Just days before it is set to premiere on July 30, 2021, Disney sent out review copies to critics from all around the world. It’s safe to say that not everyone was happy to go along for the ride. The good news though is that some critics actually found the movie entertaining. The bad news is that there is a clear divide between critics who liked Jungle Cruise and those who didn’t. Scroll down below to learn more about what the critics had to say about the movie in our Jungle Cruise review roundup.
Chicago Tribune
“The movie can’t sit still yet it never gets going.” - Michael Phillips
Newsday
“Disney’s latest ride-into-movie adaptation is high-spirited fun aimed squarely at kids.” - Rafer Guzman
New York Times
“Like Vogon poetry, the plot of Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” is mostly unintelligible and wants to beat you into submission.” - Jeannette Catsoulis
ReelViews
“It may not be another Pirates of the Caribbean but it exists as a reminder that inspiration can come from unusual places.” - James Berardinelli
Time Out
“It seems rather coldly engineered, but that doesn’t mean the result is without charm. In fact, it’s packed with it. A huge part of the reason Jungle Cruise clips along cheerfully is the perfect casting of Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson.” - Olly Richards
Sydney Morning Herald
“I wasn’t completely won over by the film’s second half which goes over to fantasy with a new cast of CGI creations but it’s done with a lot of verve and wit and Johnson and Blunt still manage to keep a straight face.” - Sandra Hall
Is Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie the start of a new franchise?
Disney already has plenty of franchises under its belt, but the House of Mouse could always use another one. Now that the Pirates of the Caribbean has made port for the foreseeable future, Disney wants to kickstart a new ride-related movie franchise. Is Disney’s first attempt at making a Jungle Cruise movie a success? Only time will tell. However, with a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Jungle Cruise could have done a whole lot worse. Now, all that’s left for us to do is to wait and see what kind of numbers the movie pulls in at the box office. With an estimated budget of $200 million, Jungle Cruise will need to at least double its costs with revenue if Disney is to consider bringing back Johnson and Blunt for a sequel.
