Some solid dinosaur thrills can’t quite make up for forgettable characters, a limp story, and an ending that fizzles instead of roars. If the franchise is being reborn, let’s hope it eventually evolves.
Here we are again back in the jungle, back among the dinosaurs, and back to asking ourselves the age-old question: “Should humans still be doing this?” Jurassic World Rebirth attempts to answer that with big action, bigger teeth, and a storyline that… well, exists.
Let’s just get it out of the way: this movie is fine. It’s not terrible, but it’s not the thrilling rebirth the title promises either. Middle-of-the-road at best, Rebirth delivers exactly what you expect from a Jurassic sequel; impressive dinos, some intense chase scenes, and humans making choices that would get them eaten in the first 10 minutes of the original Jurassic Park. It’s also, at times, very predictable. You can see a lot of its “big” moments coming from a mile away, which takes away some of the tension the franchise is known for.
The dinosaur moments are obviously the real stars here (shocking, I know). The suspense and chaos still work, and when they let the prehistoric beasts loose, it’s pure popcorn fun. I even found myself jumping from a few successful suspenseful moments. That said, I nearly pulled a muscle rolling my eyes at one scene where a girl decided the stealthiest way to sneak past a sleeping T-Rex was to drag a raft across gravel like she was attempting to wake the dead. I was screaming at my TV like it was a bad slasher flick; equal parts horrified and annoyed at poor writing/character decisions. There is a literal monster sleeping 10 feet away but hey let’s make as much noise as possible.
The human side of things? Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey are the real scene-stealers. Johansson is a seasoned pro and knows what her job is. She brings a grounded intensity and intelligence that makes you believe she could outwit a raptor, while Bailey’s charm and presence give his moments a welcome spark. Mahershala Ali also brings gravitas to every scene he’s in, even when the material doesn’t quite match his talent. And then there’s Rupert Friend, who plays the token heartless guy you spend the whole movie eagerly awaiting to see get chomped. The group is hunting down rare dinosaur DNA, which sounds cool on paper, but ends up feeling like more of the same. Another shady science mission, another “we probably shouldn’t be doing this” scenario, another setup for dino mayhem. We’ve seen this movie before, and while the cast gives it their all, the stakes never feel fresh. Less thrilling is a subplot involving a family which feels like filler, and the father might be the most passive, reluctant hero this franchise has ever produced.
Too often, the movie plays like a series of loud, chaotic action bits loosely stitched together by vague plot threads. Characters bounce from one dramatic set piece to another like they’re following a GPS programmed for maximum destruction. It’s fun in the moment but none of it really feels truly engaging or meaningful. The film builds to what should be a jaw-dropping climax… but instead delivers an ending so anticlimactic, I honestly thought it was setting up for a second third act. Nope. Just credits.
Honestly, after seven movies, I’m not even sure where this franchise goes from here. The well has long run dry. We keep circling the same formula; dinosaurs escape, humans scream, chaos ensues and its beyond feeling fresh. What I wish they’d give us is a true Jurassic World: a bold leap into how dinosaurs actually integrate into modern ecosystems. How do they disrupt or benefit the environments they now inhabit? What happens when a stegosaurus wanders into a national park, or a pack of raptors sets up shop outside a suburb? That’s a movie I’d show up for. And just a note to the filmmakers; the T-Rex is still scary. The raptors intelligently working together are still scary. We don’t need a bunch of new mutated dinosaurs to add tension.
It’s also worth remembering just how groundbreaking the original Jurassic Park was. Back in 1993, that movie didn’t just impress us with its dinosaurs, it blew our collective minds with what was then cutting-edge visual effects. We’d never seen anything like it. The thrill wasn’t just in the T-Rex roar or the raptor chase, it was in the sheer disbelief that we were watching something that felt real for the first time. That blend of spectacle and storytelling was magic.
But fast forward to today, and that wow factor just can’t carry the same weight. We know you can make realistic dinosaurs. That can’t be the crutch anymore. The novelty has worn off, and the responsibility now falls squarely on the story and characters to carry the franchise forward. You can’t just throw another CGI apex predator on screen and expect us to be dazzled. We’ve seen it. We need to feel it. And unfortunately, Rebirth never quite gets there.
If this is meant to be the start of a new trilogy, I will continue to wait for a home video release. While I love a big screen dino-romp with surround sound and all the prehistoric chaos you can pack into two hours, I also like story. I like characters that earn their spot on that giant canvas. And right now, this series keeps delivering spectacle without substance. As a one off I guess Jurassic World Rebirth does what it needs to do. Dinosaurs go roar and people run but as a franchise relaunch it lacks the spark, wonder, and memorable characters that made the original Jurassic Park film so iconic.
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Average Rating