Forget everything you know about serious survival horror. The upcoming Anaconda (2025) is trading in the pure scares of the 1997 original for a self-aware, “meta” comedy that feels more like Tropic Thunder meets The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
Released in theaters on Christmas Day, 2025, this reboot features a comedic dream team and a plot that pokes fun at Hollywood’s obsession with remakes.
## The Plot: A Movie Within a Movie
Instead of a group of documentary filmmakers, the new story follows four childhood friends who are stuck in “B-plus” lives. Feeling unfulfilled, they decide to head to the Amazon to film an amateur, “indie-style” remake of their favorite childhood movie: the 1997 classic Anaconda.
The meta-twist? Their “reboot” project goes horribly wrong when a real giant anaconda shows up on set, turning their nostalgic fan film into a literal fight for survival.
## A Powerhouse Comedy Cast
The film is led by a duo known for their incredible comedic chemistry: Jack Black as Doug: A frustrated wedding videographer who finally wants to make “real cinema.”
• Paul Rudd as Griff: A struggling L.A. actor who convinces the group he has the legal rights to remake the film.
• Steve Zahn as Kenny: The group’s friend who joins the “film crew” to help shoot the movie.
• Thandiwe Newton as Claire: A newly divorced friend and Griff’s former flame who stars as the “adventurer.”
• Daniela Melchior: Plays Ana, the boat’s mysterious captain with her own dangerous baggage.
## Key Details & Critical ReceptionDirected by Tom Gormican (who mastered the meta-comedy genre with Nicolas Cage’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), the film has divided critics as it hits theaters:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| US Release Date | December 25, 2025 |
| UK/Australia Release | December 26, 2025 |
| Genre | Action / Comedy / Horror |
| Rotten Tomatoes | Currently debuting at 32% (Critics are split on the humor) |
| Streaming | Expected |
## Why It’s Worth Watching
While some critics find the humor “absurd,” fans of Jack Black and Paul Rudd are praising the film for its “razor-sharp meta-awareness” and its willingness to be “really dumb” in the best way possible. It even features a cameo from original star Ice Cube.