Jumanji: 10 BTS Facts About Robin Williams’ Famous Movie

Before it became a blockbuster vehicle for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart, Joe Johnston’s Jumanji was one of the most financially successful family films of the ’90s. Starring Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, Bradley Pierce, and Patricia Clarkson, the film follows a pair of young kids who find a mysteriously magical board game and unwittingly unleash a man trapped inside the game for decades.

Released on December 15, 1995, Jumanji became a massive hit at the domestic and international box-office. With an estimated budget of $65 million, the film grossed more than $100 million in the U.S. and another $160 million globally for a total worldwide gross of roughly $262 million. As of this writing, the film is nearing its 25th anniversary and there’s no better time than now to learn more about it.

10 “Jumanji” Isn’t A Made-Up Word

Jumanji was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Chris Van Allsburg. According to Allsburg, the meaning of the word Jumanji translates in Zulu as “many effects.” The translation directly hints at the multifaceted nature of the game’s exciting rules and regulations.

While promoting the film, star Robin Williams often claimed that he did not know what the name Jumanji meant. He would often joke that Jumanji was the name of a Caribbean island.

9 Robin Williams Wasn’t The First Choice For Alan Parrish

Before Robin Williams was cast as Alan Parrish, several big-name actors were in the running for the role. Among them includes Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Michael Keaton, Bill Paxton, Bryan Cranston, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Willis was unavailable due to his schedule making Die Hard with a Vengeance. Ironically, Hanks’ son Collin appears in the 2017 sequel to Jumanji.

8 Robin Williams Agreed Not To Ad-Lib Too Much

Director Joe Johnston initially expressed reservations over the idea of casting Robin Williams as Alan Parrish. Johnston was worried that William’s trademark improvisational comic style would undermine the tightly-woven script.

Johnston relayed his concerns to Williams, who agreed to rein in his ad-libbing and stick to the script as written. The only instances when Williams was allowed to riff came during his scenes with Sarah Whittle (Bonnie Hunt), which in turn gave their interactions some nice rapport. To ensure he got the scenes right, Johnston would film multiple takes of the scenes in which Williams improvised.

7 Scarlett Johansson Auditioned For Judy Shepherd

After making her screen debut in Rob Reiner’s oft-panned family-adventure film North, 10-year-old Scarlett Johansson (who is now best known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Widow) auditioned for the role of Judy Shepherd in Jumanji.

Johansson ultimately lost out to Kirsten Dunst, who was a bit older and more experienced as she was coming off the critically and financially successful The Interview with the Vampire. Speaking of Kirsten Dunst’s age, she is only six months older than Bradley Pierce, the actor who plays her brother that is supposedly four years younger than she is in the film.

6 Kirstie Alley Was Considered For Sarah Whittle

Before Bonnie Hunt was cast as Sarah Whittle, Cheers star Kirstie Alley was strongly considered for the role. However, Alley’s scheduling conflict while making the Olsen twins movie It Takes Two prevented her from taking the role.

While they didn’t work together on Jumanji, Williams and Kristey both appeared in Woody Allen’s Deconstructing Harry two years later.

5 Zathura: A Space Adventure Is Jumanji’s Unofficial Sequel

Since the two movies were released ten years apart, it’s easy to miss the fact that Jon Favreau’s Zathura: A Space Adventure is an unofficial spinoff-sequel to Jumanji. It also helps that both films are adapted from novels by Chris Van Allsburg and that both movies concern magical game boards. The main difference is that Zathura is a space-faring game.

At the end of Jumanji, two new children find the board game washed up on the beach. In the book, the names of the kids who find the Jumanji game are Walter and Danny, the same as the kids who star in Zathura: A Space Adventure.

4 The Christmas Finale Used Fake Snow

The Christmas finale in Jumanji was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Known for heavy rain and very little snow during the wintertime, fake snow was trucked to Vancouver for use in the scene.

Additionally, a subtle nod to the Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life can be heard on the soundtrack during the finale. During the party, the song “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is played, reinforcing the similar themes of how a person’s existential absence can inadvertently cause a series of misfortunes.

3 The Blu-Ray Release Restored 2 Deleted Scenes

In the 2017 re-issued Blu-ray release of the film, two new never-before-seen deleted scenes that take place near the end of the film are included in the bonus features. Previously, these scenes were only mentioned in the official Jumanji novelization.

The first scene imagines Carl (David Allen Grier) as the new president of the shoe factory in Keene, New Hampshire. He speaks with Alan and a fellow coworker about a new shoe. The second deleted scene depicts Judy and Peter tearing open their Christmas gifts and receiving a new pair of “Jumanji” shoes.

2 The Jumanji Board Game Was Sold On eBay

Despite being nearly 20 years old at the time, the Jumanji board game seen in the film was sold on eBay in 2014. The board sold for a whopping $60,800 after nearly 200 bids were placed.

According to Joe Johnston, the movie prop is a foam cast of the wooden boards shown in closeup during the film. Johnston fixed the prop himself after it sustained damage to one of the hinges over the years. The item came with a certificate of authentication signed by Johnston himself.

1 Keene, New Hampshire Really Loves Robin Williams

Robin Williams was so beloved by the locals of Keene, New Hampshire that while filming Jumanji, he was given special honors right then and there. While filming in 1994, Williams was given the keys to the city by the city’s mayor. Later on, Keene continued to show Williams love even in the face of tragedy.

In 2014 following Williams’s death, the residents of Keene formed an impromptu memorial for the comedian, placing candles and flowers below the iconic Parrish Shoes sign that was used in the film. A screening of Jumanji was also organized in Williams’ honor.