What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedJumanji: The Next Level
Jake Kasdan · Film · 2019
If you loved Jumanji: The Next Level, start with Jumanji (Joe Johnston, 1995) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Jumanji: The Next Level across media.
What hooked you in Jumanji: The Next Level was the way high-stakes collaborative adventure constantly tests the bonds of your chosen family.
Start with the source
The source
Jumanji
Joe Johnston · Film · 1995
Adaptation
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Jake Kasdan · Film · 2017
Books on the same thread
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin · Book · 2022
Explores: platonic soulmates, creative collaboration, game development.
Much like the group dynamics in Jumanji: The Next Level, this novel captures the intricate creative partnership and friendship of two people navigating the challenges of game development together.
The City We Became
N. K. Jemisin · Book · 2020
Explores: Sentient Cities, Cultural Identity, Metaphysical Urbanism.
If the world-building and mythic stakes of Jumanji: The Next Level captured your imagination, you will find a similarly immersive and high-concept adventure within this urban fantasy epic.
The Return of the King
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs Evil, Courage, Sacrifice.
The sense of fellowship and the necessity of working together against overwhelming odds in Jumanji: The Next Level are reflected in this classic quest to overcome a dark evil.
Ready Player One: A Novel
Ernest Cline · Book · 2017
Explores: Nostalgia, Virtual Reality, Escapism.
If the video game mechanics of Jumanji: The Next Level were your favorite part, this story offers a deep dive into virtual reality competition and the thrill of digital escapism.
Series on the same thread
Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Jumanji: The Next Level: Friendship.
Just as the protagonists in Jumanji: The Next Level rely on their friendship to navigate hostile environments, Finn and Jake find that their bond is essential during every adventure.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands
Pendleton Ward · Series · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Jumanji: The Next Level: Friendship, Self-Discovery.
These specials echo the spirit of self-discovery and nostalgic adventure found in Jumanji: The Next Level as characters traverse unseen corners of a world full of familiar, exciting challenges.
The Umbrella Academy
Steve Blackman · Series · 2019
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Apocalypse, Superpowers.
The theme of a dysfunctional group forced to work together for a common goal in Jumanji: The Next Level is mirrored here through a family of superheroes facing apocalypse.
Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon · Series · 2013
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Existentialism, Dark Humor.
If you enjoyed the interdimensional unpredictability of Jumanji: The Next Level, you will appreciate how this show drags a flawed family through increasingly bizarre and dangerous adventures across the universe.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
This podcast captures the same improvised storytelling and group dynamics that make the role-playing experience in Jumanji: The Next Level feel like a high-stakes adventure among close friends.
NerdCast
Jovem Nerd · Podcast
Explores: humor, satire, current events commentary.
If the comedic commentary and satirical take on pop culture in Jumanji: The Next Level resonated with you, this podcast offers a similar blend of humor and cultural analysis.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Jumanji movies in?
To follow the narrative progression, you should start with the 1995 Jumanji, followed by the 2017 release Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Jumanji: The Next Level serves as the third installment, continuing the story where the gang returns to the game to rescue one of their own.
Is Jumanji: The Next Level a direct sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle?
Yes, Jumanji: The Next Level is the direct sequel to the 2017 film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It picks up with the same group of players as they return to the world of Jumanji to face new, unexplored challenges and escape the game once again.
Do I need to see the 1995 Jumanji before watching Jumanji: The Next Level?
While the 1995 Jumanji established the dangerous game concept, the modern films function as a new chapter. You can understand the plot of Jumanji: The Next Level by watching the 2017 predecessor, though watching the original provides full context for the evolution of the series.
Does Jumanji: The Next Level feature the same game world as the previous films?
Jumanji: The Next Level features the return to the world of Jumanji, but the players discover that nothing is as they expect. The film forces the characters to brave parts unknown and unexplored, expanding on the settings established in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.