The jungle drums return for one last thunderous roar in Jumanji 4: The Final Level, a thrilling, emotionally-charged, and visually jaw-dropping finale that doesn’t just up the stakes — it obliterates them. What began as a board game and evolved into a virtual-reality quest now erupts into a full-on collision between worlds. And this time, survival isn’t about making it out of the game — it’s about saving everything.

Once again, the core quartet — Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black — are back, and their chemistry is more electric than ever. Johnson’s Dr. Smolder Bravestone still smolders, but this time there’s more wear behind his bravado. His usual invincibility is tested as he faces not just pixelated perils, but real-world consequences. Johnson brings a heavier emotional weight to Bravestone, signaling that this is truly the character’s final round.

Kevin Hart’s Finbar is still the fast-talking, reluctant hero we love, but here, he’s forced to confront deeper insecurities as his avatar begins to glitch, threatening to erase his identity completely. Hart delivers one of his most nuanced performances yet, mixing his trademark humor with surprising depth. His scenes with Jack Black — whose Professor Oberon now flips between hilarious camp and sudden, poignant insight — are some of the film’s most emotionally resonant.

Karen Gillan shines as Ruby Roundhouse, who emerges as the moral center of the team. With the world fracturing and the group under constant threat, Ruby becomes the glue that holds them together. Gillan balances ferocity and vulnerability beautifully, especially in a crucial third-act sequence where her combat skills and inner strength collide.

The newest addition to the ensemble, Jenna Ortega, is nothing short of brilliant as Ellie, a young coding prodigy pulled into the chaos. Smart, guarded, and slightly unhinged by guilt over her accidental role in the game’s glitch, Ortega adds a fresh dynamic. Her scenes with Jack Black offer both hilarious generational contrasts and heartwarming connection. She also acts as our conduit into Jumanji’s mysterious origin, bringing long-awaited answers to the franchise’s biggest questions.

What truly sets The Final Level apart is its apocalyptic scale. The collapsing boundaries between game and reality allow for astonishing set pieces: frozen cityscapes filled with AI-generated predators, shifting desert temples overlayed with glitching digital terrain, and a climactic battle that seamlessly jumps between Earth and game code. Directors Jake Kasdan and Shawn Levy push the visual language of the franchise into uncharted territory — part action-comedy, part sci-fi fever dream.

Beneath the mayhem is a beating heart. The Final Level is about letting go — of fear, of ego, of the game itself. As characters wrestle with identity and mortality, the script (co-written by Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg) lands emotional punches that elevate it above the usual blockbuster fare. There’s a standout moment where Bravestone, weakened and breaking down, delivers a quiet speech about purpose and endings. It’s not just moving — it’s earned.

And in true Jumanji fashion, the humor is pitch-perfect. The cast plays off each other with practiced ease, and the film never lets the emotional weight smother its sense of fun. Kevin Hart panicking over a corrupted inventory system, Jack Black attempting to “debug reality” with his bare hands, and a slow-motion chase involving a rogue rhino swarm are moments that audiences will remember long after the credits roll.

The final sequence — a bittersweet farewell filled with callbacks, hugs, and one last beat of those jungle drums — offers both closure and a sly tease. Could the game really be over? Or has it merely evolved again?

 Rating: 8.9/10 – A spectacular, heartfelt finale that redefines what a franchise farewell can be. Jumanji 4 levels up in every way, delivering laughs, tears, and a sense of finality that still leaves room for wonder.