Jumanji Watch Order: The One Movie You Can Skip Before Open World
Jumanji: Open World opens in theaters on December 25, 2026. (Poster-style artwork)
By CineDecode Editorial Team | Last updated: October 20, 2026
Roll the dice. The Jumanji game is about to break out of its console and into the real world on Christmas Day, and you have about two months to get your homework done.
Good news: the Jumanji watch order is shorter than you think. One film is optional, one is skippable, and two are essential. Here is the full game plan, as of October 2026.
Quick answer: Watch Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), in that order, before Jumanji: Open World on December 25. Open World picks up from The Next Level's cliffhanger. The 1995 original is optional context, and Zathura is a separate story you can skip.
RULES OF THE GAME
- Rule 1: Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level are the two must-watch films.
- Rule 2: The 1995 original is nice context, not homework.
- Rule 3: Zathura is a separate story. Skip it.
- Rule 4: Open World is billed as the last chapter of the modern trilogy.
The board
Round 1: The Jumanji watch order, in one table
Release order and story order are the same here, so there is no tricky timeline. Runtimes below are approximate, from Box Office Watch.
| # | Film | Runtime | Need it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jumanji (1995) | 1h 44m | Optional |
| 2 | Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) | Not listed | Skip |
| 3 | Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) | 1h 59m | Essential |
| 4 | Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) | 2h 03m | Essential |
| 5 | Jumanji: Open World (Dec 25, 2026) | Not announced | The finale |
Round 2: Do you need to watch the other Jumanji movies first?
Yes, the last two. The trailer picks up from the cliffhanger ending of The Next Level, so skipping it would leave you guessing.
Welcome to the Jungle is the film that rebooted the series as a video-game adventure, and The Next Level follows it directly. Take them back to back and the story reads as one long ride.
Round 3: Mission briefs, what each movie did
- Jumanji (1995): Siblings Peter and Judy find a jungle board game in an attic and free Alan Parrish, who has been stuck inside it for decades. Finishing the game is the only way to undo the chaos.
- Welcome to the Jungle (2017): Four high school students get sucked into a video-game version of Jumanji and play comically mismatched adult avatars.
- The Next Level (2019): The group has to go back into the game to rescue one of their own, and the terrain now runs from deserts to snowy mountains.
Is Zathura part of Jumanji?
Sort of. It comes from the same author, Chris Van Allsburg, and uses a similar idea: a game that drags elements of its world into reality. But it is a separate story with its own characters.
Skip it for this marathon. You will not miss anything that matters for Open World.
Round 4: What Jumanji: Open World is about
Sony's first trailer flips the usual setup. Instead of players getting pulled into the game, Jumanji itself escapes into the real world. Dangerous creatures and strange landscapes land on ordinary life. In a new twist, the avatars get trapped in "demo mode," and the players have to go back into the game to restore order.
Jake Kasdan directs. Sony's tagline is "One. Last. Game."
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Dwayne Johnson | Dr. Smoulder Bravestone |
| Kevin Hart | Franklin "Mouse" Finbar |
| Jack Black | Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon |
| Karen Gillan | Ruby Roundhouse |
| Nick Jonas, Awkwafina | Returning |
| Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Madison Iseman, Ser'Darius Blain | Returning younger cast |
Is Jumanji: Open World the last movie?
It is being billed as the final chapter of the modern trilogy that began with Welcome to the Jungle. Billed is not the same as promised, though. Franchises have a habit of finding another game.
Why did the release date change?
The film was first scheduled for December 11, 2026 and now opens on December 25. The sources I read do not say why. Either way, it lands a week after the Avengers: Doomsday opening weekend.
Round 5: Cheat codes for every kind of viewer
| Player type | Watch | Total time |
|---|---|---|
| The speedrunner | Welcome to the Jungle, The Next Level | about 4h 02m |
| The completionist | Add the 1995 original first | about 5h 46m |
| The zero-homework player | Skim the mission briefs above | 5 minutes |
My call
My call: Rewatch The Next Level even if you have seen it, because Open World continues straight from it. Welcome to the Jungle was the bigger hit, at about $962.5 million worldwide, but The Next Level had the biggest opening weekend, per Box Office Watch. For me the first is still the best of the modern run.
Planning a family movie night? Parents might also like our guide to The Cat in the Hat's age rating, and our note on whether live-action Moana is free on Disney Plus.
BONUS ROUND: MORE FAMILY MOVIE GUIDES
FAQ
Do you need to watch the other Jumanji movies before Open World?
You need Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level. The 1995 original is optional.
What order should I watch the Jumanji movies in?
Release order: Jumanji (1995), Welcome to the Jungle (2017), The Next Level (2019), then Open World.
Is Zathura part of Jumanji?
It shares an author and a similar idea, but it is a separate story. You can skip it.
Is Jumanji: Open World the last movie?
It is billed as the final chapter of the modern trilogy. No further films were announced in what I read.
When does Jumanji: Open World come out?
December 25, 2026. It was previously set for December 11.
What is the age rating for Open World?
No rating had been announced in the sources I checked. The two modern films before it are PG-13, and the 1995 original is PG.
Whichever Jumanji watch order you pick, the finale lands on Christmas Day. Are you doing the full marathon, or the four-hour speedrun?
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