With plenty of inspiration from the action and adventure films that came before as well as coming from a popular Disney theme park ride, Jungle Cruise features several references and Easter eggs to classic movies and notable Disney attractions. Jungle Cruise is based on Disney’s theme park ride of the same name, which takes patrons on a boat ride down the jungle river that features puns and jokes by the skipper as well as plenty of fake danger tricks to keep the ride fun. The Rock and Emily Blunt movie isn’t the first Disney movie to be adapted from one of its own rides, with notable examples being the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and Eddie Murphy’s Haunted Mansion.
While based on a fun, silly ride, the Jungle Cruise movie gives the premise plenty more depth, mythology, and action that make the adventure much more thrilling. The movie follows Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt), a British scientist who recruits Skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) to guide her and her brother McGregor (Jack Whitehall) along the Amazon River to find the legendary Tears of the Moon, whose petals feature powers that offer a great benefit to modern medicine. Along the way, the crew must face the natural dangers associated with the river and jungle while also battling the Germans who seek the Tears of the Moon for themselves.
When Jungle Cruise first released its trailer, audiences immediately noticed it would be Disney’s new version of classic adventure tales like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy, and Indiana Jones. While not all of the films get overt references in the Jungle Cruise movie, several other theme park rides and inspirations receive clear homages. Here’s a breakdown of the Easter eggs and references included in Disney’s Jungle Cruise.
Dr. Albert Falls
In the movie's opening segment, Lily and McGregor Houghton appear for a proposal to the Jungle Cruise's London Royal Society. In their presentation, Lily’s notes discuss the discoveries of Dr. Albert Falls, who was the original creator of the fictional Jungle Navigation Company and also led many expeditions for said society. McGregor’s speech notes that he and his sister are looking for the ancient arrowhead that Dr. Falls had recently recovered, which Lily eventually steals from the society’s collection. In a less explicit reference, Lily Houghton disguises herself in the explorer outfit notably worn by Dr. Albert Falls while she is looking for said arrowhead
Disneyland Jungle Cruise Ride
The entire introduction scene of Frank Wolff giving a tour to wealthy visitors on the Amazon is an extended reference to the real-life Disneyland Jungle Cruise ride on which the movie is based. Frank tells plenty of puns about the ride and scenery which are notable aspects of the real Jungle Cruise ride, where the skippers typically ad-lib jokes along the way. Similarly, Frank tells everyone to keep their arms and legs inside of the boat at all times, referencing the common safety warning before amusement park goers begin the ride. Jungle Cruise also flips one of the original Disney ride’s tricks on its head. When on the tour, Frank introduces several seemingly dangerous events like vengeful tribes, animals popping out, etc. that are all supposed to be part of the fun on the theme park ride. Although, the larger plot in Jungle Cruise does eventually turn the theme park ride’s fake dangers into real ones for the characters to face.
The Wizard of Oz
Jungle Cruise’s climactic ending features a sequence where Jesse Plemons’ Prince Joachim chases Lily, Jack, and Frank throughout the Tears of the Moon’s cave. Jack begins to fight back, clearly winning in the battle until a boulder falls from the cliff above and fatally smashes on top of Joachim. After the boulder falls, all that can be seen of Joachim is his two feet sticking up out in front of the rock. Joachim’s Jungle Cruise death is a clear homage to The Wizard of Oz when the Wicked Witch of the East is smashed by Dorothy’s house arriving in Oz, leaving visible only the witch’s two feet sticking out with ruby slippers.
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
Many have pointed out the physical similarities between the appearance of Prince Joachim’s submarine and that of Captain Nemo’s menacing submarine, Nautilus, from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, another popular Disney movie. Jungle Cruise has featured plenty of references to other Disneyland theme park rides, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea had its own submarine attraction ride until 1994. Considering Disney+ has already confirmed a series adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - aptly titled Nautilus - will be coming to the streaming service, the similar submarine in Jungle Cruise doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.
The African Queen
The classic 1951 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn was one of Jungle Cruise’s key inspirations, providing plenty of setting, character relationship, and action scene jumping-off points for how Disney's Jungle Cruise would navigate its adventure story traveling in an old boat down a river. The African Queen similarly takes place at the start of World War I, where a small steamboat launch captain, Charlie Alnut, takes British missionary Rose Sayer on a ride down the African Ulanga river as they try to reach safety from the German army that has moved in. Jungle Cruise takes right from many of The African Queen’s plot points, with both movies’ characters having to take dangerous routes at the insistence of the leading ladies and hesitance of the captains while also having to avoid the detection of German ships in the waters. Additionally, Frank’s outfit is heavily inspired by Charlie’s, white cap with a black trim and red scarf included.
Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Another Jungle Cruise reference to a popular Disney theme park attraction comes from Rosita, the pet cockatoo bird of Nilo (Paul Giamatti), Frank’s jungle cruise company rival. Rosita is the missing bird from Disney’s Adventureland attraction The Enchanted Tiki Room, who leaves the room after being one of its showgirl birds. The Enchanted Tiki Room is located in the same Disney Adventureland area as Jungle Cruise, where Rosita can actually be seen from the ride.