Jungle Cruise Movie Review | Common Sense Media

Home » What Is Jungle Cruise Rated » Jungle Cruise Movie Review | Common Sense Media

Maybe your like

Skip to main content
  • For Parents
  • For Educators
  • Our Work and Impact
Language: English English Español
  • Movies
    • Movie Reviews and Lists
      • Movie Reviews
      • Best Movie Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for Movies
    • Marketing Campaign

      • 50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

    • The Common Sense Seal

      • Common Sense Selections for Movies

  • TV
    • TV Reviews and Lists
      • TV Reviews
      • Best TV Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for TV
      • Video Reviews of TV Shows
    • Marketing Campaign

      • Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

    • Marketing Campaign

      • Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

  • Books
    • Book Reviews and Lists
      • Book Reviews
      • Best Book Lists
      • Common Sense Selections for Books
    • Article About Books

      • 8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

    • Marketing Campaign for Books

      • 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

  • Gaming
    • App Reviews and Lists
      • Fortnite
      • Minecraft
      • Roblox
      • All Game Reviews
  • Social Media
    • Podcast Reviews and Lists
      • Social Media
      • Snapchat
      • Instagram
      • TikTok
  • Parents' Guides
    • By Age & Stage
      • Preschoolers (2-4)
      • Little Kids (5-7)
      • Big Kids (7-9)
      • Tweens (10-12)
      • Teens (13-15)
    • By Topic
      • Digital Parenting Anxiety
      • First Phones
      • Social Media
      • Parental Controls
      • AI Companions
      • Generative AI
    • What's New

      • Parents' Ultimate Guide: How to Set Parent Controls on Roblox

      • All Parents' Ultimate Guides
  • Tips & FAQs
    • Column 1
      • Family Tech Planners
      • Digital Skills
      • All Articles
    • Column 2

      • Carpool Conversations

    • Column 3

      • Two Truths & AI

  • Celebrating Community
    • Menu for Latino Content
      • Latino Culture
      • Black Voices
      • Asian Stories
      • Native Narratives
      • LGBTQ+ Pride
      • Jewish Experiences
      • Best of Diverse Representation List
    • FACE English Column 2

      • Multicultural Books

    • FACE English Column 3

      • YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

    • FACE English Column 4

      • Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

  • Donate

Parents' Guide to

Jungle Cruise Movie PG-13 2021 127 minutes Jungle Cruise Poster Image
  • Common Sense Says
  • Parents Say 38 Reviews
  • Kids Say 66 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Sandie Angulo Chen By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Ride-based adventure is fun, if predictable; peril, scares.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Jungle Cruise is an action-fantasy adventure inspired by the classic Disneyland ride. Set in 1916, it follows intrepid Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), who hires skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) to guide…

 Why Age 11+? Violence & Scariness

Frequent peril/tension, action violence, physical comedy, creepy imagery -- incl

 Products & Purchases

This movie is based on/promotes a Disney ride. Lots of merchandise tie-ins off c

 Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink in taverns, where some background characters seem to be drinking he

 Sex, Romance & Nudity

Lily and Frank banter and flirt, eventually sharing longing looks. Characters sh

 Language

"Oh my God," "ruddy," "fresh hell," "crusty old farts," "shove it up your associ

 Any Positive Content? Positive Messages

Promotes courage, perseverance, teamwork. Characters work together and think cre

 Positive Role Models

Lily is a pioneering botanist and adventurer -- a Ph.D. who's never afraid of be

  • Parents Need to Know

    Parents need to know that Jungle Cruise is an action-fantasy adventure inspired by the classic Disneyland ride. Set in 1916, it follows intrepid Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), who hires skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) to guide her and her brother down the Amazon River in search of a mythical healing tree. Violence and peril are the biggest issues: Expect frequent danger, creepy cursed villains (as well as a cartoonishly evil German baddie), weapons (guns, torpedoes, swords, knives), an implied significant death (and some actual less significant ones), threatening snakes, and a jaguar that looks more vicious than she actually is. Adult characters drink from flasks and bottles, and an animal gets tipsy. One conversation about removing a knife from someone's body could be perceived as suggestive (though the double meaning will likely go over kids' heads), and there's some flirty banter and a couple of kisses. Without saying it outright, one character comes out to another, who's supportive. While main characters demonstrate impressive courage, perseverance, and teamwork, the movie's initial depiction of Native Amazonians as a tribe of angry cannibals is concerning, even though (spoiler alert) it turns out it's largely for show.

    To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

  • Violence & Scariness

    a lot

    Frequent peril/tension, action violence, physical comedy, creepy imagery -- including conquistadores being turned to stone or coming back to "life" while made of bees, snakes, etc. Native Amazonians are killed, a villain is squashed. At one point, it's suggested that a key character has died. People get abducted, slapped, stabbed, bitten by snakes and piranhas, threatened/attacked by a jaguar. Falls, chases, explosions. Torpedo and guns fired, swords and knives brandished. A villain callously smashes bees. Amazonians are described as cannibals, but (spoiler alert) it's just for show. Arguments/yelling.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Products & Purchases

    some

    This movie is based on/promotes a Disney ride. Lots of merchandise tie-ins off camera.

  • Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

    some

    Adults drink in taverns, where some background characters seem to be drinking heavily. Characters drink whiskey from a flask, liquor from bottles. A jaguar drinks spilled wine, gets tipsy. MacGregor brings an entire suitcase of liquor on board.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Sex, Romance & Nudity

    a little

    Lily and Frank banter and flirt, eventually sharing longing looks. Characters share a kiss. A conversation about extracting a knife borders on suggestive.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Language

    a little

    "Oh my God," "ruddy," "fresh hell," "crusty old farts," "shove it up your association," "booga booga," "wimpy," etc.

    Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

    Get started Close

  • Positive Messages

    a lot

    Promotes courage, perseverance, teamwork. Characters work together and think creatively to defeat a curse, vengeful enemies, a sociopathic villain. Characters' stories/journeys promote idea of personal growth and value of acceptance and living a nontraditional life. You don't have to be what everyone expects you to be.

  • Positive Role Models

    some

    Lily is a pioneering botanist and adventurer -- a Ph.D. who's never afraid of being the only woman in a room. She's brave, smart, resourceful, goes after what she wants (often bending rules to do so). Frank is knowledgeable, protective. Both are willing to put themselves in danger for their missions -- and each other. MacGregor is a dedicated brother who accompanies and supports Lily; he implies but never says outright that she was the only person who stuck by him when he realized he was gay. Native Amazonians are initially portrayed as cannibal warriors out to capture (and eat) foreigners, but (spoiler alert) it turns out to be for show. Still, the story exploits those stereotypes and certain others (MacGregor is fussy and high maintenance, Joachim is cartoonishly German, etc.), and Joachim's accent is played for humor.

Where to Watch

  • Jungle CruiseMovie Review 1:08
  • Jungle Cruise Trailer Jungle Cruise
  • Jungle Cruise Movie: Scene #1
  • Jungle Cruise Movie: Scene #2

Jungle Cruise

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
  • Parents Say (38)
  • Kids Say (66)
age 11+

Based on 38 parent reviews

Parents say that while some viewers found the movie funny and enjoyable, particularly praising the chemistry between the lead actors and its homage to the classic theme park ride, others criticized it for its complicated plot, excessive innuendo, and frightening scenes which may not suit younger children. Overall, reactions were polarized, with some deeming it a fun family adventure, while others labeled it as a disappointing and chaotic experience, with a few even expressing that younger kids may find it too scary.

  • fun chemistry
  • scary scenes
  • excessive innuendo
  • polarized reactions
  • complicated plot
Summarized with AI
See all 38 parent reviews age 10+

Based on 66 kid reviews

See all 66 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Set in 1916, JUNGLE CRUISE opens with bold botanist Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) stealing an Amazonian arrowhead from an elite -- and anti-woman -- British explorers' club. The artifact is supposed to lead Houghton to a mysterious location on the Amazon River where legendary healing flowers bloom on an ancient tree. Lily and her brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), head to the Amazon and hire brash skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) to guide them on the perilous river trip. Along the way, Lily and Frank must avoid not only the natural dangers of the Amazon but also a villainous German prince (Jesse Plemons) who's also searching for the tree, as well as a group of Spanish conquistadores who need the flower's petals to reverse their immortal curse.

Show more

Is It Any Good?

Our review: Parents say (38 ): Kids say (66 ):

The irresistibly charming stars help make this adventurous, occasionally swashbuckling ride adaptation amusing, if not as memorable as The Mummy or Pirates of the Caribbean. Johnson can make nearly any character likable; here, Frank's silly, punny jokes are also a fun nod to the Disney ride's vibe. Blunt, likewise, is ideally cast as the pioneering Dr. Houghton. Lily bucks social mores of the time by having a job and a Ph.D., knowing how to defend herself, and even wearing trousers (Frank calls her "Pants"). She also has a refreshingly close relationship with her brother, who's posh and fussy but is still willing to follow her into murky, life-threatening situations. Other members of the cast are underused -- like Paul Giamatti as a local riverboat mogul and Edgar Ramirez as head conquistador Aguirre -- or they overact, like Plemons' caricature of a sociopathic German villain, Prince Joachim.

The movie's landscaping and production art are vibrant and immersive, and director Jaume Collet-Serra should be applauded for making sure to organically include themes of gender, class, and discrimination against the Amazonian natives -- without being preachy. Still, the movie's portrayal of those natives is a bit cringey, even if the movie course-corrects to subvert the same stereotypes it initially seems to be perpetuating. Luckily, Blunt and Johnson cheerfully elevate the story enough to make audiences gloss over some of the screenplay's missteps and enjoy the ride.

Show more

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the level of violence in Jungle Cruise. Does stylized or fantasy violence impact viewers differently than more realistic violence?

  • How do Lily's actions convey that she is both brave and smart? Do you consider her a role model? What character strengths does she demonstrate?

  • How is drinking depicted in the movie? Are there consequences for any character's drinking? Why does that matter?

  • Did you notice any stereotypes in the film? Why is the initial depiction of the Native Amazonians problematic? Is it excused by the fact that the tribe is in on the joke/plan?

Show more

Movie Details

  • In theaters : July 30, 2021
  • On DVD or streaming : November 12, 2021
  • Cast : Emily Blunt , Dwayne Johnson , Edgar Ramirez , Jack Whitehall
  • Director : Jaume Collet-Serra
  • Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Polynesian/Pacific Islander Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
  • Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
  • Genre : Action/Adventure
  • Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
  • Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
  • Run time : 127 minutes
  • MPAA rating : PG-13
  • MPAA explanation : sequences of adventure violence
  • Last updated : September 29, 2025
Show more

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Jungle Cruise

Suggest an Update

Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy . Jungle Cruise Poster Image

What to Watch Next

See all

Excellent Adventure Movies for Family Fun

See all

Best Disney Movies

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

  • Courage
  • Perseverance
  • Teamwork
  • Magic
  • Fantasy
  • Adventures
  • Siblings
  • Family Stories

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate

Tag » What Is Jungle Cruise Rated