In a small New England town in 1969, a young boy named Alan Parrish discovers a mysterious board game called Jumanji, which he begins to play with his friend Sarah. When he rolls a five, a message on the board informs him that he's been sucked into the game's jungle until someone rolls a five or eight. Alan vanishes, leaving Sarah traumatized by the mystery of his disappearance. Unbeknownst to them, the game possesses magical powers and the ability to bring its dangerous jungle-themed challenges into the real world with every roll of the dice.

Decades later, siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd move into the now-abandoned Parrish house with their aunt following the death of their parents. They discover the Jumanji game in the attic and begin playing, releasing a now-adult Alan from its clutches. Realizing they must finish the game to reverse all the chaos it has caused, the trio seeks out Sarah. Together, they face the escalating calamities brought forth by their dice rolls, which include rampaging animals, a relentless hunter from within the game, and the forces of nature itself. As they struggle to survive the game's onslaught, they confront their own personal demons and forge a bond strong enough to face the unpredictable perils Jumanji throws at them.