Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) is an American fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan. The screenplay was written by the teams of Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Scott Rosenberg, and Jeff Pinkner, based on a story conceived by McKenna. In 1996, teenager Alex Vreeke of Brantford, New Hampshire receives the game from his father after it was previously discarded by Alan Parrish and Sarah Whittle in 1969. Despite finding it on the coast, Alex initially dismisses the boardgame as it is not a video game. However, that same night he discovers that it has transformed into a video game cartridge and decides to play it. As a result, he is sucked into the game, disappearing from the real world as time passes for twenty-one years. Fast forward to present day Brantford High School where four students- Spencer Gilpin, Anthony ‘Fridge’ Johnson, Bethany Walker, and Martha Kaply- find themselves in detention for various reasons. Spencer and Fridge were caught cheating while Bethany and Martha disrespected their teachers.

Alex’s discarded video game sucks the group into Jumanji, where they find themselves in a jungle embodying their chosen avatars. Spencer becomes Dr. Xander ‘Smolder’ Bravestone, Fridge transforms into Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar, Bethany takes on the form of Professor Sheldon ‘Shelly’ Oberon, and Martha becomes Ruby Roundhouse. Each player has three lives represented by marks on their arm, causing them to fear for their actual lives if they lose them all. Their ultimate objective is to break a curse cast upon Jumanji by corrupted archaeologist Professor Van Pelt, who stole a powerful jewel known as the ‘Jaguar’s Eye’ and gained control over the jungle’s creatures. To succeed, they must return the jewel to its rightful place at the shrine and call out ‘Jumanji!’ to break the curse and escape the game.