Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

“Jurassic World Rebirth” stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, and Ed Skrein.  Released on July 2, 2025, the film has a covert operations expert tackling a mission to secure DNA from dinosaurs.
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The film is directed by Gareth Edwards, who also directed “End Day”, “Monsters”, “Godzilla”, “Rogue One”, and “The Creator”.  It is the seventh film in the Jurassic Park franchise.  If there’s one thing the “Jurassic Park” films have taught us, it’s that life always finds a way.  This was demonstrated in the “Jurassic World” series, where life found a way out of the island parks and onto the mainland, resulting in the ferocious dinosaurs forming an uneasy coexistence with humankind.  However, it’s also evident in the franchise’s journey itself.  “Jurassic World Dominion” was perceived as the conclusion not only to the “World” era but also to the entire “Jurassic Park” saga, which began with John Hammond’s remarkable yet dangerous idea.  However, much like other blockbuster franchises, Hollywood has found a way to bring Steven Spielberg’s iconic dinosaur film series back from extinction once more, reminding audiences of the horror and wonder of seeing the prehistoric creatures appear before their eyes.  The result is the latest installment in the “Jurassic World” series, which focuses on a new group of characters navigating a world filled with prehistoric beasts while visiting a new, dinosaur-filled island.  Does this approach help reinvigorate the iconic franchise or prove that it should have remained extinct after “Dominion”?  Let’s find out.

The story takes place five years after the events of “Dominion”, where humanity now coexists with dinosaurs and other de-extinct prehistoric creatures.  However, Earth’s environment has become highly inhospitable to the dinosaurs, leading to dire consequences for both species.  Fortunately, a pharmaceutical company known as ParkerGenix has discovered that the surviving creatures are residing on a reclusive island.  The dinosaurs living there include three of the largest remaining species containing the DNA necessary to develop a cure.  The company enlists covert operative Zora Bennett (Johansson) to collaborate with paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Bailey) on a dangerous mission.  Accompanied by Zora’s undercover team, including team leader Duncan Kincaid (Ali), Zora and Henry journey to a forbidden island called Ile Saint-Hubert to locate and extract the DNA from the three largest prehistoric species, aiming to create a cure that could save countless lives.  Along the way, they encounter a shipwrecked civilian family and uncover a shocking secret that proves to be even more horrifying than the dinosaurs they confront.

It’s no surprise that we have another entry in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, especially since Universal seems unable to let the money-making dinosaurs go extinct.  However, it’s also quite unexpected that the franchise decided to continue after “Jurassic World Dominion” was promoted as the “end of an era”.  With the dinosaurs now cohabiting with humans on the mainland rather than the islands, I feel like there may not be much else to explore.  That was until the franchise decided to return to the roots that originally propelled the “Jurassic Park” trilogy to success.  Granted, I have enjoyed every “Jurassic Park” installment that’s been thrown on screen, even the “Jurassic World” films, despite their flaws being as big as a T-Rex.  “Dominion” had its fair share of enjoyable moments, thanks to its dinosaur action and a respectable cast, but its lackluster approach to the plot and fan service made for a somewhat underwhelming conclusion to the saga.  Regardless, my fondness for the movies was enough to get me eager for “Rebirth,” which takes audiences back to the dinosaur-infested islands rather than focusing on the creatures on the mainland.

Additionally, the film introduces a brand-new ensemble of characters for audiences to engage with as “Dominion” closes the book on Owen Grady and Claire Dearing’s journey that began in “Jurassic World”.  This time around, we follow a group of covert operatives led by another Marvel Cinematic Universe star, Scarlett Johansson, along with a paleontologist, who continues the franchise’s approach of having scientists as primary protagonists.  It’s no “Jurassic Park” without a healthy dose of scientific foundation.  These elements, combined with the visionary direction of Gareth Edwards, equate to an entry that aims to harken back to the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy and correct the mistakes made by the previous two installments.  Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait until the official release to see whether it succeeded or not.  I was among the fortunate attendees who saw the surprise early screening of the film more than a week prior, but I had to wait until the review embargo was lifted for me to discuss it.  As an unpaid film critic, I must adhere to the code of conduct.

