Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) tries to dig deep but forgets what made the original roar.
It’s been over three decades since Jurassic Park first made us drop our jaws and understand the meaning of blockbuster cinema. Now, with Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025), Universal brings back the original screenwriter in what feels like a hopeful attempt to rekindle that same awe.
The result? A film that almost remembers what made 1993’s dino-mayhem so special—but gets distracted along the way by sleek tech and roars.
As of July 18, Jurassic World: Rebirth has grossed approximately $575.7 million worldwide, with $259.3 million domestic and $300.25 million international, making it one of 2025’s highest earners despite mixed reviews.
While Rebirth isn’t the worst dino flick we’ve gotten (hello, Fallen Kingdom), it’s not the return to roots some fans were holding out for. Yes, there’s a glimmer of originality, a few spine-tingling moments that echo the Crichton-era dread, but much like its genetically engineered stars, the movie feels like a glossy remix of something once primal.
The Lost Story of Jurassic Park
Here’s the thing: the original Jurassic Park had one major secret weapon—Michael Crichton’s novel. It wasn’t just about dinosaurs. It was a rare kind of creature horror that made yoxg0 nsion in your bones shudder. You didn’t just watch it; you experienced it. Every breath, every footstep, every growl had weight. What’s wild is that Crichton’s book was even more brutal, more terrifying, and more detailed than what we saw onscreen.
Let’s be honest—most sequels after The Lost World have suffered from the same basic problem: no one seems to know what story to tell anymore. Dinosaurs break out. People scream. Some get eaten. A hero makes a speech about hubris. Rinse, repeat. Rebirth doesn’t completely escape this formula, but at least it tries to reboot from scratch—and that’s a start. You can almost feel the urge to tell a real story again, something with new bones instead of just a new T-Rex hybrid.
Let’s Dive Into It
Jurassic World: Rebirth Plot Summary – Scarlett Johansson vs. Hybrid Dinosaurs
Set years after the chaos of Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Rebirth strips things down—this time, it’s back to one island, one mission, and one very bad idea.
Scarlett Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a covert ops specialist hired by biotech giant ParkerGenix to extract a missing scientist from a supposedly abandoned research island located in a visually Patagonia-esque setting (though filmed in Thailand and Malta). But of course, the island isn’t empty. It’s crawling with new, hyper-intelligent hybrid dinosaurs that are genetically modified beyond anything we’ve seen before.
What begins as a routine operation soon spirals into a survival nightmare. Zora’s team, featuring a solid ensemble including Mahershala Ali as ship captain Duncan Kincaid, Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as civilian father Reuben Delgado, soon learns the real mission is far murkier. ParkerGenix isn’t just studying dinosaurs. They’re creating weapons.
As the body count rises and the island reveals its secrets, the film leans into paranoia, biotech ethics, and jungle claustrophobia.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Visual Effects – Stunning CGI That Lacks Emotional Impact
Jurassic World: Rebirth feels more like a high-gloss sci-fi thriller than the grounded, awe-driven dino-horror of the original. The world is futuristic. Labs gleam like Apple showrooms. And the dinosaurs? They’re sleeker, faster, and in some cases, eerily perfect.
Critics and fans agree: on a technical level, the dinosaurs have never looked better. The CGI is razor-sharp, movement is fluid, and scale feels immense. Some of the new hybrid species are especially striking. They’re more agile, more menacing, and more creatively terrifying. From a predator silhouetted against lightning to a silent stalker weaving through misty forest, the visuals deliver.
But here’s the rub: they look great, but they don’t feel great. That old awe—the breathlessness you felt when the Brachiosaurus rose in 1993 is missing. You’re impressed, but you’re not moved.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Cast Review – Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali Shine
Scarlett Johansson brings her Marvel-honed action skills to Zora Bennett, but with a vulnerability that makes her more than just a stoic action lead. Mahershala Ali delivers calm authority as Duncan, grounding the emotional stakes. Jonathan Bailey, best known for Bridgerton, brings wide-eyed charm to Dr. Loomis and, yes, the clarinet solo he plays. It’s real. Bailey recorded it himself at Abbey Road Studios, a moment of whimsy that briefly cuts through the chaos.
Rupert Friend is slick and unnerving as Martin Krebs, ParkerGenix’s morally grey executive. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo gives the film its emotional center, playing a civilian desperate to reunite with his children, portrayed by Luna Blaise and David Iacono.
A brief yet satisfying cameo from BD Wong as Dr. Henry Wu ties the film back to its roots—and raises fresh questions about the franchise’s ethics, continuity, and future.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Final Verdict – Spectacular Visuals, Hollow Story
Jurassic World: Rebirth is a slick, well-rendered return to the island—but one that forgets the emotional weight of its ancestors.
If you’re in it for spectacle—hyper-realistic CGI, intelligent hybrids, and stylish action sequences, Rebirth delivers. But if you’re chasing that spine-tingling wonder of the original Jurassic Park, you may leave feeling like the magic has gone extinct.
That said, the Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer promised a high-octane survival thriller, and on that front, the film delivers in spades. It’s a crowd-pleaser with teeth, even if the soul feels a little synthetic.
For dino die-hards, it’s still worth a trip to the big screen—especially given the curiosity that fueled early Jurassic World: Rebirth reviews. The film released globally on July 2, 2025, and based on its box office numbers alone, nostalgia still has bite.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Behind the Scenes – 5 Facts You Didn’t Know
- Release Date: Jurassic World: Rebirth had its global release on July 2, 2025, after premiering in London on June 17.
- Score by Alexandre Desplat: Oscar-winner Desplat replaced Giacchino, giving the film a more subdued, sci-fi tone—still echoing John Williams’ original themes.
- Filming Locations: Shot in Thailand, Malta, and the UK
- Bailey’s Clarinet Scene: The moment wasn’t in the script; It was added after Bailey spontaneously played clarinet on set and the director built it into the scene.
- Trailer Viewership: the Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer garnered over 31 million views in 48 hours, the highest for any Jurassic film since 2018.
Should You Watch Jurassic World: Rebirth? – Pros, Cons & Our Recommendation
- Scarlett Johansson faces dinosaurs for the first time and brings layered intensity to a high-stakes role.
- Jonathan Bailey’s clarinet solo is a real, unexpected human moment amid the chaos.
- It’s the highest-grossing Jurassic World entry since 2015, proving the franchise still has claws.
- Rebirth leans into sci-fi paranoia and survival horror, pushing the franchise in a more thriller-oriented direction.
- Desplat’s score offers a bold, atmospheric reinvention of the series’ musical identity.
QUICK SCAN
Pros
- Stunning dinosaur CGI and creature design
- Strong performances from Johansson, Ali, and Bailey
- Tense survival setup with thriller elements
- Franchise callbacks and nostalgia hits
- Smart pacing and tighter runtime than Dominion
- Atmospheric score by Alexandre Desplat
- Inventive creature designs and hybrid concepts
- Blend of practical effects with digital augmentation
Cons
- Lacks the emotional weight and wonder of the original
- Some characters (Zora’s squad) feel underdeveloped
- Formulaic “corporate greed vs. science” plot
- Dinosaurs feel like sci-fi tech, not awe-inspiring animals
- Predictable narrative arcs
- Over-reliance on shiny tech and visual polish
- No iconic set piece to rival earlier classics
- Dialogue-heavy third act drags the tension down
