Sony’s New Reboot of an Iconic ’90s Monster Movie Isn’t What Fans Expected (And It Has A Big Problem)

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Sony Pictures is really focusing on horror movies. This year, they released the successful film *28 Years Later*, which earned over $150 million worldwide, as well as reboots of *I Know What You Did Last Summer* and a new slasher called *Heart Eyes*. While fans are excited about the upcoming *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* movie, Sony still has more horror films planned. They’ve just released the trailer for their next reboot, and it’s a surprising one.

The 1990s weren’t generally a great period for horror films, but a few monster movies still stood out. We got classics like *Tremors* and *Arachnophobia*, and the decade also introduced *Anaconda*, which has since become a cult favorite. While *Anaconda* is now known for its unintentionally funny scenes and meme potential, it was actually quite successful when it came out, earning over $136 million. Sony’s new version of *Anaconda* seems to be embracing the humor, aiming to make audiences laugh *with* the film rather than *at* it, as the trailer starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd suggests.

Anaconda 2025 Is an Actual Comedy This Time

The announcement of a new *Anaconda* movie made it clear this wouldn’t be a typical remake. It promised a self-aware, comedic take on the original. The casting of Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Steve Zahn hinted at this, but the trailer immediately confirms the movie’s playful and humorous tone.

Inspired by the story of kids who famously recreated *Raiders of the Lost Ark* in their backyard, *Anaconda (2025)* centers on Doug (Black) and Griff (Rudd) as they attempt to fulfill their childhood dream: remaking the movie *Anaconda*. While the idea is delightfully silly – a welcome change from typical giant snake movies – it’s becoming clear that this reboot isn’t the *Anaconda* film fans were expecting.

Currently, the most popular comment on the YouTube trailer says, “This isn’t quite what I expected from an *Anaconda* reboot,” which isn’t a strong endorsement, but other reactions show it’s resonating with people. One user wrote, “This feels like a late-night comedy from the 2000s. I love it!” Another compared it to the movie *Tropic Thunder*, saying, “This is basically *Tropic Thunder* but with a giant snake instead of a war setting. I’m excited!”

The new direction for the *Anaconda* movie looks promising for Sony Pictures, but there’s one major hurdle standing in the way of its release.

Anaconda Has Major Box Office Competition

While the trailer has been well-received, the movie faces a challenge to become a quick hit. It’s releasing on Christmas Day, which is usually a time for family films or movies generating Oscar attention. Though some genre films do well at this time, history shows it can be difficult to stand out.

The real challenge for *Anaconda* isn’t the time of year it’s being released, but the other movies coming out around the same time. It premieres on Christmas Day only six days after *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, which is expected to be a huge box office success, potentially earning billions. Plus, *Anaconda* will be released immediately following *The Housemaid*, a psychological thriller with Sydney Sweeney that’s also anticipated to draw a large audience, offering a different kind of movie experience.

It’s going to be a tough climb for *Anaconda*. Not only do similar movies traditionally struggle during the Christmas season, but it’s facing strong competition. Since the other two films have a six-day head start and *Avatar: Fire and Ash* is dominating premium screens, positive buzz about them could easily eclipse *Anaconda* and its lighthearted style.

Interestingly, Sony had a major win in 2017 when they released *Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle* at the same time as *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*. Many thought it was a risky move, as the new *Star Wars* films were incredibly popular at the time and seemed unstoppable. However, *Jumanji* earned over $961 million worldwide, completely revitalized a dormant franchise, and became one of Sony’s most successful films ever. Perhaps the upcoming *Anaconda* remake can achieve a similar result.

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2025-09-17 19:08