So, now that the embargo has lifted, I can finally answer the burning question: was this dinosaur-sized installment worthwhile or at least entertaining?  Yes.  Yes, it was.  Rather than attempting to escalate the scale of the “dinosaurs in the mainland” concept, “Rebirth” presented a more restrained blockbuster that pays homage to the original “Jurassic Park” trilogy, especially its sequels, “The Lost World” and “Jurassic Park III”.  Although it has connections to its predecessors in some way, the film’s storyline stands on its own, so don’t expect a cameo appearance from Chris Pratt’s Owen popping up during the movie.  The result is a solid step in the right direction that, for the most part, solidifies the audience’s love for the franchise, particularly the original trilogy.  It’s awe-inspiring on a visual scale, but it’s also a fun and engaging dino-sized adventure that captures the horror of those prehistoric creatures and the science behind their creation and recreation.

The decision to revisit familiar territory was primarily influenced by its screenplay.  David Koepp returned to the franchise for the first time since writing “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” in 1997.  Notably, Koepp was also responsible for co-writing the 1993 classic alongside the novel’s author, Michael Crichton.  Considering his significant contributions to the first two “Jurassic Park” installments, it was a wise decision to bring Koepp back.  Before the dinosaurs took to the streets and a theme park, David Koepp possessed an acute understanding of how audiences connect with a dinosaur-inhabited island.  While it keeps civilization far away from the creatures, that doesn’t make it less dangerous, especially when you are on the island yourself.  Koepp’s screenplays captured the sense of isolation and the lurking danger inherent in being surrounded by dense forests or vast fields, with the anxiety of one of them appearing out of nowhere to eat or stomp on you.  It’s not without its moments of awestruck involving seeing the gentle giants up close and personal, but the frightening, carnivorous dinosaurs?  Good luck trying not to be an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Koepp’s screenplay for “Rebirth” successfully evoked a similar feeling from the first two films, presenting likable characters for me to follow and a straightforward yet flawed plot that fits the grandeur of its cinematic scale.  However, it also didn’t quite reach the iconic status of the original film.  “Rebirth” continues to explore the franchise’s central theme: the perils of playing god, particularly through the lens of dinosaur recreation.  This theme is demonstrated by the film’s introduction of the island’s failed genetic dinosaur experiments, including a grotesquely modified T-Rex with multiple limbs known as the “Distortus rex”.  The film also explored ethical questions about the accessibility of scientific advancements, such as medical resources, sparking a broader debate about equity in the distribution of these benefits.  While these scientific topics are deeply rooted in the franchise’s history, the screenplay didn’t hit all of the impactful narrative beats in emphasizing the horror and gravity of these existential questions.  

This is more of an undemanding yet suitably watchable sequel that isn’t without its faults.  The first act takes a while to gain momentum regarding its pacing, and the character arcs, though familiar, struggle to evoke much emotion in their development or narrative stakes.  One example of the latter is Martin Krebs (Friend), a pharmaceutical representative who accompanies Zora and her team, exuding an overtly selfish yet somewhat uninteresting personality.  The other example is Xavier Dobbs (Iacono), the boyfriend of one of the shipwrecked family members, Teresa Delgado (Blaise), who appears to be somewhat lost in impressing Teresa’s father, Reuben (Garcia-Rulfo).  Most of these story elements were a mashup of scenarios that tread familiar ground in the film’s narrative.  However, that doesn’t make it any less entertaining.

Upon watching the trailer for “Rebirth”, I immediately knew that Gareth Edwards would be the right director to helm the franchise’s continuation.  Through his previous films, such as “Godzilla” and “The Creator”, Edwards excels in crafting a visual splendor that combines grand cinematography with meticulously rendered visuals that blend seamlessly with the set pieces.  I would even say that he’s in the same realm as when Steven Spielberg directed “Jurassic Park”.  It’s that same mix of wonder and danger that emphasizes the DNA of a visually rich blockbuster spectacle without being too overblown with the “spectacle” element.  After watching the film, it's easy to say that Gareth Edwards managed to continue his winning streak in “Rebirth”.  Edwards expertly utilized John Mathieson’s cinematography, which was beautifully shot on 35mm film, to capture the stunning traditional vistas that form the backdrop of the movie’s settings, particularly the gorgeous landscapes of Ile Saint-Hubert.  One standout scene features the largest land dinosaurs, evoking a subtle spectacle that, when paired with John Williams’ iconic theme music, beautifully sets the mood that made “Jurassic Park” a beloved cinematic masterpiece.  That exact moment was a testament to Gareth Edwards’ ability to balance grandeur with subtlety, creating a perspective that’s both epic in scale and intimate in the characters’ reactions to the dinosaurs.  

