The Jungle Book 2 (2003)

18% of critics liked it
(87 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(20,615 ratings)

Mowgli the "man-cub" returns to the wilderness in this sequel to the Walt Disney Pictures animated favorite The Jungle Book. After leaving life in the jungle behind, Mowgli (voice of Haley Joel Osment) has been adopted, and now lives in the nearby village with his new parents and his younger… More Mowgli the "man-cub" returns to the wilderness in this sequel to the Walt Disney Pictures animated favorite The Jungle Book. After leaving life in the jungle behind, Mowgli (voice of Haley Joel Osment) has been adopted, and now lives in the nearby village with his new parents and his younger brother, while becoming close friends with Shanti (voice of Mae Whitman), the girl who first lured him out of the wilds. However, adjusting to live among other humans hasn't been easy, and after Mowgli pays a visit to an old friend, happy-go-lucky bear Baloo (John Goodman), the boy considers staying for a while. Before long, both Shanti and Mowgli's new family notice he's missing, and Shanti goes into the jungle to look for him, despite her fear of wild animals. However, Mowgli and Baloo are soon reminded that life in the wilderness isn't always carefree when they learn Shere Khan (voice of Tony Jay) is looking for Mowgli, eager to settle an old score. The Jungle Book 2 also features voice work from Phil Collins and John Rhys-Davies; rock group Smash Mouth contribute a new version of "I Wanna Be Like You" to the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 12 min.
Directed By: Steve Trenbirth
Written By: Carter Crocker, Karl Geurs, Karl Guers, David Reynolds, Tom Rogers
Genres: Animation, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Feb 14, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 2003
Studio: Buena Vista

Critic Reviews

Laura Sinagra, Village Voice
John Goodman's Baloo admits, 'King Louie? He split!' Before the third defibrillation of 'Bare Necessities,' you and your kids might too.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
More development and nuance in Karl Geurs' script would have made a big difference.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Wait for it to come out on video, it'll baby sit a four-year-old. Anybody else is gonna be bored by it.
Scott Craven, Arizona Republic
That scratching sound you hear isn't Baloo the bear rubbing against a tree, it's Disney scraping the bottom of the sequel barrel with a follow-up that has none of the charm or creativity of the original.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Relatively innocuous but utterly unnecessary -- except from the standpoint of unbridled capitalism.
Jane Horwitz, Washington Post
Likely to provide 72 minutes of enjoyment and a few scary thrills to tykes, as well as a pleasant diversion for parents.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...it is, in the final analysis, difficult to recall a more underwhelming series within the Mouse House's ongoing body of work.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Ok for kids, but not the most inspired sequel.
Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Ok for kids, but not the most inspired sequel.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
it's hard to top the original
James Plath, Reel.com
I doubt that Kipling would have approved of the Lion King-like circle of volcanic fire that now rings a mysteriously rebuilt abandoned temple
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
As charmless and ugly as last year's Return to Never Land.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a pale imitation of the original that mainly updates the graphics without adding any new wrinkles to the story or characters.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...nobody thought to provide the new movie with anything fresh in the way of a plot or music.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

erika b

it totally not like the first film.
Jason O

Perhaps I'm in the minority in thinking/saying this, but I think Disney rocks at making sequels to their all-time classics, and this is definitely one of the better ones! Familiar tunes abound, and it's a lot of fun to watch Mowgli being torn on whether he wants to go back… More
Perhaps I'm in the minority in thinking/saying this, but I think Disney rocks at making sequels to their all-time classics, and this is definitely one of the better ones! Familiar tunes abound, and it's a lot of fun to watch Mowgli being torn on whether he wants to go back to the jungle full time or stay with his fellow humans, and the ending couldn't have been better - nice solution to indecisiveness! A lot of reviewers said the voices are a lot different....if they hadn't said so, I wouldn't have known...sure can't tell!
Bradley W

Although a nice conclusion for the characters, this is a very short and embarassing attempt at a sequel.