15 Best Movies About the Amazon Jungle
The Amazon Jungle is an endless territory full of wonderful nature, dangerous and fascinating creatures, and tribes that still live there following nature’s order. Even though it is getting more and more approachable by the day, it is still an undiscovered oasis that brings the world’s most famous researchers and adrenaline junkies to its beauties. Moviemakers have also found great inspiration in its secret forests and intriguing people and in this list, we are bringing you the 15 best epic movies about the Amazon jungle.
The Emerald Forest (1985)
What it’s about: Bill Markham (played by Powers Boothe) is a dam engineer who finds himself in a living nightmare after his son gets kidnapped by an aboriginal tribe in the middle of the rain forest. He will search for him for 10 years and one day, after numerous adventures and challenges, accidentally stumble on his tribe.
Why you should watch it: This movie is a nerve-wracking true story that won’t leave you alone until its end. It gives us an interesting perspective on the life of indigenous tribes inside a rainforest and the way outside people adapt to their way of living. Are we really in need of all the things modern society offers us, or would it be easier to live in a world with less material stuff?
Medicine Man (1992)
What it’s about: Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco play two scientists who find themselves on a research project in the Amazon jungle. From the initial animosity to falling in love, we follow their intriguing story through their mutual work, inventions, and discoveries.
Why you should watch it: If you want to experience something slightly different from the director John McTiernan and Sean Connery and at the same time enjoy the wonderful rainforest scenery, this is a movie you should include in your to-see list. It also shows us the ways people must adapt to nature and respect its rules.
Embrace of the Serpent (2015)
What it’s about: This brilliant biographical drama brings us the story of Karamakate, an Amazonian shaman, and his relationship with two scientists. We follow their quest for a sacred healing plant that lasted forty years.
Why you should watch it: This movie will instantly transfer you to the Amazon jungle and allow you to experience it with all your senses. It is captivating, with wonderful cinematography and brilliant directing. It is one of those movies you adore for its beauty and how it is transferred to the viewers.
The Mission (1986)
What it’s about: This movie takes place in the South American rainforest, where we follow a Spanish Jesuit who is on a mission to convert the Indians who live in this region. He is soon joined by a converted slave hunter who will be on his side when their colony is sold to Portugal, and they find themselves defending all they have built.
Why you should watch it: This movie is so much more than just a view of the tribes inside the rainforest. It is the movies of hope and redemption and one of the best movies that show the true life of the indigenous people of the South American rainforest and what it all looked like in the past. Jeremy Irons and Robert de Niro once again showed their immense acting skills.
The Lost City of Z (2016)
What it’s about: Percy Fawcett was a British explorer whose intriguing life story was an inspiration for this biographical adventure drama. He discovered evidence of the existence of an unknown, advanced civilization deep in the Amazon at the dawn of the 20th century. He was mocked by his fellow scientists, but with the help of his devoted wife and friend, he managed to go back and forth to the jungle, where he mysteriously disappeared in 1925.
Why you should watch it: This is a remarkable true story about a tenacious and brave man who wouldn’t give up on his passion and beliefs. The movie is interesting, with great scenery and costumes and with a great cast, led by Charlie Hunnam in the role of Percy Fawcett.
Fitzcarraldo (1982)
What it’s about: Werner Herzog wrote and directed this excellent adventure drama about an opera lover who wants to build an opera in the jungle. In order to be able to do that, he needs to earn a lot of money in the rubber business. His plan will also include taking an enormous boat across a small mountain, with help from the local indigenous people.
Why you should watch it: This is an epic movie based on a historical figure. It is an unusual movie that Herzog’s fans will especially enjoy. The rest of the audience will have to get used to its slow pace and a stream-of-consciousness way of telling the story, which will, in the end, result in an unforgettable experience.
End of the Spear (2005)
What it’s about: This is a biographical adventure drama about Mincayani, a member of the Waorani from the Ecuadorian rainforest. After five young missionaries were speared to death by Waorani in 1956, we follow a series of events that will change the lives of the missionaries’ families and Mincayani and his people.
Why you should watch it: This is a brilliant movie inspired by a true story that might leave you in tears. It carries an important message, and it would be an excellent choice for a debate after seeing it. It is a must-see for everyone who wants to learn more about the tribes front South American jungles.
