Zathura is a 2005 science fiction movie directed by Jon Favreau. It tells the story of two brothers, Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo), who play a space-themed game and find themselves actually transported into outer space, where they have to deal with meteor showers and lizard-like aliens.
It’s based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote Jumanji, which was also adapted into a movie about a magical board game. The films have similar plots, and, according to Screen Rant, the marketing for Zathura even labeled it as existing in the same universe as Jumanji, despite the two having no on-screen connection. Yet while Jumanji is considered a beloved classic, Zathura has gone mostly forgotten.
While it didn’t perform well at the box office, making slightly more than its budget, the movie got positive reviews from critics. It also has standout performances from the cast, great special effects, and a strong story that makes it deserving of more recognition.
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Performances
Hutcherson and Bobo are the heart of the movie and give amazing performances that make everything believable. They bicker and scream at each other, and must go through more arguing and danger before they’re finally persuaded to appreciate each other and finish the game. It’s a deeper, more realistic portrayal of siblings than we’re used to seeing, especially in a kids’ film. In addition to rooting for the characters to get home, the audience also wants to see them reconnect and enjoy being brothers.
The cast is rounded out by Tim Robbins, Kristen Stewart, and Dax Shepard. Robbins appears in the first scene as Walter and Danny’s father, struggling to make time for his kids and showing the complicated family relationship. Stewart is their annoyed older sister Lisa, who furthers the realistic sibling dynamic. Finally, Shepard plays the mysterious astronaut, who arrives during the game and serves as a guide for the brothers. The small cast allows for detail and depth with each character, which adds to the movie’s quality. The actors have great chemistry, and the movie wouldn’t be nearly as good with different performers.
Special Effects
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The special effects in the movie are great, and still hold up well 17 years later. In an interview with Science Fiction Weekly, Favreau said that he purposely used practical effects for most of the movie, building the robot and the Zorgon lizards, and using mini-models for the ships. This gives the actors something to physically work with, which boosts their performances. It also keeps things looking fresh; too much CGI would likely look dated or even laughable now, but the practical effects hold up. The danger feels more tangible and realistic to the viewer. Another great moment is when Lisa is cryogenically frozen – an eerie, full-scale model of Stewart was created for the scene, which the characters fully interact with.
Finally, rather than the sprawling journey of Jumanji, Zathura’s action is kept to the house for the whole film. This functions perfectly in blending the space adventure with the family drama. The house provides a center point for both the developing sibling dynamic and the action as the game progresses. It immerses the audience into the movie by keeping them grounded in one setting, while rocking that setting with meteor showers.
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Story
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Finally, the overall story and a smart reveal make this more than just a kids’ space movie. After receiving a wish card from the game, the Astronaut fears Walter might wish something bad upon Danny. He’s relieved when Walter just wishes for a football, and explains that he played the game as a kid, and also received the wish card – except the Astronaut wished his brother was never born. Without a second player, the game couldn’t continue, and he remained trapped in space. The Astronaut tells Walter, “There are some games you can’t play alone,” and this rallies the brothers to work together and finish the game.
This theme of sibling love is played simply. Siblings fight, and they might be different. But, it’s still possible to care for each other, and find strength in that bond. It’s a more grounded lesson than what’s typically aimed at kids, and acknowledges that relationships aren’t always perfect. Like the movie itself, this theme captures the sweet spot of something kids can understand while still being poignant and meaningful to adults.
The last bit of story magic comes when Walter gets another wish card, and uses it to give the astronaut his brother back. To the characters’ surprise, a second Danny appears. The astronaut reveals that he himself is a grown-up version of Walter from another timeline, trapped in space after he wished his brother away. He thanks Hutcherson’s Walter for making a better choice than he did. He and the other Danny then merge with their counterparts, mending the past. It’s a unique kind of complexity rarely seen in a kids’ movie, while still being treated simply enough for easy understanding.
With a better understanding of each other, the brothers finish the game, which sucks them into a black hole and returns them home to everything exactly as it was. They promise not to tell anyone what happened, but they clearly won’t forget their journey and growth, and neither will the audience. In short, Zathura is a clever science fiction film with real emotion that appeals to both children and adults, and is worthy of more praise.