George of the Jungle (1997)

NEUTRAL

Various

57%

1997, Comedy/Kids & family, 1h 31m

RT Critics’ Score: 56% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 41%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations

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Critics Consensus

George of the Jungle is faithful to its source material — which, unfortunately, makes it a less-than-compelling feature film

Audience Consensus

George of the Jungle is a wild ride that will have you swinging from the vines with laughter. The film’s self-aware script is a refreshing change of pace from other family movies, and Brendan Fraser’s earnest performance as George is both endearing and hilarious. Sure, the story is a bit incidental, but who cares when you have a talking ape and animatronics that don’t overwhelm the proceedings? This movie is amiable, toothless, and perfect for a family movie night. Just don’t take it too seriously, or you might find yourself speaking ape like Fraser.

Storyline

Baby George got into a plane crash in a jungle, stayed alive and was adopted by a wise ape. Ursula Stanhope, US noble woman is saved from death on safari by grown-up George, and he takes her to jungle to live with him. He slowly learns a rules of human relationships, while Ursula’s lover Lyle is looking for her and the one who took her. After they are found, Ursula takes George to the USA.

Production Company(ies)
Dream Works Animation, Mad Hatter Entertainment, Vertigo Entertainment,

Distributor
NA

Release Type

Filming Location(s)
Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA

MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for crude humor and mild violence, language and sensuality

Year of Release
1997

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS
Aspect ratio:

1.85 : 1
Runtime:

NA
Language(s):

English, Spanish
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2004

Genre(s)
Comedy/Kids & family

Keyword(s)
starring Brendan Fraser, Leslie Mann, Thomas Haden Church, Richard Roundtree, John Cleese, Greg Cruttwell, directed by Sam Weisman, written by Audrey Wells, Dana Olsen, Comedy, Kids & Family, Romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Gene Siskel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Desson Thomson, Leonard Klady, Wally Hammond, Nell Minow, Richard Propes, Kelly Kessler, Maitland McDonagh, Lori Hoffman, Jake Euker, PG, David Hoberman, Jordan Kerner, Jon Avnet, produced by, George of the Jungle, Ursula Stanhope, Lyle van de Groot, Kwame, An Ape named “Ape”, Voice, Surprising, pleasant, toothless, family fun, amiable, animatronics, computer effects, sequel potential, innocent film, talking ape, African jungle, human contact, rescue mission, San Francisco, gorilla buddy, captured, rescue mission

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $174,463,257
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $325,213,618
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 458
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 35,464,953

US/Canada gross: $105,263,257
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $196,219,223
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 360
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,540,791
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $30,833,372
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 443

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $55,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $102,524,447
Production budget ranking: 397
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $55,209,415
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $167,479,756
ROI to date (est.): 106%
ROI ranking: 912

Cast & Crew

Brendan Fraser

George

Leslie Mann

Ursula Stanhope

Thomas Haden Church

George

Ursula Stanhope

Lyle van de Groot

Kwame

An Ape named “Ape” (Voice)

Brendan Fraser – George
Leslie Mann – Ursula Stanhope
Thomas Haden Church – Lyle van de Groot
Richard Roundtree – Kwame
John Cleese – An Ape named “Ape” (Voice)
Greg Cruttwell – Max

Sam Weisman

Audrey Wells

David Hoberman

Jordan Kerner

Jon Avnet

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Sam Weisman

Writer(s)
Audrey Wells, Dana Olsen

Producer(s)
David Hoberman, Jordan Kerner, Jon Avnet

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Gene Siskel

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Desson Thomson

Leonard Klady

Wally Hammond

Chicago Tribune

Entertainment Weekly

Washington Post

Variety

Time Out

GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (24)
What sets the film apart is a script that has the good sense to laugh at itself.

August 23, 2017 | Rating: 3/4

Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-

Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Surprisingly pleasant.

October 18, 2008

Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Not quite inspired lunacy, the film has a game, likable quality and strong sequel potential.

July 23, 2008

Leonard Klady
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The story is incidental — the villain wants to abduct the talking ape for financial gain — and thankfully the animatronics and computer effects aren’t allowed to overwhelm the proceedings.

February 9, 2006

Wally Hammond
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 1, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Fraser is so earnest in his desire to make a family oriented, innocent film that watching him speak ape just has to make you chuckle.

September 8, 2020 | Rating: 1.0/4.0

Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Live-action take on popular tale is family fun.

January 2, 2011 | Rating: 3/5

Kelly Kessler
Common Sense Media
Amiable but toothless…

May 21, 2008 | Rating: 2/4

Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
April 20, 2007 | Rating: 2/5

Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly
February 25, 2007 | Rating: 2/5

Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
October 10, 2005 | Rating: 1/5

Chuck O’Leary
Fantastica Daily…

Plot
Baby George got into a plane crash in a jungle, stayed alive and was adopted by a wise ape. Ursula Stanhope, US noble woman is saved from death on safari by grown-up George, and he takes her to jungle to live with him. He slowly learns a rules of human relationships, while Ursula’s lover Lyle is looking for her and the one who took her. After they are found, Ursula takes George to the USA.

Trivia