Not every blockbuster gets a second act, but Dwayne Johnson’s Jumanji: The Next Level is proving that some films simply refuse to fade. The 2019 adventure comedy has quietly climbed the ranks on Hulu, landing among the platform’s most-watched titles as of mid-May 2026. For a film that earned over $800 million at the global box office years ago, the renewed attention feels less like nostalgia and more like a signal of what is still to come.
The film currently sits at No. 9 overall on Hulu and ranks as the No. 3 movie on the platform, trailing only Send Help and Twisters. The timing is anything but accidental. With a new chapter in the franchise set to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2026, audiences appear to be doing their homework well ahead of the holidays.
A franchise worth revisiting before Dwayne Johnson’s next Jumanji
Jumanji: The Next Level serves as the fourth installment in the long-running franchise and picks up two years after the events of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Spencer, the group’s reluctant tech-savvy member, finds himself pulled back into the game, prompting his friends Martha, Fridge, and Bethany to follow. But this time, two unexpected travelers make the journey as well. Spencer’s aging grandfather Eddie and his estranged old friend Milo are swept into the digital world, bringing a layer of heart and comedy that gives the film a warmer and more grounded tone than its predecessor.
Dwayne Johnson leads a stacked cast that includes Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, all reprising their roles alongside a supporting lineup featuring Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Awkwafina, Nick Jonas, and Colin Hanks. Jake Kasdan returned to direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg, with Dwayne Johnson also stepping in as a producer alongside Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, and Matt Tolmach.
The film had its world premiere in France on Dec. 4, 2019, before opening in the United States nine days later.
How the numbers stack up for Dwayne Johnson’s Jumanji
Commercially, The Next Level performed well but fell short of its predecessor’s astronomical run. The film pulled in roughly $801 million worldwide compared to the approximately $962.5 million earned by Welcome to the Jungle. The dip was notable but hardly a disappointment for a sequel competing in a crowded holiday marketplace.
Critically, the film holds a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes alongside an 87% audience score. While the critics’ rating trails the 77% certified fresh score earned by Welcome to the Jungle, the audience figures are virtually identical between the two films, suggesting fans embraced both chapters with equal enthusiasm.
What comes next for Dwayne Johnson and the Jumanji franchise
The renewed streaming interest arrives at a strategically significant moment for Dwayne Johnson and the broader franchise. Jumanji: Open World, the next film in the series, is scheduled for release on Dec. 25, 2026. Details about the upcoming installment remain limited, but the timing of the Hulu surge suggests the franchise still commands genuine attention rather than just nostalgic curiosity.
For anyone who missed Dwayne Johnson’s The Next Level during its original theatrical run or simply wants a refresher before the sequel arrives, Hulu is offering a timely invitation back into the game.
