First Look at ‘Jumanji: Open World’ Unleashes a Stampede of Ostriches on the Gang

Few franchises have done as much with a simple board game idea as ‘Jumanji‘. What began as a children’s book became a family classic, and a modern reboot turned it into a holiday-season box office staple. Now the series is preparing to say goodbye.

Jake Kasdan directed both ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ in 2017 and ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’ in 2019. The two follow-ups were warmly received by critics, which set the stage for a third and final adventure. ‘Jumanji: Open World’ is described as the fifth and last installment in the series.

Sony has now unveiled the first look at the film, and it is an eye-catching one. The image stacks the four leads in their jungle gear, with Dwayne Johnson at the top, followed by Karen Gillan, Jack Black and Kevin Hart. Behind them, giant ostriches crowd in from every side, with a snowy city street in the background.

The tagline reads “Two worlds collide. One final game,” and the artwork notes the film opens in theaters this Christmas, with a push for premium formats. Its mix of jungle explorers and a wintry cityscape perfectly sums up the premise. It also confirms what the first trailer teased last month, that Jumanji is now loose in the real world.

The ostriches are no accident. At the end of ‘The Next Level’, a herd of them appears outside a restaurant, and the characters realize creatures from the game are loose in the real world. That cliffhanger now feels like the setup for the finale.

The official synopsis says the heroes have escaped Jumanji’s perilous jungles before, but this time the game breaks free of its console and unleashes chaos into our world. That gives the series a fresh twist. Instead of dropping the characters into a game, the game comes after them.

The returning cast includes Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny DeVito and Rhys Darby. Bebe Neuwirth and Lamorne Morris also reprise their roles. Burn Gorman and Nasim Pedrad join the franchise, with Brittany O’Grady also among the newcomers.

Kasdan once again directs from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg. He also produces alongside Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Matt Tolmach. That continuity should reassure fans who loved the chemistry of the earlier films.

The film has had a longer journey than most sequels. Kasdan confirmed early development back in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed things. Production began on November 11, 2025 in Los Angeles and wrapped in March.

The full title was revealed at CinemaCon in April. The release date also moved, with Sony shifting the film from December 11 to Christmas Day in March. That puts it squarely in a holiday slot the franchise knows well, since both earlier sequels opened in December.

One. Last. Game. The final countdown begins. Watch the new trailer for #Jumanji: Open World – exclusively in theatres Christmas Day. https://t.co/a2N0wjsFhT

— Jumanji Movie (@jumanjimovie) July 29, 2026

Closing out a franchise is always a delicate balance. ‘Jumanji: Open World’ has to deliver big laughs and big action while giving the core cast a proper sendoff. The ostrich stampede is a good sign that the film is leaning into the silliness that made the earlier entries popular.

The tone of the new image also suggests a series that knows exactly what it is. The four leads strike confident, slightly exasperated poses, which fits their on-screen dynamic. If the marketing is any indication, audiences can expect a mix of comedy and spectacle.

With a Christmas Day release, the final game is almost here. Whether the finale lives up to the series’ legacy remains to be seen, but the early signs look promising.

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