The killer snake is back, this time with laughs though. Jack Black and Paul Rudd star in the new reboot of Anaconda, which slithers into U.S. cinemas on December 25, 2025.
The film takes a meta approach: in this universe, the original 1997 Anaconda exists (trailer below), and Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd) are lifelong friends trying to remake their favourite cult movie. Doug, a broke wedding videographer in the throes of a midlife crisis, drags Griff on a DIY jungle adventure to capture footage of a giant snake. Their film project quickly spirals into disaster when a real anaconda shows up, turning their comedy of errors into a fight for survival.
Cast highlights:
- Jack Black as Doug McCallister, down on his luck cameraman
- Paul Rudd as Ronald “Griff” Griffen Jr.
- Steve Zahn as Kenny Trent
- Thandiwe Newton as Claire Simons
- Daniela Melchior as Ana Almeida
- Selton Mello as Santiago Braga
- Ione Skye as Malie McCallister
- Ben Lawson
The trailer leans heavily into slapstick craziness, with Black’s signature manic energy clashing against Rudd’s deadpan delivery, while the original Anaconda was never a masterpiece, it became a cult favourite thanks to its mix of creature creature thrills and camp absurdity. This reboot seems to double down on that reputation, skewering both Hollywood vanity projects and the monster movie formula.
Anaconda Trailer
It’s not the first time the franchise has gone off the rails, after four sequels and a crossover with Lake Placid, expectations aren’t exactly sky high. If you’re into giant animal mayhem though, this blend of comedy and carnage might scratch the itch.
Anaconda (1997) Trailer
Whether fans of the original welcome the reboot or treat it as another B-movie punchline, one thing’s certain: Anaconda refuses to die. Come Christmas Day, U.S. audiences can see Black and Rudd find out the hard way that some snakes shouldn’t be messed with.
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