Jumanji 3's release officially set for one week before Star Wars Episode IX

Jumanji 3’s release officially set for one week before Star Wars Episode IX

June 28th 2018, 9:45am

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Last year’s JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE made the bold decision to come out right after STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, which some viewed as a big no-no. Instead, the movie proved everyone wrong to become one of the biggest hits of the year (fourth domestically; fifth worldwide), and now Sony is realizing they shouldn’t mess with success. Thanks to a post by Dwayne Johnson we now know JUMANJI 3 intends to go up against STAR WARS once again. Cue the knuckle cracking.

Johnson took to Instagram to announce the exact release date of JUMANJI 3 which is now December 13, 2019. This is one week before STAR WARS EPISODE IX, which arrives December 20, 2019.

Officially planting our JUMANJI flag. On DECEMBER 13th, 2019 – the game is not over. I hold JUMANJI very close to my heart and I’m beyond grateful you made our movie into the global juggernaut ($1BILLION+) it became. Can’t wait for you to see what our new adventure & new characters have in store as Christmas comes early. And once again, I get to slap @kevinhart4real’s lip’s into next week. The world is happy. #FearTheDrums #TheGameIsNotOver #JUMANJI DECEMBER 13th, 2019

A post shared by therock (@therock) on Jun 27, 2018 at 10:44am PDT

The release date comes one week before not only STAR WARS, but the WICKED movie adaptation and DEATH ON THE NILE (the MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS sequel). Yeah, it may be a crowded month, but JUMANJI proved last year audiences will shell out when there’s something out they want to see. The movie started strong on Christmas 2017, then went into a quiet start of the year, ultimatley going on to make $404 million domestically.

The release is a smart move by Sony, given how the movie offered a fun escape for audiences of all ages, with it also acting as alternative content for STAR WARS. Though it’s now coming out before the new movie by J.J. Abrams it should still have those same advantages, but I’m curious if JUMANJI can strike the same amount of gold twice. Should EPISODE IX end its trilogy on a high note this could make audiences flock in even higher numbers, meaning they’ll forget all about the new JUMANJI. But who knows; anything can happen during the Christmas season. Must be all the pine in the air.

JUMANJI 3 is set for December 13, 2019, with Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and director Jake Kasdan returning.