Jurassic World: Rebirth
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writer: David Koepp
Sequel to: Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, Jurassic World, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Jurassic World: Dominion
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, Ed Skrein
Seen on: 26.7.2025

Plot:
Dinosaurs are roaming the earth now and humanity has arranged itself with them for the most part. There are still some areas, though, that are off-limits. And it is in just such an area that Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) wants to go. He needs specific genetic material to develop a new medication that could change the world. So he hires Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), specialized in getting in and out of places where nobody should be, and scientist Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), who has the necessary expertise to get the material from the right dinosaurs. But the island they are going to is off-limits for a good reason, as they will soon learn.

Jurassic World: Rebirth has its moments and I think enjoyed it more than the other Jurassic World iterations (not Park, though). But that doesn’t really make it a good film.

Jurassic World: Rebirth has a couple of issues. One is the fact that it shoehorns in a subplot revolving around Reuben (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), his daughters Teresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina Miranda), as well as Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono). This plot does very little for the film in general, and is even pretty annoying in its insistence that its major emotional arc is Reuben (and the audience, maybe) realizing that Xavier is not completely useless (only like 95% useless, yay, what a romantic hero). Why not just have the dad and the two daughters? In fact, why have them there at all?

Instead, the film should have probably focused on its main characters and plot. Had they spent a little more time developing the characters there, it might have even paid off to have a cast of that caliber assembled for the film. There are moments here where things actually become fun, especially since Johansson, Bailey, Ali and Friend latch on to any chance the script gives them to banter (it doesn’t give them much else, so it’s understandable).

They are a huge part of what brings some entertainment to the despite messy plotting and pacing, and not just because I am personally relishing a Pratt-free dinosaur movie (and actually very much enjoying the slutty little glasses „discourse“ the film spawned – they certainly work for me). Another part the film absolutely got me with, and I know, it’s kinda cheap, is Dolores. I want this tiny dino at home, I am certain she would get along well with my dog.

More importantly though, and I think that’s most of what made me like the film so much more than the other installments in the World part of the franchise, the film brings awe back to the dinosaurs. They are not just scary monsters who can fight and terrify, they are also amazing creatures and it is still a wonder to see them. Not just in this world – even for the audience. So, while the film is not qualitatively good in many ways, it is beautiful (the cinematography, the score, the dinos themselves) – and that is great.

Summarizing: a flawed film, but dinosaurs!