaged by his time spent in combat. His superiors see him as the perfect candidate due to his odd similarities to the insane Colonel Kurtz. Disillusionment creeps exponentially through Willard the closer he gets to his objective. When coming face to face with Kurtz, it is as if he is peering into his own very soul. Apocalypse Now transcends its genre and contains an Odyssey like experience unlike any other war film. (Joe Vargas)
Creature From the Black Lagoon
In 1975, Jaws was the aquatic nightmare fuel for generations to come. However, 21 years earlier a different creature made everyone scared to go in the water, or for that matter even be in the vicinity. While I’ve always heard references to Creature From The Black Lagoon, I have to admit this was my first experience with this Jack Arnold feature. So taking a trip back to this 1954 great gave me the opportunity to visit a time where film was black and white, the “aqua lung” was all the rage, it was cool to rock spandex shorts even when it wasn’t practical, and archaeology expeditions that would even make Indiana Jones question their procedures. I was not disappointed. This feature brings Olympic-level lagoon swimming, some hilarious “ahh nooooo!!” moments, and a captain that Gilligan’s crew would have loved to have. If nothing else, a viewing of this gem is more than worth it just to see how awesome practical effects are, and how they have evolved over time like the Gill-Monster. This is a great 70 minutes spent if you have a rainy day and want some fun. (Matt Lawson)
Tomb Raider
I’ve never been so content to write about an honorable mention on this list. When Tomb Raider movie was first announced, I could really not have cared less. The Angeline Jolie movies never really engaged me, yet I always ended up seeing parts of them because they seemingly always aired on the movie channels when I was a kid. I wasn’t a player of the game either, so there was no attachment at all. But then, Alicia Vikander was cast and I slowly started to gain interest. By the time it came out, I had relatively low expectations, but was marginally excited. And it really surprised me! I think the movie is genuinely a super fun time. It definitely plays a bit like a video game adaptation, but in a way that worked for me. I thought the action set pieces were engaging and I was ultimately fully onboard for Lara Croft’s journey. She feels a bit larger than life, as I would expect a video game character to feel, but Vikander’s natural charm grounds her in the perfect ways. Not to mention Walton Goggins, who is hamming it up as the villain and I am always down for that. This movie isn’t going to break new ground or anything, but I think it’s a really fun action/adventure franchise that can be appreciated by those of all ages! I’m happy to see another is on the way. (Nashua Doll)
George of the Jungle
Well I ended up hanging out in 1997 again this week to rewatch another of my childhood favorites — George of the Jungle. This film is about George (Brendan Fraser) who was lost in the jungle as a baby and is raised by a talking ape named Ape (John Cleese). Then one day George saves Ursula (Leslie Mann) from a lion and she falls in love with him almost immediately. Between 1997 and 1999, Fraser starred in some of my favorites of his and after rewatching George of the Jungle,it’s still a favorite. Based on Jay Ward’s cartoon of the same name, this film was very funny in its meta humor, which comes straight from the source material. From the fourth wall breaks to the arguing with the narrator, this film will have you throwing your heads back in laughter, which is no surprise when one of the script doctors on the film was Joel Hodgson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame. Fraser is excellent in this role, and doesn’t get enough credit for how funny he is in it. George of the Jungle is an all-around great family film that still holds up today, and if you haven’t checked it out, it’s currently on Disney+. “Oh. Watch out for that tree.” (Austen Terry)
Congo
Released in 1995, Congo was the perfect movie for a young child like myself. Perfect in the sense that there was enough action to fool me into thinking this was a good movie. Now that I have grown a bit, I can comfortably say that Congo is indeed a good movie, and maybe the best jungle movie. Not many movies feature talking animals that make sense to the plot. Most movies go the route of magic or wishes, but this movie has a talking gorilla because of science! Congo also has the distinction of being one of the few movies that shows just how dangerous hippopotamuses can be. If a talking gorilla and a man eating hippos are not your cup of tea, the cast is wonderful — Bruce Cambell chewing his glorified cameo, Tim Curry as smarmy as ever, and Ernie Hudson in what should have been a breakout action role. If the unique perspective on the jungle and world class acting still does not sell you on this being the best jungle movie, may I just point out the climax is using a laser to fight killer grey gorillas in an active volcano? They use a frickin’ laser beam! (Scott Batchelor)
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