In the spring of 1997, a ragtag team of documentary filmmakers changed the course of jungle horror forever when they set out on a riverboat expedition down the Amazon in search of man-eating snakes. Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, and other ’90s mainstays played the hapless crew, and it goes without saying that not all of them would come back alive.
Released at the height of Hollywood’s 1990s animal-themed creature-feature craze, Luis Llosa’s Anaconda was initially panned by critics but became a cult classic thanks to its killer cast, sharp screenplay, and cheesy-but-effective CGI effects. In fact, the sequoia-sized snakes of Anaconda—known to eat their prey whole, and then regurgitate them for a second helping—have gained such immense stature that they spawned a film franchise of their own, including a 2025 reboot starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd.
As we await Anaconda’s release on streaming platforms (it’s expected on Netflix in March or April), we took our own perilous journey through this murky tropical franchise, which goes all over the place in terms of moviemaking quality and entertainment value. Below we show you how to watch the Anaconda movies and where to stream them.
How many Anaconda movies are there?
There are seven Anaconda movies total, including the original. The rest of the series consists of one theatrical-release sequel, three made-for-TV movies, and the 2025 big-screen reboot (also called Anaconda). There is also a Chinese version of the film that was released in 2024.
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What is the best way to watch the Anaconda movies?
The best way to watch Anaconda is in the order of their release. Not every film is a winner, so you can turn back once you’ve seen enough human prey get the life squeezed out of them.
Seven movies is a lot of jungle serpents to swallow, but the original Anaconda is definitely the best place to start (and end, for that matter). But while the 1997 movie is right up there with Arachnophobia and Congo in terms of pure wriggling entertainment, fans also speak highly of the 2004 sequel, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid.
From there it’s a rough ride of Syfy channel weirdness and Hollywood cash-ins. But there are some surprises in these later entries—including starring appearances from David Hasselhoff and Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger). Jack Black certainly has his moments in the latest reboot, and a lesser-known 2024 adaptation of Anaconda produced by a crew of directors and actors from China is seriously a must see.
List of Anaconda movies in release order
- Anaconda (1997)
- Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)
- Anaconda 3: Offspring (2008)
- Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2009)
- Lake Placid vs. Anaconda (2015)
- Anaconda: Cursed Jungle / 狂蟒之灾 (2024)
- Anaconda (2025)
Pro tip: Watching all the Anaconda movies—including the Chinese remake—will take 10 hours and 41 minutes!
Anaconda (1997)
Shot on location in Brazil, the original Anaconda follows a filmmaking crew as they encounter a dodgy snake-hunter (played by Jon Voight) who takes them on a detour into the heart of anaconda territory. The flick’s dialogue and plotting is full of subversive glee, while the hungry CGI snakes generate some seriously meme-worthy moments—including a winking final-act death that belongs on the shortlist for best body-horror moments.
Where to stream Anaconda
Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)
This quirky sequel swaps the star-studded cast of the original for a crew of attractive B- and C-list actors (including Morris Chestnut, who played Ricky in Boyz n the Hood). In search of a mythical “blood orchid” flower that can be turned into a serum promising eternal youth, they venture into the jungles of Borneo during the height of anaconda mating season—bad timing! A memorable bit of dialogue about a “snake orgy” is just one example of how Blood Orchid ramps up the crowd-pleasing charm.
Where to stream Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
Anaconda 3: Offspring (2008)
Premiering on the Syfy channel and starring Baywatch legend David Hasselhoff, Offspring is a straight-to-DVD oddity that portrays the titular villain as a hyperintelligent super-monster akin to the velociraptors of Jurassic Park. This time the action is set in and around a research lab in Romania, picking up on the blood orchid mythology from the previous sequel while offering plenty of face time with the beady-eyed serpent and a bevy of baby snakes.
Where to stream Anaconda 3: Offspring
Anacondas: Trail of Blood (2009)
The whole blood orchid thing leads to even wilder and more confusing turns on Trail of Blood. Do I need to explain the plot? Not really. Just know that a billionaire with cancer, a brave scientist, an assassin named Eugene, and his mercenary buddies are all still interested in that valuable youth serum. But of course, so is a big-ass snake that wants to kill everybody.
Where to stream Anacondas: Trail of Blood
Lake Placid vs. Anaconda (2015)
For this installment, the famed anaconda gets tangled up with a giant killer crocodile from the Lake Placid film series. The cast includes Robert Englund, the American actor famed for his iconic role as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street—and Buck in Tobe Hooper’s 1975 crocodile-horror flick, Eaten Alive. But not even he could save this made-for-TV movie from critics’ inevitable groans—one writer puts Lake Placid vs. Anaconda in the “so bad it’s good” category, “with a lot of irritating characters getting their just desserts.”
Where to stream Lake Placid vs. Anaconda
Anaconda: Cursed Jungle / 狂蟒之灾 (2024)
This highly effective Chinese version of Anaconda appears to adhere most faithfully to the beloved 1997 original. Although it centers around a group of circus performers (!) rather than filmmakers, it otherwise borrows some of the same plot points and iconic effects. But the real selling point here is the anacondas themselves, which look frightening as hell, way more visceral and authentic thanks to advances in CGI technology. Best of all, they take their sweet time in annihilating anyone unfortunate enough to get in their way.
Where to stream Anaconda: Cursed Jungle
Anaconda (2025)
At this point it’s hard to say what Hollywood even wanted out of Anaconda, other than to scrape the bottom of the barrel for another lucrative trip down nostalgia lane. But in a turn towards the meta, two friends played by Jack Black and Paul Rudd embark on an Amazon River expedition of their own in hopes of remaking the original 1997 movie. The result is peak zaniness with a dash of heartfelt good feelings, a couple of cameos, and much-improved special effects for our beloved anaconda friends.
Where to stream Anaconda
How to watch the Anaconda movies in order FAQ
Which Anaconda movie is considered the best?
The original Anaconda from 1997 is widely considered the best entry in this film series. Awarded an impressive three-and-a-half stars by famed critic Roger Ebert when it was first released, it’s a classic in the jungle-horror genre with a star-studded cast, smart screenplay, awesome ’90s special effects, and a remarkably bold final showdown.
Is there an Anaconda 4 movie?
Yes, there is a fourth Anaconda movie titled Anacondas: Trail of Blood. It premiered on the Syfy network in 2009, was directed by Don E. FauntLeRoy, and stars Crystal Allen, Linden Ashby, Danny Midwinter, and John Rhys-Davies.
What is the scariest snake movie ever?
The 1997 film Anaconda is considered the scariest, goriest, and most iconic snake movie, although there are other contenders.