Edwards also did a good job of balancing the horror elements of people being attacked by dinosaurs with some humorous moments that didn’t feel forced or out of place.  Some of the horror moments didn’t quite reach the memorable heights of previous installments, including a few tame kills it provided.  However, those moments still packed plenty of tension, ensuring I was just as terrified as the movie’s characters.  Admittedly, the “Jurassic World” trilogy also dabbled in suspenseful dinosaur sequences, but “Dominion” leaned more toward a typical action blockbuster than a genuine dinosaur horror movie.  “Rebirth” is simply the latter, with some action elements that complement rather than overshadow the grounded horror themes tied to scientific breakthroughs.  As for the visual effects, they once again provided a remarkable blend of CGI and animatronics to bring these dinosaurs to life, both the ferocious ones and even the adorable types.  The notable standout was the Distortus rex, which resembled a giant rancor from “Star Wars” that accidentally wandered onto the wrong set and was hired to play the role because of it.  It’s unique in its design but also terrifyingly fitting to the film’s themes.

As previously mentioned, “Rebirth” introduced a fresh ensemble of characters to follow, along with a new set of actors portraying them.  Truth be told, they didn’t do too bad.  Scarlett Johansson takes on the role of Zora, a covert operations expert who struggles with her past.  After her journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe came to a rough conclusion, it’s understandable she wanted to jump onto another franchise to find success outside her role as Black Widow.  Fortunately, Johansson was decent enough to carry the torch in leading this prehistoric adventure, with her performance capturing Zora’s charismatic yet tough persona, even if her character’s arc felt occasionally underwhelming.  Jonathan Bailey, who recently garnered attention for his role in “Wicked,” was also entertaining in his role of Henry Loomis, a paleontologist whose likable personality shines as much as his intellect on dinosaurs.  The charm and intellect Bailey conveyed in Henry make him a memorable addition to the ensemble cast as well as another actor worth keeping my eye on.  

I’m also happy to see Mahershala Ali back on the big screen again with his role as Duncan Kincaid.  While not as groundbreaking as his previous roles, it made me even more eager to see his take on “Blade”, whenever that would be.  It also served as another reminder of Ali’s acting capabilities carrying a project to success.  The most surprising performance I wound up enjoying more than I thought I would was David Iacono as Xavier.  Initially, Xavier’s carefree demeanor seems poised to be the film’s most irritating aspect, as he winds up stranded on the island with the Delgado family.  However, as the story unfolded, Iacono’s portrayal became more endearing, with his comedic timing unexpectedly adding a layer of humor that’s more charming than frustrating.  Iacono’s ability to turn what could have been an annoying one-dimensional character into a source of genuine laughter was certainly something I didn’t expect to enjoy from a “Jurassic Park” movie, but I did anyway.
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Overall, “Jurassic World Rebirth” is an entertaining and visually awe-inspiring return to form that keeps the blockbuster franchise from going extinct.  After my experience with “Dominion,” I was uncertain about how “Rebirth” would meet my middling expectations, particularly as the franchise ventured into “dinosaurs invading cities” territory.  However, thanks to its idea of returning to the basics of the earlier installments, the movie managed to surprise me with a 90s blockbuster throwback vibe that’s thrilling, fun, and visually immaculate.  However, it falls short of the lofty standards set by the original film, with Koepp’s screenplay lacking in specific narrative areas, including character arcs, thematic depth, and kills.  Nevertheless, it provides a much-needed boost for the dinosaur-sized franchise, thanks to its commendable cast, Gareth Edwards’ solid balance of horror, entertainment, and wonder, and its remarkable visual effects.  In a sense, the film’s subtitle pretty much encapsulates its essence perfectly.  It signifies a rebirth of the “Jurassic World” era that had fallen from grace after the release of the last two sequels.  It may not be a perfect movie to celebrate this occasion, but it is a worthwhile entry that warrants the dinosaur-sized franchise’s return. 

B-