Jungle Fever

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Jungle Fever

R

Released Jun 7, 1991

2h 12m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A married black lawyer named Flipper (Wesley Snipes) begins an affair with Angie (Annabella Sciorra), his white secretary. When the news is leaked through an acquaintance, Flipper's wife (Lonette McKee) kicks him out of the house. Flipper decides to begin courting his mistress, only to be greeted by disapproval from friends, family and even strangers. The relationship continues to be strained in a society not ready to accept it, and people are hurt during its inception.

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Critics Consensus

Jungle Fever finds Spike Lee tackling timely sociopolitical themes in typically provocative style, even if the result is sometimes ambitious to a fault.

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Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

It's intelligent and thought-provoking, and occasionally it's brilliant -- a film that demands to be seen. But its flaws are loud ones, and its apparently separatist leanings are too dangerous to be allowed to pass unchallenged.

Jul 23, 2025

Full Review

Odie Henderson

Slant Magazine

The ingrained self-hatred of its characters reflect outward toward those who remind them of themselves.

Jun 23, 2016

Full Review

Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

However diffuse the movie's agenda, it is never less than thoroughly involving.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 21, 2015

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Lee's film has moments that are near incendiary in their anger, and it's the rare American film that can honestly be said to make audiences think, and re-think.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

An excessive film, but cinematographically exciting. [Full review in Spanish]

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

A surprisingly awful movie from a generally superb filmmaker.

Rated: C-

Aug 31, 2022

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thiago s

Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é bacaninha, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, o filme tem um drama muito bom, e a parte do final deu uma melhorada no filme com um drama meio forte, com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

Ursula W

The dialogue, character profiles, and social dynamics are provocative, moving and upsetting. i only give it four stars cause parts of the plot seemed kind of disjointed, or I missed the clarity of their connection.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

Todd B

I watched this on cable, when I was a little older. Well, it has comedy to the point that it could make you sad. It's not afraid to go there. That makes you second guess, and take another look at the movie. It's a great movie, and I loved to watch it, over and over again, besides the length. Also, it's Strong Sexual Content warning is good in letting you know that's it's not for kids.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Maceo J

Excellent movie! People should be able to be in a relationship with who they want to be with regardless of color.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

Full Review

Steve D

My problem with the film lies in the affair and characters not with the actors or dialog. I just couldn't feel for these people.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A typical Spike Lee subject matter

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Jungle Fever: Official Clip - Office Liaison

2:05

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - Gator's Last Dance

2:57

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - A Big Misunderstanding

2:43

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - The Art of "No" Theory

2:55

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - A Disturbing Vision

1:29

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - She Looks Good!

2:58

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - I Don't Love You

2:13

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - Thrown Out

1:50

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - I Like Gettin' High

2:48

Jungle Fever: Official Clip - Flip Quits the Firm

2:42

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Synopsis

A married black lawyer named Flipper (Wesley Snipes) begins an affair with Angie (Annabella Sciorra), his white secretary. When the news is leaked through an acquaintance, Flipper's wife (Lonette McKee) kicks him out of the house. Flipper decides to begin courting his mistress, only to be greeted by disapproval from friends, family and even strangers. The relationship continues to be strained in a society not ready to accept it, and people are hurt during its inception.

Director: Spike Lee
Producer: Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Spike Lee
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 1991, Original
Release Date (DVD): Mar 7, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.7M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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