Movie Review: ANACONDA

I honestly think Anaconda (2025) is a genius and very unexpected take on the franchise. This isn’t a reboot, remake, or sequel in the traditional sense — it feels like it exists in its own chaotic universe, poking fun at the original movie while still paying homage to it. And honestly? I respect that choice.

This movie leans heavily into being meta, and you can feel that from the start. Instead of focusing solely on survival horror, it shifts its attention to a group of childhood friends who are unhappy with where life has taken them and decide to remake Anaconda themselves. That idea alone already tells you this movie is more about self-awareness, nostalgia, and comedy than straight-up monster horror.

That said, I do have one major gripe:

For a movie titled Anaconda, there’s surprisingly very little anaconda.

Don’t get me wrong — this is a fun comedy, and the jokes land more often than not, especially with a cast like Paul Rudd and Jack Black doing what they do best. But I went in expecting more creature feature chaos, and instead I got a story that focuses far more on the human characters and their personal journeys than on the titular snake. At times, it almost feels misleading because you’re spending more time with midlife crises than jungle terror.

Still, there’s something very charming about it. The callbacks to the 1997 original are well placed and never feel forced, and those nostalgic moments genuinely brought a smile to my face. It’s the kind of movie where you’re not really there to be scared — you’re there to have a good laugh and a good time.

Overall, Anaconda (2025) works best when you stop expecting a traditional monster movie and accept it as a lighthearted, self-aware comedy that just happens to involve a very dangerous snake. Releasing it during the Christmas holiday actually makes sense — this feels like a couch movie you’d enjoy with snacks, friends, and zero expectations.

⭐ My rating: 6/10

Fun, nostalgic, and amusing — just don’t expect a full-on anaconda feast.