After three decades and six previous films, Jurassic World: Rebirth marks the seventh entry in the iconic Jurassic franchise. Once a revolutionary cinematic experience that left audiences wide-eyed with wonder at the sight of lifelike dinosaurs, the magic has understandably faded over time. It’s hard to recapture that first gasp of awe when you’ve already seen a T-Rex roar in surround sound or watched a velociraptor outwit a human—multiple times.
But Rebirth tries. Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, this installment doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it tries to ignite a sense of wonder—perhaps nostalgia—for the sheer scale and majesty of these prehistoric creatures. And for the most part, it succeeds. At least, until the film begins to overstay its welcome and tread old ground a little too eagerly.
Jurassic World: A Fresh Premise – But Briefly
The film opens with a premise that feels refreshingly original within this overgrown jungle of sequels. In the world of Rebirth, dinosaurs have become so normalized that the general public has stopped caring. Zoos are empty. Dinosaurs no longer turn heads. In fact, people have grown as indifferent to a triceratops as they are to pigeons in the park.
Then comes a quietly brilliant scene: a massive sauropod, lumbering and uninterested in traffic laws, decides to plant itself in the middle of a bustling Manhattan intersection. Chaos ensues—not of the screaming-and-running kind we’re used to in this series, but a much more modern kind. Horns blare, people grumble, and traffic stalls. It’s a humorous, yet telling moment. Dinosaurs aren’t thrilling anymore; they’re just inconvenient.
This sequence sets a tone that hints at self-awareness. Maybe this movie knows what it is—a dinosaur in its own right, wandering through the urban sprawl of today’s blockbuster-heavy landscape. It’s a clever start, one that makes you lean forward and think, “Okay, this might be different.”
Jurassic World: Familiar Patterns Emerge
Unfortunately, that originality doesn’t carry through the entire runtime. Once the plot kicks into high gear, Rebirth starts to feel very much like, well, a reboot of earlier films. The familiar beats return: human arrogance, corporate greed, the ever-present theme of science playing God, and of course, people running from large, hungry reptiles. These tropes are staples of the franchise, sure—but when recycled without fresh energy or new insights, they begin to lose their edge.
Remember Jeff Goldblum’s iconic line from Jurassic Park? “Ooh, ah. That’s how it always starts. But then later, there’s running and, um, screaming.” It feels like Rebirth unintentionally proves him right once again. While the film flirts with new ideas—like a society too desensitized to care—it ultimately slides back into formula.
Jurassic World: A New Cast of Characters
Where Rebirth does inject some life is in its cast. The franchise has always leaned on big names, and this entry is no different. Scarlett Johansson leads the charge, bringing both charisma and emotional weight to her role. Her performance is grounded, a nice counterbalance to the often chaotic energy of the plot.
Jonathan Bailey (of Bridgerton fame) plays opposite her with confidence, while Mahershala Ali delivers a reliably nuanced performance, even if the script doesn’t always give him the space to shine. Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo round out the supporting cast, offering solid performances, while Luna Blaise, David Iacono, and young Audrina Miranda bring some youthful energy to the mix.
Together, this cast manages to make the film feel human again, even when surrounded by CGI behemoths. They’re not just running from danger—they’re wrestling with it emotionally, ethically, and personally.
Visuals: As Majestic As Ever
One thing Jurassic World: Rebirth absolutely nails is the spectacle. The visual effects are as stunning as ever. Gareth Edwards, known for his work on Rogue One and Godzilla (2014), has a knack for scale and atmosphere, and he uses it here to great effect. The dinosaurs look incredible—textured, expressive, and terrifying when they need to be.
Cinematographer Greig Fraser captures sweeping landscapes and gritty cityscapes with equal finesse. Whether we’re watching a Pteranodon soar above the skyline or following a tense chase through a rain-drenched alley, the visuals never disappoint. The attention to detail is remarkable, and the film certainly knows how to stage a memorable set-piece.
Jurassic World: Themes That Could Have Gone Deeper
Rebirth teases some intriguing philosophical questions—about human adaptation, the ethics of cloning, and our capacity to coexist with nature—but never fully explores them. These themes have always been present in the Jurassic saga, but after seven films, audiences may expect a more evolved conversation.
The concept of dinosaurs being so integrated into modern life that they’re no longer feared or even noticed is fascinating. What does that say about human nature? About our obsession with novelty? Sadly, the film only dips its toe into these questions before retreating into chase sequences and explosive confrontations.
The Problem of Pacing
Perhaps the biggest flaw in Rebirth is its pacing. The first half is brisk, engaging, and even a little playful. But as the film moves toward its climax, it starts to feel repetitive. Action scenes stretch longer than they need to, and some plot points are rehashed more than once. There are moments when you might find yourself checking the time, wondering if the story really needed to go on this long.
This is particularly frustrating because there are meaningful moments scattered throughout—glimpses of character development, or scenes that capture a genuine sense of awe. But they’re too often drowned out by a need to tick off the franchise checklist: big dinosaur fight? Check. Corporate villain speech? Check. Dramatic helicopter escape? Check.
Final Verdict: Still Worth a Watch
Despite its shortcomings, Jurassic World: Rebirth isn’t a bad film—it’s just a familiar one. For fans of the franchise, it offers exactly what you’d expect: dazzling visuals, suspenseful dinosaur encounters, and a reminder of why we fell in love with this cinematic universe in the first place.
Is it groundbreaking? Not really. Does it rekindle the spark of the original 1993 Jurassic Park? Only in flashes. But it’s entertaining, competently made, and occasionally clever. If nothing else, it makes you wonder what the world would actually look like if dinosaurs were just part of the everyday scenery—an idea that perhaps deserves its own, more focused film.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)
A visually impressive but narratively safe return to a world we’ve visited many times before.
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