Jumanji is officially celebrating its historic 30th anniversary, spelling out three decades of safari-inspired comedic hijinks courtesy of the 1995 fantasy film.
Initially arriving in theaters on December 15, 1995, Jumanji was instantly seen as a major financial success, roping in over $262 million against an estimated budget of $65 million.
Though it received mixed reviews at the time of its release, the film ultimately became a cult favorite among nostalgic viewers, thanks in large part to the scene-stealing presence of the late great Robin Williams.
As Jumanji celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, numerous residents of Keene, New Hampshire (the primary filming location for the movie) have shared their own heartfelt memories of the cult classic children's film, as reported by People magazine.
As Keene's then-new city councilor, Randy Filiault, recounted when he first heard of the movie's production, "We said, by the way, who's really starring in this? He goes, 'Well, we just signed Robin Williams.' There was silence in the room because, A, we realized this is going to be a big film and, B, it's like, how the heck are we going to do this."
Above all else, most residents went out of their way to share their favorite experiences working with Williams, with many locals describing the late comedian as a larger-than-life performer who demonstrated both kindness and patience when speaking with the movie's extras.
"While filming, we got to meet Robin Williams, which was probably the best part of the experience," said one resident. "He was so sweet and he took his time. He shook everyone's hand, he said hello to everyone. So I would have to say that's my best memory."
Of course, in the years that followed the movie's release, Jumanji became one of Williams' most memorable on-screen performances, spawning three spiritual sequels and a standalone spinoff (Zathura: A Space Adventure).