Where was Jumanji filmed? Explore the real filming locations of Jumanji movies from New England towns to Hawaii jungles, deserts, and snowy mountains.
The appeal of Jumanji lies in how quickly the familiar turns strange. A quiet town is overrun by stampeding animals. A dusty old game pulls players into a living, breathing jungle. The stories feel fantastical – but never completely unreal – because they’re anchored in actual places.
From Jumanji (1995) starring Robin Williams to the newer films led by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, the franchise leans on real towns, valleys, and landscapes to sell the illusion.
The result is a world that feels close enough to step into – just not one you’d want to play in.
Table of Contents
🌴 Where Was Jumanji Filmed?
Here’s a clear, detailed look at every major filming location – grouped by movie, with context, trivia, and what was actually shot there.
🏡 Jumanji (1995)
Cast: Robin Williams, Kirsten Dunst, Bonnie Hunt, and Jonathan Hyde.
Plot summary: A mysterious board game unleashes jungle chaos into a small town, trapping young Alan Parrish inside for decades until the game is played again.
Jumanji (1995) is the only movie where the correct decision – not playing the game – is ignored immediately, and things go downhill for everyone.
Instead of sending players into a magical world, the game shows up uninvited and wrecks a perfectly normal town. One minute it’s quiet streets and small-town life, the next it’s monkeys in the kitchen, monsoons in the living room, and a stampede treating downtown like a shortcut.
What makes it work is how normal everything looks before it falls apart. Real streets, real buildings, real sense of “this shouldn’t be happening here.” Even the Parrish house goes from neat and strict to fully abandoned, like the game has been living there rent-free.
Also, fun detail: that famous house? Not real. Built just for filming and then removed – unlike the emotional damage caused by giant spiders.
Jumanji filming locations:
- Keene, New Hampshire: Town scenes, including the stampede and Parrish Shoes mural
- North Berwick, Maine: Exterior of the Parrish Shoe Factory
- Vancouver, British Columbia: Parrish mansion exterior (temporary facade)
- Swanzey, New Hampshire: Mount Caesar Cemetery scene
🌴 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas.
Plot summary: Four teenagers are pulled into a video game and transformed into avatars. To escape, they must survive the jungle and complete the game.
In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), the game upgrades itself from “mysterious board” to “fully immersive nightmare.” This time, you don’t bring chaos into the world – the game drags you into its problem instead.
Now it runs like a video game: lives, strengths, weaknesses, and the constant feeling that something is about to attack you for no reason. The jungle isn’t just scenery – it’s actively trying to end your run.
And yes, it looks great because it’s real. Most of it was filmed in Hawaii, which means the jungle, the humidity, and the “why is everything trying to kill me” vibe were doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Jumanji filming locations:
- Oahu, Hawaii: Jungle landscapes for the main in-game world
- Kualoa Ranch, Oahu: Major action sequences, including valley and chase scenes
- Waimea Valley, Oahu: Waterfall path and animal encounter scene
- Atlanta, Georgia: Real-world scenes, the high school, and the neighborhood
Trivia: Kualoa Ranch has been in so many movies that it’s basically Hollywood’s most overworked background actor.
🏜️ Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, and Danny Glover.
Plot summary: The group returns to Jumanji, but the game has changed – new environments, new rules, and unexpected character swaps.
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) is what happens when the game decides it was too easy last time and takes that personally.
Same idea, but now everything’s broken – characters don’t match their avatars, abilities are off, and the map has expanded just to make life harder. It’s basically a game update nobody asked for.
The jungle is no longer enough, so now you get deserts, mountains, and wide-open terrain with nowhere to hide. The film really said, “What if we made every environment inconvenient?”
Best part? These places are real.
The desert scenes were shot in California’s Glamis Imperial Sand Dunes (which look fun until you try running on them), the dramatic rock backdrops come from New Mexico’s Shiprock, and the mountains were filmed in Alberta’s Kananaskis Valley – where the cold is real and so is the suffering.
At this point, the game isn’t just challenging – it’s clearly enjoying itself.
Jumanji filming locations:
- Glamis Imperial Sand Dunes, California: Desert sequences and dune buggy chase
- Shiprock, New Mexico: Large-scale landscape and establishing shots
- Kananaskis Valley, Alberta: Snowy mountain and fortress scenes
❓ Jumanji Movie FAQ
How many Jumanji movies are there (in order)?
There are currently three main Jumanji movies:
- Jumanji (1995): The original board game chaos
- Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017): The game becomes a video game
- Jumanji: The Next Level (2019): Same game, now actively trolling everyone
There’s also Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), which is set in the same universe but works as a standalone story – basically Jumanji… in space. And a fourth Jumanji movie is in development, because clearly the game isn’t done with us yet.
Was the Parrish house a real location or just a set?
It was only ever a facade – built in Vancouver to look like a full mansion, then removed after filming. So if you’ve been trying to track it down… you’re technically chasing a ghost.
Why does the 1995 movie feel more “real” than the newer ones?
Because it flips the concept. Instead of entering the game, the jungle invades a normal town. Filming in real streets and practical locations makes the chaos feel immediate and grounded.
Did the newer movies rely more on CGI or real locations?
Both, but more real than you’d expect. The jungle in Welcome to the Jungle was largely filmed in actual Hawaiian landscapes, with CGI layered in rather than replacing the environment.
Is Kualoa Ranch really used in other movies, too?
Yes, constantly. Kualoa Ranch is one of Hollywood’s most reused outdoor locations, which is why it looks oddly familiar even outside Jumanji.
Why do the environments change so much in The Next Level?
That’s intentional. The sequel treats the game like an evolving system – new “levels” mean new terrains, which is why you suddenly get deserts and snow instead of just jungle.
Were the actors actually filming in those extreme environments?
In many cases, yes. Some scenes used effects, but a lot of the running, climbing, and “this looks uncomfortable” moments were filmed in real conditions—and it shows.
Is there a real-life map of Jumanji locations you can follow?
Not officially, but fans have pieced together routes across New Hampshire, Hawaii, and parts of the western U.S. It’s less a single map and more a scattered, global game board.
🎥 Where to Watch Jumanji Movies
Time to watch the chaos instead of just reading about it.
- Amazon Prime Video: All films available to rent or buy in one place.
- DVD/Blu-ray Set: Bonus features and behind-the-scenes chaos.
- Other options: Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube Movies, Google TV.
What makes the Jumanji movies memorable isn’t just the concept – it’s how convincingly it blends fantasy with real places. Once you know the locations, the films feel less like pure fiction and more like something that could… almost happen.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for informational and educational purposes only. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners, and no copyright infringement is intended.
- Where Was Jumanji Filmed? Locations For All Movies - March 20, 2026
- Where Was The Mummy Filmed? Locations for the Epic Trilogy - March 19, 2026
- Where Was Prince of Persia Filmed? Explore the Sands of Time - March 18, 2026