The Jurassic franchise has long been a towering presence in blockbuster cinema, roaring to life with Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park in 1993 — a film that revolutionized visual effects and redefined what moviegoers could expect from on-screen creatures. Over three decades and several sequels later, Universal Pictures is once again resurrecting dinosaurs for the big screen with Jurassic World Rebirth — a film that both honors its roots and attempts to push the franchise in a slightly new direction.
But while Rebirth delivers jaw-dropping visual spectacle and thrilling dinosaur action sequences — hallmarks of any Jurassic entry — early reviews suggest that beneath its meticulously rendered scales and teeth lies a narrative that some critics feel is frustratingly shallow. Starring Scarlett Johansson in her first Jurassic outing, alongside Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali, Rebirth is shaping up to be a classic blockbuster that dazzles the eyes but divides audiences when it comes to storytelling depth.
How ‘Rebirth’ Was Conceived
After Jurassic World Dominion (2022) closed out the last trilogy with a mixed reception — praised for nostalgic callbacks but panned for an overcrowded plot and a reliance on familiar beats — Universal needed to decide what was next for its billion-dollar dinosaur brand. The decision was to pivot: instead of pushing forward with more direct sequels, the studio greenlit Rebirth as a “soft reboot” — not a complete overhaul, but a fresh story with new characters and a somewhat new thematic focus.
The idea was to re-capture the primal awe and edge-of-your-seat suspense that made the original Jurassic Park a classic — practical effects, more suspenseful dinosaur encounters, and a slightly smaller-scale human story. Universal tapped David Koepp, the original screenwriter of Jurassic Park and The Lost World, to write the script — an attempt to return to the series’ narrative DNA. Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One) was brought in to direct — known for his ability to blend huge visual scale with grounded human perspectives.
A Story Set in Familiar but New Territory
Jurassic World Rebirth does not pick up directly from Dominion, nor does it bring back the same legacy characters. Instead, it drops audiences into a fresh crisis. The plot centers on a remote island that has become home to newly bioengineered dinosaurs — but unlike Isla Nublar, this isn’t a flashy theme park. Instead, the setting is raw, dangerous, and more grounded in the “what if nature reclaims everything” horror that Michael Crichton’s original novel explored.
Scarlett Johansson plays Dr. Claire Markham, a bioethicist drawn into a corporate experiment gone wrong. Jonathan Bailey plays a wildlife rescue expert forced to navigate the island’s harsh ecosystem. Mahershala Ali appears as a morally conflicted scientist whose secretive research fuels the dinosaur resurgence. Together, they must navigate deadly terrain, confront moral questions about genetic power, and survive terrifying new predators.
Critics have noted that Rebirth leans into tension — there are suspenseful chase scenes, long moments of dread, and plenty of practical effects to give the dinosaurs more tangible presence. But the film, by most accounts, stops short of exploring its themes with any real complexity.
The Cast: A Fresh Ensemble
Casting Johansson was a headline move — the Oscar-nominated actress brings star power and a strong action pedigree from the Marvel universe. Many early reviews agree that she grounds the film with a credible performance, though her character reportedly doesn’t get as much depth as her fans might hope for.
Jonathan Bailey, known for Bridgerton and Fellow Travelers, brings charm and what some critics call “flirtatious chemistry” with Johansson. Mahershala Ali, an actor who elevates any script, is praised for giving gravitas to a role that could easily feel like a cliché “mad scientist” part.
Unlike previous Jurassic entries that tried to juggle too many returning characters, Rebirth focuses squarely on this trio, letting them carry the emotional stakes — at least on paper. In practice, some reviewers feel that the script doesn’t give these characters enough space to become truly compelling.
Visual Effects: The True Stars
Where Jurassic World Rebirth undeniably soars is its visual execution. From lush jungle settings to storm-lashed coastlines and cavernous dinosaur lairs, the production design aims for realism and raw beauty. Gareth Edwards, known for favoring practical effects blended with CGI, worked closely with legacy animatronic teams and new VFX houses to ensure the dinosaurs look and feel alive.
Fans of the original Jurassic Park will appreciate that many dinosaur close-ups use practical puppetry enhanced digitally, giving the creatures weight and presence that fully CGI beasts often lack. Action sequences blend old-school tension with modern spectacle — think torch-lit stalks through jungle brush, underwater reptile attacks, and stampedes that feel massive but tactile.
In interviews, Edwards has said he wanted audiences to “believe these animals really exist, not just as threats, but as living parts of the world.” By all accounts, he succeeded — even skeptical critics agree the creature effects are breathtaking.
The Franchise Dilemma
Every Jurassic sequel has wrestled with the same tension: how do you repeat the magic of Spielberg’s original while justifying your own existence? The first film was about the arrogance of humans tampering with nature. The second (The Lost World) leaned into the wild chaos that follows. Jurassic World (2015) reimagined the idea for a modern theme park age, drawing massive crowds but also criticism for its thin characters and heavy reliance on bigger, badder dinosaurs.
By the time Dominion arrived, many fans felt the franchise was repeating itself. Rebirth tries to reset this pattern by scaling back the global stakes and returning to the “isolated nightmare” scenario — but for some critics, that step backward doesn’t go far enough to break new ground.
