🎬 Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) Review – A Return to Dino Mayhem with Mixed Results
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action-Adventure
Director: Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One)
Cast: Scarlett Johansson (Zora Bennett), Mahershala Ali (Duncan Kincaid), Jonathan Bailey (Dr. Henry Loomis), Rupert Friend (Martin Krebs)
Release Date: July 2, 2025 – Theatrical (Universal)
Runtime: 134 minutes (turn0search41)
Budget / Box Office: ~Projected $120–130M 5-day domestic opening, follows a declining trend in franchise earnings (turn0search2, turn0search11); early critical average ~53% RT, Metacritic ~50.5 (turn0search4, turn0search39).
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1. 📽️ Introduction & Context (~200 words)
Jurassic World: Rebirth marks the seventh installment in the Jurassic Park saga, directed by Gareth Edwards and scripted by David Koepp. Set five years after Dominion, it relocates to an isolated island where dinosaur population has dwindled dramatically. Led by covert operative Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), the mission is simple: extract viable dinosaur DNA to develop lifesaving pharmaceuticals. But when mutated dinosaurs, including a six-limbed Distortus Rex, threaten the team, the expedition crashes into chaos. The film is self-aware, embracing blockbuster motivations and openly referencing blockbuster paychecks and commercial drives (turn0news18), while delivering callbacks to the 1993 classic (Jurassic Park) for nostalgic fan appeal (turn0news20).
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2. 🧬 Plot Overview & Action Set Pieces (~300 words)
The story begins as Zora’s expedition, backed by pharmaceutical mogul Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), lands on Ile Saint-Hubert. Zora is supported by marine specialist Duncan Kincaid and paleogeneticist Dr. Henry Loomis. Their mission: harvest dinosaur blood for heart disease treatments.
First encounter: mutated genetic hybrids like the Distortus Rex, six-limbed and gorilla-like, and Mutadon, a raptor-pterosaur hybrid capable of flight—and mayhem (turn0news21). A secondary subplot follows a family stranded at sea who gets caught between Kincaid's team and the creatures, emphasizing collateral human peril (turn0news26).
Back to the core plot: Loomis reveals he studied under Dr. Alan Grant, linking the film to original lore. Three key action sequences structure the narrative:
1. Temple Takedown – team vs. Distortus Rex in a desecrated site.
2. Mutadon Ambush – aerial attack during a night foray.
3. Boat Escape & Sea Monster – a tense watery showdown blending raptors and giant Titanosaurus.
Callbacks abound: the reflection of lamps in mirrors, raptor ambushes in kitchens, and falling banners mimic iconic moments past, while dinosaurs once again star as protagonists—not just background threats (turn0news23, turn0news20, turn0news23).
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3. 🎥 Visuals & Cinematography (~200 words)
Edwards brings stunning production value with immersive cinematography. Lush island jungles, dilapidated temples, and cavernous labs are vividly detailed. The digital sets—often reminiscent of Jurassic Park circa ’93—are elevated with crisp lighting and dynamic camera work capturing creature detail. Though the CGI is occasionally inconsistent (sea monster's textures sometimes flat), the hybrid dinos—especially Distortus Rex and Mutadon—often appear frightening and fresh (turn0news21, turn0news26).
Critics have noted this is “easily the best-looking, best-sounding” entry since the original, thanks partly to crisp sound design and immersive visuals (turn0search4, turn0search5, turn0search39, turn0search15). The colorful environment contrasts grim horror, maintaining the franchise’s signature balance of wonder and impending terror.
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4. 🎭 Performances & Characterization (~200 words)
Scarlett Johansson injects presence as Zora Bennett—confident, self-aware, and flawed—a refresh from previous Jurassic leads. She anchors the film’s emotional core.
Jonathan Bailey’s Dr. Loomis adds legacy link by studying under Dr. Grant; his scholarly skepticism provides grounded relatability.
Mahershala Ali offers grounded resilience as ship captain Duncan, though his character arc remains understated.
Rupert Friend plays the corporate villain Kredit with intensity, though critique suggests the character lacks depth.
Supporting cast—like the stranded family—draws some empathy, though critics report they feel overly disposable (turn0news26).
Critical consensus describes characters as serviceable: sufficient for thrills, but hardly transformative (turn0search4, turn0search9, turn0search38).
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5. 🎬 Direction & Script (~150 words)
Edwards balances epic set pieces with nostalgic homages, while Koepp wraps the story back to classic roots. This results in thrilling action but formulaic structure. Critics called it “fragmented and derivative”—a familiar summer blockbuster packaged inside Jurassic branding (turn0search9, turn0search38). Yet some agree it’s the strongest entry since the original, despite narrative thinness (turn0search4, turn0search23, turn0search9).
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6. 🎧 Sound & Score (~100 words)
Though Alexandre Desplat (2025 German wiki) is listed, the actual score evokes John Williams-style sweeping themes interwoven with pulsing drumming and jungle ambiance. Sound design—roars, footfalls, crashes—enhance tension, making the film audible and visceral (turn0search5, turn0news23).
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7. 🧠 Themes & Legacy Connection (~150 words)
The franchise returns to core themes: man vs dinosaur, ethical science, and corporate greed, albeit oddly repackaged as a pharmaceutical morality tale. While homage scenes delight long-time fans (turn0news20), critics argue it lacks fresh thematic insight (turn0search38). The film remains a cautionary tale about unnatural evolution but adds little new beyond spectacle.
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