Is Jungle Cruise a Remake of the African Queen?

By Robert Palmer

Are you a fan of classic adventure movies? Have you seen both The African Queen and Jungle Cruise and noticed some similarities between the two?

You’re not alone! Many people have been wondering if Jungle Cruise is a remake of The African Queen. Let’s take a closer look at these two films and see if we can determine whether or not they are related.

The African Queen

The African Queen is a classic adventure movie from 1951, directed by John Huston and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. The story follows two unlikely allies, a gruff boat captain named Charlie Allnut (Bogart) and a prim missionary named Rose Sayer (Hepburn), as they travel down an African river during World War I. Their mission is to destroy a German warship that is blocking their way.

The film was based on the 1935 novel of the same name by C.S. Forester.

It was shot on location in Uganda and the Congo, which added to its authenticity. The African Queen was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one for Best Actor (Bogart).

Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise, on the other hand, is a more recent film from 2021, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Like The African Queen, it is an adventure movie that takes place on a river in a jungle setting. However, this time the story follows a riverboat captain named Frank Wolff (Johnson) and a scientist named Lily Houghton (Blunt), as they search for an ancient tree with healing powers.

Jungle Cruise was loosely inspired by the Disneyland theme park ride of the same name. It received mixed reviews from critics but has been popular with audiences.

Are They Related?

So, are these two films related? The short answer is no.

Although they share some similarities, Jungle Cruise is not a remake of The African Queen. However, it’s clear that Jungle Cruise was heavily influenced by The African Queen.

Both films feature a riverboat captain as the main character, and both take place on a river in a jungle setting. Additionally, the relationship between the two main characters in each film is similar – an initially reluctant partnership that eventually turns into romance.

Despite these similarities, there are also many differences between the two films. The African Queen takes place during World War I and has a more serious tone, while Jungle Cruise is set in modern times and has a more lighthearted tone. The plot of each movie is also very different.

Conclusion

So there you have it – despite some similarities between the two films, Jungle Cruise is not a remake of The African Queen. However, it’s clear that The African Queen had an influence on Jungle Cruise and helped to inspire its creation.

If you’re a fan of adventure movies, both The African Queen and Jungle Cruise are definitely worth watching. They may be different in many ways, but they both offer thrilling journeys down exotic rivers with memorable characters at the helm.