Jungle Fever (1991)

85% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(14,597 ratings)

Spike Lee defines "jungle fever" as sexual attraction between members of two races. In his film Jungle Fever, he examines the repercussions of an interracial affair upon two very distinct communities. Wesley Snipes is Flipper, a happily married and successful architect, and Annabella Sciorra is… More Spike Lee defines "jungle fever" as sexual attraction between members of two races. In his film Jungle Fever, he examines the repercussions of an interracial affair upon two very distinct communities. Wesley Snipes is Flipper, a happily married and successful architect, and Annabella Sciorra is Angie, an office temp. When she starts working in Flipper's Manhattan office, one day they look at each other and are soon having sex over a blueprint-strewn desk. Their liaison causes an explosion on both homefronts. Flipper's family consists of his father Doctor Purify (Ossie Davis), a former preacher; his mother Lucinda (Ruby Dee); his violent, crackhead brother Gator (Samuel L. Jackson); and his wife Drew (Lonette McKee), whom he loves, despite his sexual attraction to Angie. Angie's family is a typical Italian-American household from Bensonhurst. She's engaged to Paulie Carbonne (John Turturro), who works in a deli owned by his father Lou (Anthony Quinn). When the two families find out about Flipper and Angie's affair, their shock leads to recriminations and racial animosity. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: Spike Lee
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Jun 7, 1991 Wide
On DVD: May 15, 2001
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Lee tackles the subject of interracial romance from the unavoidable vantage point that, while things today are more open, they are also considerably more volatile and complex.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
There are so many voices you may think you're swimming through a maelstrom, but thanks to Lee it's all superbly orchestrated.
David Ansen, Newsweek
Lee is in fine form.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Jungle Fever is not to be underestimated or ignored.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Brilliant when it examines the people who surround his feverish couple, but uncertain when it comes to the lovers themselves.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The result, for the most part, is a provocative, quintessentially Spike symphony.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Lee brings a shotgun to a knife fight, but his visual energy is undeniably effective, spraying the screen with venom and appalling realities, with most of the feature locked in confessional mode.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Always provocative.
Barry McIlheney, Empire Magazine
Includes a number of memorable set pieces, most notably a visit to a crack den which, accompanied by the epic sound of Stevie Wonder's "Living In The City," is simply unforgettable.
, Film4
It's uneven, but its best moments -- such as Samuel L Jackson's performance -- are amongst Lee's finest achievements on film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra perform well, the script provides no deeper motivations or meanings for their relationship. Situations around them prove more interesting and dynamic.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Instead of showing how prejudice seeps into the private intimacies of daily life, the film turns its attention to the other characters.
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Spike Lee's blunt and flippant look at forbidden interracial romance set against an urban backdrop of ethnic cynicism. Nobody knows how to examine the hostility of race relations in the movies so effectively such as the brash Lee. Jungle Fever is confront

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Marcus W

I'll admit to not realising racism was still so prominent in the 90's, but I didn't grow up in New York. Anyway, Snipes cheats on his wife with a white woman (technically she's Italian, there aren't actually any "white" people in this film), and the… More
I'll admit to not realising racism was still so prominent in the 90's, but I didn't grow up in New York. Anyway, Snipes cheats on his wife with a white woman (technically she's Italian, there aren't actually any "white" people in this film), and the rest of the film is simply an exploration of peoples attitudes towards mixed-dating. And it all goes over the top: instead of simply accepting that Snipes cheated because he felt an attraction, his wife reckons he cheated because of some hereditary nonsense. The camerawork is excellent as are Samuel L Jackson and John Turturro. The score is fucking terrible - I know Stevie Wonder is a talented musician but something went wrong. If they'd managed to chuck in a plot somewhere this could be really good. As it is, I spent most of the film recalling that bit in MP's Holy Grail where everyone shouts "Get on with it!"
Audrey L

Spike Lee is one of the greatest directors in cinema history.In this film he has painted an intricately woven tapestry of the overt and covert racism that continues to permeate American society. He is just 4 generations away from his personal connection to slavery-his… More
Spike Lee is one of the greatest directors in cinema history.In this film he has painted an intricately woven tapestry of the overt and covert racism that continues to permeate American society. He is just 4 generations away from his personal connection to slavery-his grandmother's mother was born into it. People sometimes get exasperated with his passionate positions and choices in speaking his mind. It's this burning passion that has created such socially relevant films.
Wu C

Great imagery, scenes and performances. Only downfall is the run time and untimely music cues.
Anthony V

Worth it for Samuel Jackson.

Cast

            Wesley Snipes as Flipper Purify

            Annabella Sciorra as Angie Tucci

            Spike Lee as Cyrus

            Anthony Quinn as Lou Carbone

            Ossie Davis as The Good Reverend Doctor Purify

            John Turturro as Paulie Carbone

            Ruby Dee as Lucinda Purify

            Samuel L. Jackson as Gator Purify

            Lonette McKee as Drew

            Frank Vincent as Mike Tucci

            Halle Berry as Vivian

            Tyra Ferrell as Orin Good

            Veronica Webb as Vera

            Veronica Timbers as Ming

            David Dundara as Charlie Tucci

            Bob Adrian as Man on the Street

            Rick Aiello as Officer Long

            Mamie Louise Anderson as Mouth #2

            Curtis Atkins as Paperboy

            Michael Badalucco as Frankie Botz

            Melvin Bethea as Drug Dealer

            Yvette Brooks as Mouth #1

            Danielle Coleman as Woman Panhandler

            Averell Curtle as Young Panhandler

            Franc D'Ambrosio
            
            Joseph D'Onofrio as Patty

            Doug E. Doug as Friend of Livin' Large

            Brad Dourif as Leslie

            Richard Edson
            
            Frank Esposito as Frankie-Denise's Brother

            Joseph Giammarino as Boy in Candy Store

            Talese Harris as Iris

            Tiger Haynes
            
            Michael Imperioli as James Tucci

            Queen Latifah as Lashawn

            Ewart Lauder as Drug Dealer

            Shawn Lowenthal as 2nd Boy in Candy Store

            Gina Mastrogiacomo as Louise

            Randolph May as Man in Crack Den

            Debi Mazar as Denise

            El-Shah Muhammad as Gentleman in Wheelchair

            Charlie Murphy as Livin' Large

            Marilyn Nelson as Crack Lady

            Anthony Nocerino as Veeshay

            Steve Randazzo as Sonny

            Theresa Randle as Inez

            Scot Anthony Robinson as 2nd Friend of Livin' Large

            Miguel Sandoval as Officer Ponte

            Catherine Scorsese
            
            Charles Scorsese
            
            Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Nilda

            Nicholas Turturro as Vinny

            Pamela Tyson as Angela

            Suzanna White as Church Lady

            Tim Robbins as Jerry
See full cast

Jungle Fever (1991)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Marcus W

Audrey L

Wu C

Anthony V

Cast

Trailers & Clips