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Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, Spike Lee, Anthony Quinn, Ossie Davis ... see more see more... , John Turturro , Ruby Dee , Samuel L. Jackson , Lonette McKee , Frank Vincent , Halle Berry , Tyra Ferrell , Veronica Webb , Veronica Timbers , David Dundara , Bob Adrian , Rick Aiello , Mamie Louise Anderson , Curtis Atkins , Michael Badalucco , Melvin Bethea , Yvette Brooks , Danielle Coleman , Averell Curtle , Franc D'Ambrosio , Joseph D'Onofrio , Doug E. Doug , Brad Dourif , Richard Edson , Frank Esposito , Joseph Giammarino , Talese Harris , Tiger Haynes , Michael Imperioli , Queen Latifah , Ewart Lauder , Shawn Lowenthal , Gina Mastrogiacomo , Randolph May , Debi Mazar , El-Shah Muhammad , Charlie Murphy , Marilyn Nelson , Anthony Nocerino , Steve Randazzo , Theresa Randle , Scot Anthony Robinson , Miguel Sandoval , Catherine Scorsese , Charles Scorsese , Phyllis Yvonne Stickney , Nicholas Turturro , Pamela Tyson , Suzanna White , Tim Robbins

Spike Lee defines "jungle fever" as sexual attraction between members of two races. In his film Jungle Fever, he examines the repercussions of an interracial affair upon two very distinct communities.... read more read more... Wesley Snipes is Flipper, a happily married and successful architect, and Annabella Sciorra is Angie, an office temp. When she starts working in Flipper's Manhattan office, one day they look at each other and are soon having sex over a blueprint-strewn desk. Their liaison causes an explosion on both homefronts. Flipper's family consists of his father Doctor Purify (Ossie Davis), a former preacher; his mother Lucinda (Ruby Dee); his violent, crackhead brother Gator (Samuel L. Jackson); and his wife Drew (Lonette McKee), whom he loves, despite his sexual attraction to Angie. Angie's family is a typical Italian-American household from Bensonhurst. She's engaged to Paulie Carbonne (John Turturro), who works in a deli owned by his father Lou (Anthony Quinn). When the two families find out about Flipper and Angie's affair, their shock leads to recriminations and racial animosity. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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64% liked it

14,731 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

34 critics

R, 2 hr. 11 min.

Directed by: Spike Lee

Release Date: June 7, 1991

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

Stats: 560 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (560)

  • fb1364753347
    April 12, 2012
    fb1364753347
    For some reason I don't seem to ever watch a Spike Lee film in one sitting. The only ones I did were Do the Right Thing and Clockers. I did two sittings for this one, it's not a bad thing, but I just feel a lack of concentration when he does extended intimate portraits on his cha... read moreracters. Anyways, this 'joint' didn't feel like it dragged on, nor did it feel too short but I felt by the end of it that the central theme was slightly forgotten about. I think that's because all the supporting characters (especially Samuel L Jackson) are just so much more interesting than the central two.
  • Lemure
    February 13, 2010
    Lemure
    I'll admit to not realising racism was still so prominent in the 90's, but I didn't grow up in New York. Anyway, Snipes cheats on his wife with a white woman (technically she's Italian, there aren't actually any "white" people in this film), and the rest of the film is simply an ... read moreexploration of peoples attitudes towards mixed-dating. And it all goes over the top: instead of simply accepting that Snipes cheated because he felt an attraction, his wife reckons he cheated because of some hereditary nonsense. The camerawork is excellent as are Samuel L Jackson and John Turturro. The score is fucking terrible - I know Stevie Wonder is a talented musician but something went wrong. If they'd managed to chuck in a plot somewhere this could be really good. As it is, I spent most of the film recalling that bit in MP's Holy Grail where everyone shouts "Get on with it!"
  • alush1
    October 3, 2008
    alush1
    Spike Lee is one of the greatest directors in cinema history.In this film he has painted an intricately woven tapestry of the overt and covert racism that continues to permeate American society. He is just 4 generations away from his personal connection to slavery-his grandmother... read more's mother was born into it.

    People sometimes get exasperated with his passionate positions and choices in speaking his mind. It's this burning passion that has created such socially relevant films.
  • KLFilmmaker
    July 22, 2007
    KLFilmmaker
    Great imagery, scenes and performances. Only downfall is the run time and untimely music cues.
  • threefolddado
    May 2, 2007
    threefolddado
    Worth it for Samuel Jackson.
  • mistachy
    November 7, 2010
    mistachy
    *** Spoiler Alert***

    Awww rubbish... the love connection between the characters played by Snipes and Sciorra was so powerful, realistic, and captivating. It represented real life connections that are sparking up around the globe like wildfire. Then, all of a sudden the black ma... read moren goes back home to his wife after what is then made to look like a brief roll in the hay with a white woman?? Please! Give me a break! I am not convinced at all with that outcome. 9 times out of ten, the black man would have stayed with the white woman. It was as if Spike Lee was making this movie to appease scorned African American women who lost their strong black to a white woman. I dont agree with this, but the movie was good nontheless.
  • SirGenius
    August 2, 2009
    SirGenius
    I have seen this movie more times than I can count and just now as im writing this is the first time I have seen the cover.
  • ghettoqueen747
    April 22, 2009
    ghettoqueen747
    I absolutely loved this movie. Samuel L Jackson made this film hilarious in my opinion. i also thought the concept of interracial relationships should have been examined and Spike Lee shows the ramifications of this as well as of drug abuse and infidelity.
  • firstamb
    July 9, 2008
    firstamb
    An all-star cast heads up this Spike Lee film, one of his best, where a black and white interracial relationship developes. Wesley Snipes is actually very good and has excellent chemmistry with Annabella Sciorra. Movie os paced right and has great visuals.
  • latashamcurtis
    January 20, 2008
    latashamcurtis
    This movie helped to open dialogue about many things that needed to be addressed at the time from drug abuse to interracial dating to fidelity. It was a good movie all around.

View All Jungle Fever Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
September 22, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Lee tackles the subject of interracial romance from the unavoidable vantage point that, while things today are more open, they are also considerably more volatile and complex. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
September 22, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

There are so many voices you may think you're swimming through a maelstrom, but thanks to Lee it's all superbly orchestrated. Full Review

David Ansen
April 7, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

Lee is in fine form. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Jungle Fever is not to be underestimated or ignored.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Brilliant when it examines the people who surround his feverish couple, but uncertain when it comes to the lovers themselves. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The result, for the most part, is a provocative, quintessentially Spike symphony. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
June 9, 2011
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Lee brings a shotgun to a knife fight, but his visual energy is undeniably effective, spraying the screen with venom and appalling realities, with most of the feature locked in confessional mode. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 27, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Always provocative. Full Review

Barry McIlheney
September 22, 2008
Barry McIlheney, Empire Magazine

Includes a number of memorable set pieces, most notably a visit to a crack den which, accompanied by the epic sound of Stevie Wonder's "Living In The City," is simply unforgettable. Full Review

September 22, 2008
Film4

It's uneven, but its best moments -- such as Samuel L Jackson's performance -- are amongst Lee's finest achievements on film. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Jungle Fever Trivia

  • Halle Berry didn't bathe for two weeks to prepare for her role as a crack addict in which Spike Lee movie?  Answer »
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  • Which actress played a Junkie in Jungle Fever  Answer »
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