Jurassic World: Rebirth boldly reboots the dinosaur series—this time with new characters portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey in the lead role. The three lead roles travel to a remote island on a mission: collect dinosaur DNA for medicine. Director Gareth Edwards states that filming in wild terrain with impossible landscapes like tangled mangrove forests and sheer rocky cliffs drew the franchise back toward hair-raising suspense. This film makes a concerted effort to pay homage to Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park by combining genuine, visceral creature encounters with a human pathos-infused survival resolution.
Hand-On Effects Return
Critics are drawing attention to how much the movie employs practical animatronics over heavy CGI—a direct homage to the awesomeness of the original 1993 Jurassic Park. In their reviews, critics note it has a tactile feel, especially in scenes with smaller, mutated dinos. Many critics argue it brings another level of realism back to the franchise, as the dinosaurs feel like living, breathing creatures rather than just effects. While some outlets (e.g. Collider described it as a ""roaring triumph"") and others feel certain beats of the plot were flat and it was mostly disconnected highlights, rather than a coherent blockbuster.
Jonathan Bailey’s Transformation
Actor Jonathan Bailey, who plays the role of paleogeneticist Dr. Henry Loomis, surprised fans by looking incredibly fit. His physique was even more necessary for the running and action scenes — I mean remember the shot of him in a red tank top doing curls? - he first saw the pic of his co-stars Kelly Marie Tran, who was toned and buff, and Chris Pratt, who was pumped and inspired to bulk up for the role, and because the character called for running, climbing and dinosaur or dinosaur-adjacency chasing. Bailey's dedication comes through in the film, and the limitations of his fitness fuel the film's action, lending a sense of realism to his character's human response of fight or flight.
Mixed First Impressions
Initial reactions are very mixed. Some reviewers hail the movie as an exciting new entry with evocative sound mixing, bold visuals and compelling pacing, while others characterize it as inconsistent, even "forgettable." One reviewer even felt the film hinges on a simple overarching narrative, that felt like a "string of scenes" that often feel disconnected. Social media posts delivered similarly mixed results: either fans feel chilled and invigorated, or shrugging say "that was a movie." There seems to be a decisive split: one either feels the pulse of the prehistoric, or you don't.
Dinosaur Designs Evolve
One highlight is the mutated dinosaur creatures. As anticipated, more bizarre and menacing, the designer beasts here seem inspired by the darker tone of the original film. Edwards and co-writer David Koepp, without losing the addition of world-building, also drew from Michael Crichton's book to include new hybrid creatures, some raptors and some horrifying unknowns. For fans of creature design, there is real value here. Whether they are too terrifying or too gruesome for non-enthusiasts, the mutations follow Edwards' intention to re-subject audiences to fear in the franchise.
Box Office Expectations
With a budget of around $180 million, Rebirth is starting off with lofty expectations. Analysts are projecting opening weekend numbers of between $100 135 million, riding the wave of a July 2 release. But speaking after Dominion, some audience members said word-of-mouth will be critical in deciding whether this returns box office mojo or simply appeases loyal dino-lovers. Universal is hoping that Rebirth returns the magic—and the encouraging early reactions suggest it could—albeit with some qualifiers.
