A Meta Take On The 1997 Cult Classic

These days, it seems like almost every movie that we grew up with gets some sort of remake or reboot. Whether it’s Disney projects like The Lion King and Aladdin (or even the remake of 2016’s Moana), or the upcoming Street Fighter and Resident Evil films, there are simply so many to choose from.

Due to the crowded field of remakes, it’s always nice for one to come around that actually tries to do something different. Instead of a shot-for-shot remake or something along those lines, Anaconda is a reboot that goes in a totally different direction and is now the top streaming movie on Netflix’s charts.

Anaconda Is A Clever Reboot

Anaconda is indeed a reboot of sorts of the franchise, yet it’s unique from the rest of the installments. For those unaware, Anaconda goes beyond the 1997 cult classic starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, and Jon Voight. There have actually been six entries, including one from 2024.

This 2025 Anaconda is meant to be a meta-reboot of the series. It focuses on a group of friends who loved the 1997 film and grew up making their own home movies. When they learn that one of them has acquired the rights to Anaconda, they set out to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil to shoot their own version.

That meta aspect is what makes this reboot stand out. Had this just been a straight recreation or sequel of the movie about the titular snake attacking people, it likely would’ve come and gone without making much of an impact. Instead, the film shot up to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts upon arrival.

Anaconda Pays Homage To The Original Film

The admiration that the characters have for 1997’s Anaconda is clear and it’s part of why the movie works so well. The cast is led by Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Thandiwe Newton, and Steve Zahn, with supporting roles for Daniela Melchior and Selton Mello.

The talented ensemble is able to actually feel like people who loved Anaconda, making you believe in their mission. There’s also a sense of something being off about Mello’s character, which feels very much in line with Jon Voight’s character in the original movie.

On top of showing love to the movie, this take on Anaconda also pays clear homage to the film. The locations feel surprisingly accurate and there are some cameos from actors who appeared in the original movie. It doesn’t always make total sense, yet that’s part of the film’s charm.

Anaconda Did Well Commercially

It seems like a lot of people weren’t even aware that Anaconda was released at the tail end of 2025. However, the box office numbers show that it was rather successful. On a budget of around $45 million, the movie pulled in just around $135 million.

Those numbers are likely due to the popularity of both Jack Black and Paul Rudd, who are proven box office successes. People come to see their projects and that was the case with Anaconda, even if fans had never seen the original movie from 1997.

In terms of critical success, Anaconda wasn’t quite as much of a hit. Reviews were relatively mixed, with the film sitting at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviews suggest that the film has a fun premise and charismatic cast, yet the tone is a bit all over the place and it doesn’t come together as well as it could.

Despite those numbers, the audience score is much higher, sitting at 75%. That goes to show that even if critics don’t love the film, casual moviegoers can have a blast watching it. That kind of makes Anaconda the perfect movie to watch on Netflix for a fun evening in.