Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- exotic
- adventurous
- whimsical
- family movie night
- classic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the vivid Technicolor imagery and animal photography while finding the human drama and overall storytelling underdeveloped.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film opens with a storyteller relating Mowgli's history to listeners before the jungle narrative unfolds.
Critics repeatedly singled out the gorgeous Technicolor, vivid color, jungle surroundings, and animal photography as the film's primary strengths.
Mowgli is raised by wolves, learns human language in the village, and retains jungle values while confronting human prejudice toward animals.
The story presents India through a British-produced adventure fantasy centered on an exoticized jungle, village, treasure, and animal kingdom.
Films like Jungle Book, and why
The Thief of Bagdad
shared family adventure, fantasy setting, human animal relationships, and lush Technicolor spectacle
The Four Feathers
shared jungle adventure, colonial-era setting, animal peril, and colorful escapism
The Adventures of Robin Hood
shared coming-of-age adventure, wilderness setting, animal companionship, and family-friendly tone
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
shared classic fantasy adventure, youthful protagonist, exotic setting, and storybook spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Zoltan Korda
- Release Date
- 1942-04-03
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (116)
Cast
- Sabu
- Joseph Calleia
- John Qualen
- Frank Puglia
- Rosemary DeCamp
- Patricia O'Rourke
- Ralph Byrd
- Faith Brook
- Noble Johnson
- John Mather
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Criterion Channel, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, HBO Max, Dove Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Jungle Book about?
- A wolf-raised boy navigates the divide between jungle freedom and human society when a hidden treasure awakens greed in an Indian village.
- What is Jungle Book like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Jungle Book as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Jungle Book violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Jungle Book as mild.
- What did critics think of Jungle Book?
- Critics broadly admired the vivid Technicolor imagery and animal photography while finding the human drama and overall storytelling underdeveloped.
- Which films are like Jungle Book?
- Films with a similar feel include The Thief of Bagdad, The Four Feathers, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.
- How long is Jungle Book?
- Jungle Book runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Jungle Book?
- In United States, Jungle Book streams on fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Criterion Channel, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, HBO Max, Dove Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
