Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Scary creature goes after humans; language, violence, peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Anaconda
What's the Story?
In ANACONDA, Professor Steven Cale (Eric Stoltz) has commissioned a barge to float him and his small documentary crew down some Amazon tributaries in search of an elusive ancient tribe. No one's particularly prepared for roughing it, so when Cale's girlfriend and the film's director, Terri (Jennifer Lopez); camera operator Danny (Ice Cube); boat captain Mateo (Vincent Castellanos); sound engineer Gary (Owen Wilson); and production manager Denise (Kari Wuhrer) stop to rescue Serone (Jon Voight) from his disabled boat, they feel almost lucky to have someone with his knowledge of the local waterways to guide them. But Serone makes his living capturing big snakes to sell to zoos and private collectors for big bucks, and in no time, things go disastrously wrong. Soon, big snakes are everywhere, leaping out of the water, flying up 50 feet in the air in pursuit of hapless humans, and crushing and swallowing the unlucky. Serone forces the crew to help him, but nature has other plans.
Is It Any Good?
This hokey horror movie will likely seem both familiar and campy. Similar stories have been told many times before, but few can offer the bemused villainy of an unrestrained Voight playing the zealous snake hunter who will stop at nothing to capture a live 50-foot Anaconda for a projected $1 million payday. He's an easy-to-hate villain against a backdrop of literal monsters, though the American actor's Colombian accent is more stereotypical than believable.
Still, much of the film veers from reality. It's a rare snake that eats humans, for one. And on the rare occasion of ingesting a large mammal, snakes generally take a couple of weeks off to digest rather than look for more humans. But that wouldn't be any fun to watch. Now considered by some to be a cult classic, Anaconda was nominated for a Worst Screenplay Golden Raspberry Award the year it came out, but also for a Best Horror or Thriller film Saturn Award, demonstrating how you'll probably either love or hate this movie, depending on what it is you're looking for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why many people like scary movies. With its unrelenting perils, do you think Anaconda is too intense for kids? Why, or why not?
Why do you think some people fear snakes? Where could you learn more about snakes?
Friends Terri and Danny work together to defeat the snakes. How can teamwork help people conquer the monsters in their lives?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 1, 1997
- On DVD or streaming : January 10, 1998
- Cast : Jennifer Lopez , Ice Cube , Eric Stoltz , Jon Voight , Owen Wilson
- Director : Luis Llosa
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , South American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 89 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense adventure violence, and for brief language and sensuality
- Last updated : December 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate