How the Original ‘Anaconda’ Was Made
What To Know
- The original 1997 film Anaconda was directed by Luis Llosa, who used the Amazon jungle setting and practical effects, including animatronic snakes, to create a tense and atmospheric creature feature.
- Production faced significant challenges due to unpredictable Amazon river conditions, requiring the crew to adapt filming schedules and build new sets to accommodate fluctuating water levels.
- Despite negative reviews from critics, Anaconda was a box office success, became a cult favorite over time, and is now being rebooted with original cast member Ice Cube making a cameo.
When Anaconda arrived in theaters on April 11, 1997, those who were scared of snakes avoided the movie like the plague, but enough others enjoyed the jump scares and the recognizable cast that the film eventually grossed $136.8 million worldwide. As the franchise prepares for a reboot opening on December 25, 2025, the original film’s creation is worth revisiting.
The Amazon setting did a lot of the storytelling
Everett Collection
The jungle was meant to feel isolating and unpredictable, a place where danger could appear without warning. Portions of the film were shot in Brazil, and the river locations were chosen to emphasize how vulnerable the characters were in their surroundings. The setting helped build tension even when very little was happening on screen. Long stretches of water and limited visibility created a constant sense of unease. It’s part of why the movie still works today, even for viewers who know exactly what kind of creature is waiting.
Production manager Jim Dyer, once talked about the production troubles of the film, according to SlashFilm, “In 1995 the Amazon had an 80-year drought and the water went down fast and at a depth of maybe a three-story building! The water went out so fast that the whole Amazon became non-functional in the upriver regions. So the right decision was made to postpone till April when the waters naturally come up from the winter rains. When we did come back we had the opposite situation. We had to build our own dock where a beach had been — because the staircase was completely submerged under water.”
The snake was built to feel real
Columbia/Everett Collection
The anaconda itself was brought to life primarily through large animatronic models. At the time, practical effects were still the preferred method for creature features, especially when actors needed something physical to react to. The massive snake could coil, strike, and loom over scenes, even if its movements were sometimes limited. Computer effects were used sparingly to enhance moments that couldn’t be achieved practically. The animatronic anaconda was famously nominated for a Razzie Award.
The cast understood exactly what kind of movie this was
Columbia/Everett Collection
Jennifer Lopez starred as documentary director Terri Flores, a role that came early in her transition to leading film roles. Ice Cube played cameraman Danny Rich, while Jon Voight starred as Paul Serone, whose performance quickly became the most talked-about part of the movie.
Ice Cube, who is set to make a cameo in the new film said, according to Deadline, “It’s cool to do a cameo, to kind of make it go full circle in a way. When they asked me to do it, when I knew the kind of movie they were doing, I jumped at it. I’m like, ‘This is something different. It’s cool.’ People probably get a kick out of me popping on the screen.”
Critics were skeptical, but audiences loved it
Columbia/Everett Collection
Critics were not particularly kind to Anaconda upon its release. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic both showed negative reviews, but audiences told a different story at the box office. The film opened at number one and ultimately grossed more than $136 million worldwide. Over the years, Anaconda has found a second life as a cult favorite. It’s often described as enjoyably ridiculous and it is no wonder why a reboot has now happened.
How to Watch the Original Anaconda
You can watch it with a subscription on Netflix. It also sometimes airs on MTV or MTV2.
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