‘Anaconda’ Chokes Out Critics With Slithery Rotten Tomatoes Debut

The movie Anaconda comes out on December 25th, and early reviews aren’t very positive. While the trailer suggested a funny action film, critics haven’t been impressed. In fact, the new Anaconda has a lower rating on Rotten Tomatoes than the original 1997 movie.

As of today, the new Anaconda film has a low 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is even lower than the original movie’s 39%. While expectations weren’t high, the film is a disappointment, especially since the trailer sparked fond memories and amusement. Matt Singer of ScreenCrush noted that it seems Hollywood is now relying on established brands to create comedies, often in a forced way. Edward Douglas from The Weekend Warrior also shared his thoughts.

Anaconda tries to be both scary and funny, but doesn’t quite succeed at either. It’s such an unremarkable film that it’s hard to understand what the point of making it was.

Featuring Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, and Selton Mello, the new Anaconda film also includes a special appearance by Ice Cube. The story centers around a group of friends who team up to create a remake of the popular 1997 movie. Here’s what the film is about:

Let me tell you, this isn’t one of those tired reboots. It’s a completely fresh comedy, and the idea behind it is brilliant! It centers around two lifelong buddies, Doug and Griff, who always joked about remaking ‘Anaconda’ – yeah, that ‘Anaconda’ – their favorite movie growing up. When they both hit a midlife slump, they actually decide to do it, and head into the Amazon to film. But things quickly go from funny to terrifying when a real giant anaconda shows up, turning their already chaotic movie shoot into a genuine fight for survival.

I was really disappointed with Anaconda. Critics like Angie Han at The Hollywood Reporter called it uninspired, and Mark Hanson from Slate pointed out something that bothered me too – the snake itself, which should have been the star, barely got any screen time! It seems the director, Tom Gormican, prioritized comedy over making the snake a truly terrifying creature, which is what I was hoping for this holiday season.

‘Anaconda’ Does Have Its Fans

Despite a 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, some critics did enjoy the film starring Black and Rudd. Peter Gray of The AU Review praised it as having “razor-sharp meta self-awareness,” and Julian Roman from MovieWeb also offered positive feedback in his review.

Anaconda is a light and enjoyable movie – perfect for relaxing and not having to think too much. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something different from the typical serious dramas or family films that come out during the holidays.

Rated PG-13 for violence, strong language, drug use, and suggestive content, Anaconda is now in theaters (released Dec. 25 by Sony Pictures). Critics’ scores on Rotten Tomatoes are still coming in, and it will be interesting to see how audiences react. Will viewers enjoy the movie’s over-the-top nature, or will it quickly be forgotten?

2025-12-23 21:34

‘Anaconda’ Does Have Its Fans

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