Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic World Rebirth poster courtesy of Universal Pictures. © Universal Pictures

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025): A Visually Bold but Hollow Franchise Revival

Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) attempts to revive the Jurassic franchise. However, despite striking visuals and strong performances, the film struggles with thin characters and predictable plotting.

Set five years after Jurassic World Dominion, the story isolates surviving dinosaurs in equatorial exclusion zones. Consequently, a covert extraction team travels to a forbidden island to retrieve dinosaur DNA for a heart disease treatment. Meanwhile, a shipwrecked family complicates the mission, forcing everyone into a brutal survival scenario.

A Soft Reboot That Almost Works

At first, Rebirth feels like a refreshing reset. Instead of another global dinosaur crisis, the film narrows its focus to one dangerous island. As a result, the stakes feel more immediate and contained. Moreover, Koepp adapts unused material from Michael Crichton’s novels, including a tense river raft chase with a T-Rex. This sequence delivers the film’s strongest suspense and channels the terror of Jurassic Park. However, while the survival-horror tone shows promise, the script never fully commits to psychological depth. Instead, it rushes through big ideas without meaningful exploration.

Gareth Edwards’ Visual Style Elevates the Action

alt="Behind‑the‑scenes photo from 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' showing director Gareth Edwards on set near a large practical dinosaur prop while discussing a shot with crew beside a waterfront location." — Director Gareth Edwards (center; pointing) on the set of JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH. Jurassic World Rebirth 2025 courtesy of Universal Pictures. © Universal Pictures

Visually, Rebirth stands out. Edwards shoots on 35mm anamorphic film, giving the movie a textured, cinematic look. Additionally, he films in real jungles and waterfalls, which ground the dinosaur chaos in tangible environments. Furthermore, he favors wide compositions and restrained reveals. Smoke, mist, and shadows build tension before dinosaurs strike.

Consequently, several action scenes feel immersive and intense. Yet despite these strengths, excessive CGI often undermines the realism. Some creatures look weightless, and inconsistent scale disrupts immersion. Therefore, the spectacle feels uneven.

Strong Cast, Weak Character Development

alt="Behind‑the‑scenes photo from 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' showing Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett crouched in tall grass with a clapperboard visible in the foreground." — Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Jurassic World Rebirth courtesy of Universal Pictures. © Universal Pictures

The cast features serious talent, including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey. Johansson commands the screen with confidence and authority. Likewise, Ali brings gravitas and emotional weight to his role. Meanwhile, Bailey adds warmth and charm that humanizes the chaos.

However, the screenplay gives them little substance. Backstories feel vague, and motivations lack complexity. As a result, emotional moments rarely land with full impact. Even the antagonist, played by Rupert Friend, feels underwritten despite a strong premise involving corporate greed.

alt="Behind‑the‑scenes photo from 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' showing Scarlett Johansson and other cast members standing in shallow jungle water wearing tactical gear during a scene setup." — Scarlett Johansson is skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, directed by Gareth Edwards. Jurassic World Rebirth 2025 courtesy of Universal Pictures. © Universal Pictures

The Family Subplot Slows the Momentum

Initially, the shipwrecked Delgado family raises the stakes. Their fear feels raw and relatable. In particular, their involvement in the T-Rex river chase intensifies the danger.Nevertheless, the subplot drags the pacing. Frequent cutaways interrupt tension and stretch the runtime. Moreover, contrived conflicts dilute urgency. Consequently, the film loses momentum during key stretches.

Themes Feel Timely but Underdeveloped

To its credit, Rebirth shifts focus from theme park capitalism to pharmaceutical exploitation. The fictional corporation seeks dinosaur DNA for profit, raising ethical questions about ownership and access to medical breakthroughs. Additionally, mutant dinosaurs symbolize reckless genetic tampering. These creatures highlight humanity’s obsession with control. However, the film introduces these ideas without fully exploring them. Instead of layered commentary, viewers receive surface-level messaging. Therefore, the thematic ambition exceeds execution.

Final Verdict: Spectacle Over Substance

Ultimately, Jurassic World Rebirth delivers impressive visuals and isolated thrills. Edwards injects scale and atmosphere into several standout sequences. However, weak character writing and formulaic storytelling prevent true franchise rebirth. Although the movie respects its roots, it rarely captures the awe and terror that defined Jurassic Park. In conclusion, Jurassic World Rebirth offers blockbuster entertainment but lacks emotional depth and narrative risk. Hardcore franchise fans may enjoy the spectacle. Casual viewers, however, may find this sequel visually bold yet dramatically hollow.