Jurassic World Rebirth Review (2025): Scarlett Johansson stars in this franchise reset, with Gareth Edwards bringing fresh thrills, practical dinosaurs, and emotional weight. Read the full verdict.

Jurassic World Rebirth Review: The Franchise Finds Its Roar Again

Jurassic World Rebirth marks the seventh entry in the iconic dinosaur franchise that began with Jurassic Park in 1993. With the bar set sky-high and recent installments (Fallen Kingdom, Dominion) falling short of expectations, fans have been skeptical—until now. Jurassic World Rebirth manages the rare feat of being both a reset and a respectful continuation, guided by director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, Godzilla) and screenwriter David Koepp, returning to the series after penning the original two films.

The result is a leaner, smarter, and more emotionally grounded dinosaur movie that doesn’t roar just for the sake of noise—it means every scream, bite, and moral question it throws your way.

Plot Summary: Dinosaurs, DNA, and a Doomed Mission

Set years after the collapse of dinosaur integration into the modern world, Jurassic World Rebirth opens with most prehistoric creatures now extinct in the wild. However, one isolated haven remains—Île Saint Hubert, a Caribbean island hiding the last surviving dinosaurs.

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A shadowy biotech company sends an elite team to retrieve DNA samples from three species—land, sea, and air. Enter Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), a battle-hardened covert ops leader; Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), a philosophical paleontologist; and Captain Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), a tormented seafarer. As their mission unfolds, they encounter not only natural threats but a genetically modified apex predator known as Distortus Rex—and a stranded family caught in the crossfire.

What Works: Jurassic Rebirth Gets the Basics Right

1. A Cast That Elevates the Genre

Scarlett Johansson shines as Zora—strong, silent, and believable without needing an overwritten backstory.
Mahershala Ali brings gravitas and grief, turning every line into an emotional beat.
Jonathan Bailey is the franchise’s new heart—his genuine curiosity reminds us of Sam Neill’s Dr. Grant but with a modern twist.

2. Practical Effects and Tension-Driven Direction

Gareth Edwards returns to the franchise’s Spielbergian roots, emphasizing awe and suspense over pure spectacle. Practical dinosaurs, wide shots, and atmospheric lighting deliver some of the most tense and beautiful scenes in the series since 1993.

Notable moments:

A Titanosaur herd at sunrise that stuns both characters and audiences.
A Distortus Rex scene in a flooded jungle that rivals the T-Rex breakout from the original.

3. Clean Script and Narrative Focus

David Koepp’s return as screenwriter brings a cohesive, character-first narrative. No bloated subplots or shoehorned legacy cameos—this is new blood, both literally and figuratively.

What Falls Short: Familiar Territory and Missed Emotion

Despite all its strengths, Jurassic World Rebirth isn’t flawless.

1. Repetitive Structure

The basic premise—a team enters an island, corporate betrayal follows, people get eaten—is painfully familiar. Some action scenes mirror iconic set pieces without the originality of their predecessors.

2. Emotional Disconnect in Key Moments

Certain awe-inspired scenes—like a soaring aerial shot of a dinosaur herd—feel more like CGI wallpaper than moments of wonder. Unlike the original’s Brachiosaurus scene, these lack character connection.

3. Overloaded Themes, Underdeveloped Arcs

While the film ambitiously touches on corporate greed, ethics in science, grief, and family, it spreads itself thin. Some characters, like Xavier (David Iacono), hint at redemption arcs that feel rushed or incomplete.

Verdict: A Reboot Done Right, But Not Reinvented

🦕 Jurassic World Rebirth is not revolutionary—but it resets the franchise with respect and restraint. It’s a return to fundamentals: practical thrills, compelling new characters, and a genuine effort to honor what made Jurassic Park iconic.

Gareth Edwards doesn’t try to out-roar the past. Instead, he listens—to the silence, to the tension, to the human heart—and delivers a movie that’s more grounded than grand, but more satisfying than spectacle.

As a standalone adventure, it works beautifully. As a final chapter, it’s a worthy close. Whether it leads to a new trilogy or not, fans can rest easy knowing that extinction has been postponed—for now.