Jungle Cry
By Stefan Pape,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Uplifting sports drama champions teamwork and self-belief.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jungle Cry
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Inspiring Family Film
Report this review
What's the Story?
JUNGLE CRY is the true story of how 12 under-resourced Indian boys -- born into poverty and some orphaned -- defied the odds and competed in an international rugby tournament in the United Kingdom. Led by coach Rudra (Adhay Deol), and helped along by the team's physio, Roshni (Emily Shah), the team surprise everyone by excelling at a sport they hadn't even heard of before, let alone played.
Is It Any Good?
This is a film that has a comforting familiarity to it, following all the classic beats of an uplifting sports drama. On the one hand that can be somewhat tedious, but on this occasion, given the feel-good factor of the narrative, Jungle Cry plays out exactly as you'd hope. As you might expect from a film dealing with an inspiring story that breeds such positive messages, the narrative does veer into the realms of sentimentality and cinematic cliches. Yet despite this, it's hard not to invest, care, and ultimately root for the kids at the heart of the story.
The film is lacking within the dressing room though. While Deol as coach Rudra and Shah as physio Roshni inject some life into proceedings, it feels like more personality from the team is needed, as so few of those within the side seem to have any true character arcs, or really much to do at all. That said, it's an enjoyable, easy-to-watch film that is hard not to appreciate, and at times, be a little moved by too. Go on the Jungle Cats!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive lessons and messages in Jungle Cry. What did you take away from the movie? What character strengths were on display? How could you apply these traits to your own life?
Discuss the background the kids in the movie were from. Did the fact that the film was based on a true story impact how you felt about it? If so, how?
What did you know of the sport of rugby before watching the film? Would you like to play it? What other sports do you enjoy?
How familiar are you with the country India? Did you learn anything new? Why is it important to learn about different cultures?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 20, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: June 16, 2022
- Cast: Abhay Deol, Emily Shah, Stewart Wright
- Director: Sagar Ballary
- Studio: Jungle Cry LLC
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Perseverance, Teamwork
- Run time: 117 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 3, 2023
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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