There’s something about snake movies that’s wildly entertaining. Anaconda. Snakes on a Plane. Whatever giant serpent Syfy was airing at 2 a.m. Snake movies have a way of leaving a lasting impression on the brain.

Now Beware Boiúna is about to hit theaters, and the marketing is making a big claim: critics are calling it the best killer snake movie of all time. That’s a bold statement for a genre where the bar has been sitting on the jungle floor for about 30 years. So let’s break down what this movie is, who’s in it, and whether the hype holds up.

What Is Beware Boiúna About?

Beware Boiúna is a creature feature about a medical mission deep in the Amazon that turns into a fight for survival when Boiúna, a colossal ancient predator, wakes up to reclaim her territory.

A team of doctors heads into the rainforest to bring care to local villages. It doesn’t take long for them to realize not everyone, or everything, is happy to see them. Their arrival gets the attention of Boiúna, and in a jungle where nature holds absolute power, she decides who lives and who dies.

Who (or What) Is Boiúna?

The movie didn’t invent its monster. The Boiúna comes from Amazonian folklore, where it’s usually described as an enormous supernatural serpent that lives in and controls the waterways. Beware Boiúna takes that legend and turns it into a full-blown giant monster survival movie.

Was Beware Boiúna Called Something Else?

Yes. If you’ve been following this one for a while, you may have seen it listed as Titan or Boiúna: Legend of the Amazon. Lionsgate landed on Beware Boiúna as the final title.

Beware Boiúna Cast and Director

The movie stars Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) as Alli, a newcomer to the mission, Kiana Madeira (Fear Street) as Lena, and Logan Marshall-Green (Upgrade) as Brennan, who leads a crew working in the forest.

Behind the camera is Mike P. Nelson, the director of the 2021 Wrong Turn and the 2025 Silent Night, Deadly Night. The screenplay comes from Alan B. McElroy, who wrote the original Wrong Turn.

That’s a horror résumé you can trust with a giant snake.

When Does Beware Boiúna Come Out?

Beware Boiúna hits theaters on Friday, October 2, 2026.

One thing to know before you plan your night: it’s a limited release, opening in select theaters in major markets. Check your local listings before you promise anybody a snake movie date.

The runtime is about 104 minutes, so it won’t overstay its welcome.

Is Beware Boiúna Really the Best Killer Snake Movie Ever?

Depends on who you ask, but most early reviews say it’s at least the best one in a long time.

The movie premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2026, and the reactions leaned positive. JoBlo went all the way and called it “the greatest killer snake movie of all time.” Bloody Disgusting said it tops the subgenre and does the Anaconda thing better than the actual Anaconda reboot. Dread Central called it the scariest giant snake movie yet, while admitting the competition isn’t exactly stiff.

Not everyone was sold. RogerEbert.com’s review knocked the movie for hiding its snake too much and for characters that are hard to care about, and The Cosmic Circus landed in the middle, calling it better than it should be but short of great.

On IMDb, it’s sitting at 7.3 out of 10.

So yes, the bar for snake movies is low. But a snake movie that critics are taking this seriously is news on its own.

Watch the Beware Boiúna Trailer

The trailer looks intriguing, terrifying, and wildly entertaining.

Its well paced and left enough to the imagination that I really want to see this trailer. You also get a good glimpse of the snake and in other movies they tend to not show the animal because it actually looks janky on screen. This movie doesn’t have that issue.

Should You See Beware Boiúna in Theaters?

If you grew up on Anaconda and have been waiting for someone to make a giant snake movie with real scares, Beware Boiúna looks like your best shot in years. It’s a suspense horror film with a legit horror director, a solid cast, and a monster pulled from actual folklore.

Beware Boiúna slithers into theaters October 2. And if all else fails, it’s going to be a wild and unexpected ride on the big screen.