Anaconda (2025) Parent Guide

For lifelong friends Griff (Paul Rudd), Doug (Jack Black), Kenny (Steve Zahn), and Claire (Thandiwe Newton), middle age has brought unwelcome compromises. Though they all loved making films together as kids, life has gone in different directions: Claire is a lawyer, Kenny is semi-employed doing odd jobs, and Doug is stuck making syrupy wedding videos for irritating couples. Griff moved to L.A. to pursue his dream, only to land a few episodes on TV shows and wind up broke and hopeless. By chance, he’s acquired the legal rights for the 1997 cult film Anaconda, and has talked his friends into flying down to Brazil to shoot an ultra-low-budget indie spiritual-sequel together in the Amazon. What could go wrong?

Turns out, almost everything. From their eccentric snake handler Santiago (Selton Mello) to the recalcitrant boat captain, Ana (Daniela Melchior), logistics on location are a little dicey. That’s not going to stop the wannabe filmmakers, though – indie filmmaking is nothing if not challenging, right? But when a real giant anaconda turns up in the river, all the cast and crew are forced to reevaluate exactly how much they want to make this movie. And there are other, nastier surprises ahead…

Moviegoers looking for some lighthearted family entertainment may want to keep looking – particularly for “family” options. This production features steady profanity throughout interspersed with violence, and a little bit of drinking and prescription medication abuse as well, making Anaconda a less-than-ideal choice for younger viewers. Then there’s a scene of a character urinating on another character’s leg as treatment for an animal bite – I’m not even sure what category that falls into, but it isn’t exactly wholesome.

Older audiences (especially those who remember the original) will have a fine time with the film’s goofy, over-the-top adventure vibe. The cast are charming, the writing is funny, and the pacing slithers along at a very respectable clip – an essential feature. If you’re going to make a movie this silly, you’ve got to keep things moving, lest the audience marinate too long and become resentful. In the end, though, Anaconda is exactly what I hoped it would be, and you can’t say fairer than that.