Jurassic World: Rebirth thrusts us back into dinosaur territory with a blend of visceral action and nostalgic callbacks. Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by franchise veteran David Koepp, the film positions itself as a fresh yet familiar chapter in the Jurassic saga. From the moment Scarlett Johansson’s covert operative, Zora Bennett, steps foot on a once forsaken island, the audience is treated to sweeping tropical vistas and tension-packed set pieces, all wrapped in a high-stakes story about harvesting rare dinosaur DNA for a pharmaceutical breakthrough.
Over 2 hours and 13 minutes of runtime, Rebirth is a cinematic excursion into lush jungles bathed in golden light, surprisingly tender moments between prehistoric titans, and crowd-pleasing roars that echo the original Jurassic Park magic. Yet, for all its spectacle, some depth is lost in the script’s rushed character arcs and plot shortcuts. Despite this, one can’t deny the visceral rush of seeing colossal creatures back in their natural element, a thrill worth every spent ticket.
Plot & Pacing: Heart Disease Cure Meets Dinosaur Sanctuary
Set five years after Jurassic World: Dominion, the film establishes a new status quo: dinosaurs now exist only in equatorial zones due to climate change and disease. A clandestine mission is organized, led by Zora (Johansson), paleontologist Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and seafaring captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), targeting the island home to the three largest prehistoric species, land, sea, and sky, for DNA crucial in developing a heart disease remedy.
The opening attack by a rogue T-rex (later revealed as the disturbing “Distortus rex” mutant) sets an intense pace, though the momentum dips throughout, particularly during the uneven middle that focuses on the stranded civilian family. Critics described the story as static and uninspired and pointed out that the family subplot fractures the film’s flow. Many viewers echoed this, calling the pacing heavy and accusing the side characters of slowing the narrative.
Characters & Performances: Cool, But Often Cold
Scarlett Johansson brings a composed, almost aloof strength to Zora Bennett, welcomed by some critics as a departure from traditional female action hero tropes. Still, many found her emotionally distant, with others citing restricted depth in the role. Jonathan Bailey’s paleontologist, Loomis, earned praise for evolving from stereotypes into a quirky, invested scientist, particularly in his awe-struck early scene encountering dinosaur giants.
Mahershala Ali lends calm competence as ship’s captain Duncan, while Rupert Friend’s mercenary-turned-antagonist Martin Krebs registers as the typical greedy corporate villain. The shipwrecked family, father (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), daughters (Luna Blaise, Audrina Miranda), and boyfriend (David Iacono), felt superfluous to many reviewers who labeled them paper-thin additions.
Creature Showcases & Visual Marvels
Where Rebirth shines brightest is in its set pieces. From a spectacular boat chase with a Mosasaurus to a cascade of flare lighting up a river chase, the action is vivid, inventive, and often breathtaking. Critics appreciated the island’s visual world building, calling the cinematography probably the best in the series.
A standout for many is the grotesque yet tragic Distortus rex, designed with six limbs and inspired by Alien and Star Wars creatures, with director Edwards focusing on eliciting both horror and pity. Practical effects alongside solid CGI make scenes of animatronic-sized dinos moving through real foliage feel grounded and immersive. Fans reported that the dinosaurs are the real stars and felt more like JP3 or The Lost World.
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Emotional Resonance & Nostalgic Callbacks
The film leans heavily on franchise nostalgia with six direct callbacks to the original Jurassic Park, such as the iconic flare distraction and river chase, evoking early 90s thrills. Composer Alexandre Desplat mixes new themes with faint wisps of John Williams’ score, maintaining nostalgic continuity. Some reviewers noted that while the narrative isn’t groundbreaking, the grounded tone and character focus feel like a respectful remix of the original.
That said, critics argue that emotional stakes are dulled. There’s a lack of real suspense since the major characters never feel in true jeopardy. The inclusion of the family was criticized as an obvious contrivance that doesn’t further the narrative, despite offering some comforting warmth.
Critical & Box Office Reception
Upon release on July 2, 2025, Jurassic World: Rebirth received lukewarm to mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently sits at around 52 percent, and Metacritic approximates a 50, indicating divided opinions. Fans and critics alike praised the thrilling dinosaur action, but many decried its formulaic structure and underdeveloped human subplot.
Financially, the movie grossed approximately 532.7 million dollars worldwide against a 180 million dollar budget, securing its place as one of the highest-grossing films of 2025. This strong commercial performance reiterates that audiences still crave raw dinosaur thrills, even if the narrative depth isn’t always there.
Final Verdict: A Thrilling Trip with Some Thorny Patches
Jurassic World: Rebirth is a win for viewers hungry for raw dinosaur spectacle wrapped in nostalgic callbacks. Gareth Edwards delivers several standout sequences that feel genuinely thrilling, while Alexandre Desplat’s musical nods to Williams bring emotional resonance. The mutant Distortus rex alone is worth the price of admission.
Yet, the film isn’t without its flaws. A predictable script, undercooked emotional arcs, and distracting pacing issues surround what could have been a more tightly wound story. Still, as a blockbuster summer flick that leans into nostalgia without feeling stale, it largely succeeds.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Expect to leave the theater exhilarated, just don’t expect an emotional evolution of the franchise.