Jumanji: A Film Too Terrifying For Its Time

Jumanji was one of the greatest and unassumingly terrifying movies to come out of the ‘90s. Since there is a second Jumanji installment to come out later in 2017, we’ve decided to take a look back at the original 1995 film and some interesting facts you may not have known about it. Click on to learn more about “the game that plays you.”

Jumanji: The Real Meaning

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Where does the term come from? Chris Van Allsburg, who wrote the book off of which the movie is based, has said that “jumanji” is a Zulu term for “many effects.” The term goes hand in hand with the storyline since it alludes to “the exciting consequences of the game,‘ according to imdb.com. According to reports, whenever he was asked about what “jumanji” means, actor Robin Williams would always give fake, random answers, such as, “I tell them it’s an island in the Caribbean. Book your travel there early.”

Origin Story

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Jumanji originally came out as a fantasy children’s picture book in 1981 written by author Chris Van Allsburg. In the book, two children find an abandoned board game at a park and take it home to play while their parents are away. The board game has an ominous message: “Do not begin unless you intend to finish.” Heeding the message, the children find that the game is real and that every move played in the game springs to life in their home. After battling a real-life lion, a stampede, and even a monsoon, one of the children yells “JUMANJI!” and everything goes back to normal in an instant. The scared children quickly return the game to where they found it. The story was so imaginative that in 1982, Van Allsburg was awarded the Caldecott Medal for Jumanji.