Jumanji: Open World – Can The Rock's Formula Still Sparkle?

Can a familiar formula still enchant audiences, or does it eventually lead to fatigue? This is the critical question facing a beloved franchise as the first trailer for Jumanji: Open World recently debuted. The reveal marks a significant moment for both the Jumanji series and its prominent star, Dwayne Johnson.

The previous films, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), were colossal hits, with the latter praised for its fidelity to the series' established tone and humor, as TheSportster noted in its review of Johnson's recent work. These successes were crucial for Johnson, standing as his last live-action theatrical blockbusters before a discernible shift in his box office trajectory. Now, with Open World on the horizon, we must consider if the established 'Rock formula' can revitalize the cinematic landscape, or if it risks feeling like a well-trodden path.

The Fading Charisma of the 'Box Office King'

Dwayne Johnson has long been celebrated as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, capable of single-handedly driving audiences to theaters. His films have collectively grossed over $12.5 billion worldwide, as documented by Wikipedia. Yet, recent years have painted a different picture for his live-action endeavors. Films like Jungle Cruise (2021), Black Adam, and Red One (2024) notably underperformed, failing to capitalize on his once-unquestionable box office draw, as ScreenRant observed. Red One, for instance, struggled with a reported $250 million budget against a worldwide gross of $186 million, partly due to mixed critical reception.

Even a more ambitious, critically praised turn in The Smashing Machine (2025), a sports biopic where Johnson delivered a performance garnering potential Oscar buzz, faced a lukewarm reception at the box office, earning only $6 million domestically in its opening weekend against a $50 million budget. This trend suggests that audiences may be growing weary of the specific brand of action-comedy that has been Johnson's bread and butter, or perhaps that his project selection has been less appealing. The critical consensus for these films has often been mixed to poor, which may have led audiences to associate his name with less satisfying cinematic experiences, diminishing his pull for live-action original projects.

Jumanji: A Comfort Zone or a Creative Rut?

The Jumanji franchise, in our view, represents a unique space for Johnson, offering a blend of fantasy, adventure, and humor that has historically resonated strongly with families. The success of Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level proved that the concept of characters embodying video game avatars had significant appeal. However, the question arises whether Open World can genuinely innovate or if it will lean too heavily on the established dynamic and gags.

Some early online reactions to the trailer for Jumanji: Open World have already expressed concern, with one blogger remarking that "the jig is up on this franchise" in a reaction post. While others found a trailer "hilarious" as stated on The Geekiary, the divide points to a potential saturation. Maintaining a sense of freshness within a predictable setup is the challenge. If the new trailer suggests more of the same — the body-swapping jokes, the familiar character archetypes, and the high-stakes video game perils — it might struggle to excite an audience that has recently shown a discerning eye for Johnson's live-action projects. The very familiarity that once made Jumanji a safe bet could now be its greatest hurdle, especially after multiple iterations.

The Animated Exception: A Glimmer of Hope?

It is worth noting that Johnson's career isn't entirely on shaky ground. His animated ventures, particularly the Moana franchise, have proven to be monumental successes. Moana 2 (2024) was a billion-dollar worldwide earner, as reported by ScreenRant, and the upcoming live-action Moana (2026), in which Johnson will portray Maui, is also anticipated to perform exceptionally well. This stark contrast highlights a crucial point: the success of Moana 2 was attributed more to the established popularity of its characters than to Johnson's individual star power.

This distinction suggests that audiences are still drawn to compelling, well-loved characters and stories, even when Johnson is involved. His voice work, or his embodiment of an already cherished animated figure, seems to operate under different rules than his original live-action roles. For Jumanji: Open World to succeed, it may need to tap into a similar wellspring of character-driven appeal and narrative innovation rather than simply relying on Johnson's presence to carry the film. If Jumanji: Open World can inject a renewed sense of creativity into its proven formula, perhaps it can overcome the recent struggles of its lead star. However, if it hews too closely to the predictable, it risks solidifying the perception that Dwayne Johnson's live-action action-comedy formula might finally be running out of lives.

In our view, Jumanji: Open World is at a crossroads. Its success hinges on whether it can surprise us, or if it will deliver more of the same, leaving audiences wanting more than just familiar faces in a familiar jungle.