Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Jason Scott Lee, Cary Elwes, Lena Headey, Sam Neill, John Cleese ... see more see more... , Jason Flemyng , Stefan Kalipha , Ron Donachie , Natalie Morse , Rachel Robertson , Liza Walker , Gerry Crampton

Twenty-seven years after turning one of Rudyard Kipling's best known works into a successful animated musical, Disney returned to the same source material for this live-action adventure, which hews sl... read more read more...ightly closer to the original source material. Mowgli (Sean Naeleli) is the five-year-old son of a wilderness guide who accompanies his father on a hunting expedition in the jungles of their native India. Mowgli becomes close friends with a British girl named Kitty (Joanna Wolff), whose parents commissioned the hunt, but when a tiger attacks their camp and kills Mowgli's father, the boy is lost in the confusion, and he's left to fend for himself. Mowgli is befriended by the animals of the jungle -- Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther, and Grey Brother the wolf -- and they develop an unspoken sense of communication as the growing boy learns to live in the wilds. Years later, after growing to adulthood, Mowgli (now played by Jason Scott Lee) once again encounters Kitty (now played by Lena Headey), who is visiting India with her father, Col. Brydon (Sam Neill), a British officer stationed nearby, and her stuffy fiancée Capt. William Boone (Cary Elwes). Kitty and Mowgli recognize each other, and while his powers of speech are rusty, with the help of Dr. Plumford (John Cleese), Kitty and her father are able to return Mowgli to civilization. However, after spending most of his life in the jungle, Mowgli does not feel at home among other people, and while he deeply loves Kitty, he concedes to his rival for her affections. However, Boone and several of his men kidnap Mowgli when they learn that he has discovered a vast treasure in the jungle, and they try to force him to reveal its secrets while fending off the dangers of the jungle which Mowgli understands, but Boone and his men do not. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

51% liked it

36,572 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

20 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

Release Date: December 23, 1994

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

Stats: 824 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book
Upload a Photo | View All Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (824)

  • ScoopOnline
    December 29, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    A great Remake but not as much great as the Original one.
  • ythelastman89
    November 22, 2009
    ythelastman89
    It was actually a very fun adaption of the classic and quite memorable. It has a lot of beautiful looking sets and a lot of great sequences to match it. The acting was good and Stephen Sommers' style was a great addition to the film.
  • fb619846742
    October 25, 2009
    fb619846742
    An okay adaption of a Disney classic. It's sometimes thrilling, other times dull, but the acting for the most part is good. Cary Elwes is especially memorable as the snarling villain.
  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    Not bad, no songs in it though! ;o)
  • deano
    December 2, 2007
    deano
    Terrifc family adventure about a boy, Mowgli, a pure-hearted hero of the jungle who raised by animals. Both parents and their children should enjoy this lavish, smartly paced film.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 23, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    fun live action version of great animated movie
  • Yinali
    October 11, 2007
    Yinali
    Classic
  • jim222001us
    August 8, 2010
    jim222001us
    If you haven't seen this charming and fun live-action version, you really should! The cast is great and Jason Scott Lee is at his best.
  • SunilJawahir
    April 5, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Kind of a nice adaptation of a semi-interesting book.
  • constanzaboutter
    April 5, 2009
    constanzaboutter
    Engaging, old-fashioned adaptation that captures the rousing since of adventure of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale. Elaborate production and effects, an ideal cast, and a wonderfully adventurous feel throughout make this a thrilling ride from beginning to end.

View All Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Reviews

Critic Reviews

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Excellent live-action adaptation. Thrilling adventure with classic heroes and villains.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 26, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Boasts a hero who has a mystical rapport with animals. Full Review

Phil Villarreal
August 2, 2002
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star

A serviceable adaptation, but nowhere near as whimsical as the animated version.

Brian Lowry
October 18, 2008
Brian Lowry, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

David Ansen
March 31, 2008
David Ansen, Newsweek

Click to read the article Full Review

Stephen Holden
May 20, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

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

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Jungle Book
    The Jungle Book (56%)
  • L' Enfant Sauvage (The Wild Child)
    L' Enfant Sauvage (The Wild Child) (100%)
  • Hugo
    Hugo (75%)
  • The Mummy
    The Mummy (36%)

More Movies like Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Rudyard Kipling's... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?