Jumanji 3 now opens on Christmas Day

Studio update: the next Jumanji movie has slid its release from December 11 to December 25 this year. That puts it squarely in the holiday movie melee, where audiences are hungry for big screens and big snacks.

Who is back and who is new

The core returning players include Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. Director Jake Kasdan is back in the director chair. Kasdan co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg.

  • Producers: Matt Tolmach, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Jake Kasdan.
  • Also returning: Danny DeVito, Nick Jonas, Marin Hinkle, Bebe Neuwirth, Lamorne Morris and Rhys Darby.
  • New additions to the cast: Dan Hildebrand and Jack Jewkes.

A quick run through the franchise

The Jumanji franchise began on film in 1995 with the adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s book, which made the late Robin Williams a central figure in the story of the series. The franchise was revived in the late 2010s and became a reliable year-end draw.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle opened domestically on December 20, 2017 and went on to earn about $404 million in the U.S. and roughly $960 million worldwide. Its follow-up, Jumanji: The Next Level, debuted over the December 13-15 weekend in 2019 and grossed about $802 million globally.

Why the studio moved the date

Mid-December openings have become common because they create separation from other big releases and can help secure premium formats like IMAX. Columbia says moving to December 25 is a better strategic fit, even though Christmas Day itself involves family gatherings and celebrations that can affect opening weekend numbers.

The week between Christmas and New Year is one of the most lucrative stretches for theaters, and a strong holiday movie can keep playing well into January.

Where this move fits in the wider slate

The announcement comes while studios are still juggling other major releases. Two tentpoles under discussion are Disney and Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday and Warner Bros. and Legendary’s Dune: Part Three, both slated for December 18 in industry chatter.

Dune has an exclusive three-week IMAX window, and some studio executives think it could shift its plans to avoid facing Avengers head on. Many expect Avengers: Doomsday to be a dominant opener, while others note that the holiday season can support multiple big films because audiences keep coming to theaters over several weeks.

With Jumanji 3 moving to December 25, the December 11-13 weekend is now open for other titles to claim.