Genre(s) – Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Thriller
Director – Gareth Edwards
Writer – David Koep
Main Cast – Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein.
Runtime – 133 Minutes
My Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐☆☆☆☆
Where To Watch/Stream Jurassic World: Rebirth
Jurrasic World: Rebirth is not smart, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a damn sight better than watching Chris Pratt do his raptor hand thing again.
After Dominion, I figured this franchise had finally gone extinct, creatively speaking.
But curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself in a packed theater with a bucket of popcorn the size of a toddler.
Two hours later, I left surprised.
I wasn’t blown away but I was somewhat entertained.
Which is more than I expected from the seventh film in a dinosaur franchise that peaked in the ’90s.
Plot Summary of Jurassic World: Rebirth (Spoiler-Free)
It’s been about 30 years since Dominion, and apparently dinosaurs are becoming less of a global threat and more like really inconvenient pigeons. People are bored of them. Yes, bored. A giant sauropod blocks traffic and no one cares. Welcome to late-stage capitalism, dino edition.
Enter Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), a mercenary hired by a shady pharma bro (Rupert Friend) to head to yet another secret island to collect blood samples from the biggest dinosaur in the sky, the sea, and the land.
She’s not alone, of course, as we’ve got the geeky but lovable paleontologist Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a team of mercs led by Mahershala Ali’s Duncan Kincaid, and a random family that basically exists to get separated and scream a lot.
And yes, the dinosaurs are still very much there, some of them mutated, some of them hungry, and one of them, bafflingly, called the D-Rex.
Jurassic World: Rebirth: Better, But Still Limping
Fristly, I will say that Jurrasic World Rebirth is nowhere near as insultingly stupid as Fallen Kingdom, and it’s a step up from the bloated mess that was Dominion. Gareth Edwards manages to bring back some scale, some weight, and even a few moments that will remind you why you probably fell in love with the franchise.
But it’s far from perfect. There’s this nagging feeling throughout the film that no one really knew what they wanted this to be. Half the time it wants to be a gritty survival film, and the other half it’s flirting with treasure-hunt nonsense. I kept waiting for Nic Cage to show up yelling about a dino map.
The opening sequence is actually quite effective, to its credit, with a Final Destination-level freak accident that lets the dinosaurs loose. That had my attention, and the first 20 minutes had me thinking, “maybe this won’t suck.”
Scarlett Johansson, to her credit, sells it. Her character, Zora, isn’t particularly original, but she gives it some edge. Mahershala Ali’s grizzled team leader also adds some gravitas, even when the script is clearly fighting against him.
Jonathan Bailey is the surprise here though. His wide-eyed excitement as a paleontologist genuinely feels real. He’s a nerd, but not the kind of whimpering comic relief we usually get. He acts like a grown man would around dinosaurs, with a child like enthusiasm.
He actually jumps into danger, which I appreciated. His awkward moral qualms about the mission feel a little stapled in, but it’s better than no moral compass at all, right?
And then we’ve got the family.
Manual Garcia-Rulfo is fine as the dad, and Isabella, the youngest daughter, who befriends a tiny Aquilops she names Dolores. I swear, if this franchise spawns a Baby Yoda-style spin-off with that thing, I’m out.
But the rest of them? You can almost hear the scriptwriter sighing as he typed out their lines.
The real star, though, is Gareth Edwards’ direction. The man knows how to frame scale. When those Titanosaurs show up, it’s breathtaking. There’s one sequence that practically screams Spielberg homage, a moment of quiet awe before all hell breaks loose, and I loved that.
We also get some a few very good action sequences that will make any fan sit up and take notice.
But for every good moment, there’s a frustrating one. The pacing is all over the place. Some characters get introduced and then immediately chomped without ceremony, and there’s one death that’s clearly meant to be emotional, and I would’ve felt something if the film didn’t immediately cut away to a dumb one-liner.
Also, the D-Rex? Why are we still doing this? Real dinosaurs are already terrifying. We don’t need some weird, half-xenomorph, half-Godzilla nonsense. It doesn’t even do much, just shows up, growls, and then sort of. vanishes?
The film tries, but just plays it way too safe overall, and ends up being a little bit all over the place, which culminates in quite a messy ending.
But, with that said, I was still fairly entertained. It’s a better movie than I expected and had read about, but it still feels like it’s coasting on fumes from a franchise that peaked 30 years ago.
What I liked (And What I Didn’t like)
Pros
The Titanosaur Scene
Finally, a moment that reminded me what this franchise used to be good at – awe. The Titanosaur lumbering through a foggy forest is haunting in the best way, and it’s not just spectacle for spectacle’s sake.
Bailey’s Paleontologist
Jonathan Bailey steals every scene he’s in. His Henry Loomis is a dino nerd through and through, and watching him geek out over prehistoric fossils while also diving into danger was fun.
Mahershala Ali Brings the Gravitas
Even when he’s given clunky dialogue, Ali delivers it like he’s in Macbeth. The man can command a screen with a single look.
Dolores the Dino
I rolled my eyes at first, but damn it, Dolores grew on me. Cute, loyal, and never too cartoonish. If they’re smart, they won’t overdo it in future sequels.
A Refreshing Lack of In-Jokes
No shoehorned references. No “Welcome to Jurassic World” echoes. Just a mostly original story with its own identity. Finally.
Cons
The D-Rex Is a Joke
It’s like a rejected Pokémon evolution. Pointless, overdesigned, and underused. We’ve been here before. Let it go.
Pacing Whiplash
Great opening. Solid middle. Messy ending.
Weak Emotional Beats
They try to hit emotional highs, but it’s rushed. One major death lands with a thud because we barely knew the guy.
Forgettable Family Subplot
They’re clearly here for audience relatability, but most of the family feels like filler. Could’ve cut them and focused more on the main team.
Villain Problems (Again)
Rupert Friend does his best, but his pharma villain is underwritten. He’s not cartoonish enough to be fun or really nuanced enough to be intimidating.
Too Safe
For a movie called Rebirth, it plays things very safe. No huge risks. No major shocks. Just a slightly more competent version of what came before.
Who Might Like Jurassic World: Rebirth
- Fans of the original Jurassic Park looking for a nostalgic spark
- People who hated Dominion and need a palate cleanser
- Dinosaur lovers who just want to see some cool creatures
- Folks who appreciate practical effects mixed with restrained CGI
- Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali fans
Who Might Dislike Jurassic World: Rebirth
- Hardcore dino geeks frustrated by the mutant hybrids
- Viewers looking for deep character development
- People expecting a major franchise reinvention
- Anyone wanting a fun dino flick – this one’s a bit grim
Final Verdict: Is Jurrasic World: Rebirth Worth Watching?
For me, I would say yes, surprisingly. I expected a dumpster fire and got a slightly smoky barbecue. Not amazing, but not bad. It entertained me, which is honestly more than I can say for the last two movies in this franchise. Gareth Edwards brought back scale, tension, and at least a pinch of wonder.
But it’s not the game-changer I hoped it might be. It’s better, but not bold enough, and while Jurassic World: Rebirth may not resurrect the franchise entirely, it does breathe a little life back into it.
And if nothing else, it reminded me that there’s still something pretty magical about dinosaurs on a big screen.
6.0/10. Worth watching if your expectations are in check.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Trailer
Simon Leasher
A lover of cinema for over 35 years, I try and look at the good and bad points of films while advising whether someone might like the film or not. More
And yes, The Godfather 2 is better than The Godfather.
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