Anaconda (1997)
What it’s about: A documentary crew is traveling through the Amazon jungle, and on their way, they pick up a stranded man who soon reveals his unusual hobby. His goal is to capture the giant Anaconda snake, and he plans to target it on their boat, blinded by his passion and without any common sense and feelings toward the people who took him in.
Why you should watch it: Even though this isn’t a movie you would usually recommend to someone who wants to learn more about the Amazon jungle, it is a sort of a classic in its genre, and if you like slasher horrors, you will definitely love this one, as well. Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, and Cuba Gooding Jr. star in this adrenaline-packed adventure about one of the most dangerous predators on Earth.
Birdwatchers (2008)
What it’s about: In this drama will follow and witness the clash between Guarani, one of the oldest Brazilian indigenous people, and white men. A group of Guarani people decides to leave their reservation, tired of living inside its territory, and plan to settle in a traditional territory that belongs to white men.
Why you should watch it: This is an intense and mysterious drama full of mystic elements that make it even more intriguing. The main actors are Indians without any acting training, making the story even more believable and interesting.
The Sacred Science (2011)
What it’s about: This excellent documentary tells the story of eight people and their illnesses that couldn’t be cured. They decide to travel to the amazon jungle to discover alternative medicine and try to save their lives, completely unprepared for what they will find there.
Why you should watch it: This adventurous documentary gives a different perspective on modern medicine and tries to show there are alternative variants to try and deal with certain illnesses. It is realistic and gives an insight into the herbalistic traditions in Peru, which might help with some less complicated cases.
Brava Gente Brasileira (2000)
What it’s about: This war drama tells the story set in the 18th century in the heart of South America, where we follow Diego, a cartographer sent to Portuguese Colonies where he will find nothing but wilderness and natives with weird ways of living. But when his scout, Captain Pedro, involves him in the act of violence, he will involuntarily become tied to this faraway country.
Why you should watch it: This movie was loosely based on historical facts and events, and it gives us an interesting view of various indigenous people from South American rainforests. It is a brilliant portrayal of their way of life and a great educational tool for everyone who wants to learn more about them.
Jungle Cruise (2021)
What it’s about: It is 1916, and we meet Dr. Lily Houghton, a British botanist, and feminist who embarks on a dangerous mission ot change the world. She accepts the help of an arrogant riverboat skipper who guides her and her brother through the Amazone River. On their way to find something that probably can’t be found, they will end in the heart of the jungle, followed by someone whose goal is to finish all their plans.
Why you should watch it: This one is a full hearted adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seats the whole time. It is full of adrenaline, intense and interesting, with very good performances by Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson.
No Stars in the Jungle (1967)
What it’s about: This movie talks about different people and how they perceive the world and the people around them. It starts with a man looking for gold in the jungle, belonging to an old woman, and continues with an allegorical narrative that goes back and forth and shows us the man’s feelings towards everything.
Why you should watch it: This is not a movie for everyone, but once you decide to watch it, get ready for an adventure full of philosophy, self-reflection, and allegory.
The Old Man Who Read Love Stories (2001)
What it’s about: This adventure drama with Richard Dreyfuss and Timothy Spall takes us into the jungle and introduces us to a man who is forced to fight a dangerous female jaguar and confront his past through the sacrificial killing of a creature he has learned to know and love.
Why you should watch it: This is a deeply emotional movie with a wonderful score, brilliant acting, and excellent directing. It is one of those that stick with you and won’t leave you long after you have seen it.
The Rundown (2003)
What it’s about: Beck is a former bounty hunter and a driven restaurateur who is convinced to travel to the Amazon jungle to retrieve and take home his boss’s son Travis, who is searching for a golden artifact. But Travis is not the only one who wants to find it, and Beck is soon followed by a group of people who also want to find this precious statuette.
Why you should watch it: This is a fun movie full of adventure, action, and an interesting story. It is nothing you haven’t already seen, but it is a good movie that will entertain you. It is a guarantee of an adrenaline-packed evening, with excellent performances by Dwayne Johnson and Christopher Walken.