The Jurassic Park series is one of the most profitable and beloved franchises in film history. There’s a sense of reliability in their fun nature, no matter the overall quality of the film. Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1993 film was revolutionary for its time as it showcased an advancement in visual effects. After mixed responses in the adventures of the sequels, the series is tackling its seventh installment. The result is Jurassic World Rebirth as a mixed bag, but an undeniably entertaining one.
A scene from JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Jurassic World Rebirth takes place five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion and pharmaceutical companies still view these dinosaurs as profit-generating machines. Pharmaceutical representative from ParkerGenix, Martin Krebs (played by Rupert Friend), attempts to complete a top-secret mission to extract DNA from some of the dinosaurs. This requires him to recruit mercenary Zora Bennet (Scarlett Johansson) as a guide into the dangerous terrain around a research facility for the original park. Calling on an old friend in Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), Zora and her team attempt this perilous trek.
L-R: Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett and Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
On its surface, those ingredients should prove a worthwhile summer adventure film worthy of the Jurassic Park title. Unfortunately, the screenplay prevents that from coming entirely to fruition. Writer David Koepp (one of the writers for the original series of films) struggles to make compelling characters. Koepp’s only interest is moving the plot forward … just to get to the dinosaur action. Such ambitions make the film feel split in its aspirations of what it wants to achieve. The biggest sin is the lack of thorough characterization for any of the characters in the movie. To put it simply, these “characters” never once feel like real people.
T-Rex in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Everyone in Jurassic World Rebirth feels like nothing more than a type. Zora, Duncan, and their mercenary team feel like nothing more than archetypes of the “bad-ass” ex-military unit. It lessens the stakes once we get into the dinosaur action. Granted, these actors have an undeniably compelling presence on screen. Johansson (Her), Ali (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), and Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis are immensely likable. Audiences like these people and buy them in these roles, at least enough to keep their attention. Add in the fact that these performers are capable actors, and I’d be lying if I said I was ever bored. However, it is unfortunately counterbalanced by another subset of characters that we simply don’t care about.
L-R: Rupert Friend as Martin Krebs, Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid, Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, and Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
In every Jurassic Park film, there has to be a group of some kind that needs saving. In this case, it is a father named Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), his daughters Teresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina), and Teresa’s boyfriend, Xavier (David Iacono). These characters particularly feel like nothing more than plot devices. Each one feels wedged into the film with the audience immediately knowing they’re never in any real danger. Anyone who’s seen any Jurassic Park film knows this, significantly lessening the stakes in the process. Their addition feels like nothing more than padding for the story.
L-R: Rupert Friend as Martin Krebs, Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid, and Bechir Sylvain as Leclerc in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
That said, one facet of the film is undeniably enjoyable and effective. The action throughout Jurassic World Rebirth is truly exciting. Director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; The Creator) wisely understands what audiences want to see. Viewers want to see dinosaurs and humans going head-to-head in an arguably brutal fashion. When the film is on that register, it delivers the summer thrills many are expecting. Those sequences are fun, tense, exciting, and funny in places, paying tribute to what made the original series great. This makes the film sing in the moments where it needs to. One may wish there would be more of this and fewer contrivances in the plot.
L-R: Rupert Friend as Martin Krebs and Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo Credit: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. © Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Jurassic World Rebirth is by no means a disaster compared to recent installments. In many cases, it succeeds as a fun summer blockbuster. Our central performers understand the movie they’re in, knowing their only job is to get to the action set pieces. When the film reaches those moments, it serves as a welcome reminder of why viewers fell in love with this franchise. It’s when the story wants to focus on “characters” (that has to be put in quotes since characterization is almost nonexistent) that it falls apart. For what we end up with, Jurassic World Rebirth ends up somewhere in the middle. It’s a serviceable and entertaining blockbuster, but it does not amount to much more than that.
In theaters July 2nd, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Universal Pictures Jurassic World website.
Final Score: 3 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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