Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) Movie: Gareth Edwards Forgot What Made Jurassic Park Great

The Jurassic Park franchise returns with Jurassic World Rebirth (2025), a science fiction thriller that attempts to breathe new life into the beloved dinosaur saga. Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, this standalone sequel to Jurassic World Dominion (2022) serves as the fourth Jurassic World film and the seventh installment overall in the Jurassic Park franchise.

The film boasts an impressive cast including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein. Work on the film began shortly after the release of Jurassic World Dominion, when executive producer Steven Spielberg recruited Koepp to help him develop a new installment in the series.

Plot and Storyline

Jurassic World Rebirth takes the franchise in a notably different direction from previous installments. The story follows an extraction team seeking genetic samples from massive creatures in a tropical biosphere. The film features Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert operation expert, Mahershala Ali as Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s team leader, and Jonathan Bailey as Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist.

The narrative structure shifts away from the traditional park-based setting that defined earlier films. Instead, it focuses on a mission-driven plot that emphasizes human survival and scientific exploration.

Cast Performance

The film’s greatest strength lies in its exceptional cast, though even these talented performers struggle with the material provided. Despite their best efforts, a wildly overqualified cast can only do so much with what’s not on the page.

Scarlett Johansson brings her characteristic intensity to the role of Zora Bennett, delivering a performance that showcases her action credentials. Mahershala Ali does his best to elevate the material as Duncan Kincaid, though the script doesn’t provide him with the complex character development that would truly showcase his talents.

Visual Effects and Direction

Gareth Edwards, known for his work on films like Godzilla (2014) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), brings his signature style to the Jurassic franchise. His approach to directing emphasizes practical effects and immersive cinematography, creating moments of genuine spectacle.

The visual effects work maintains the high standards expected from a major studio production, with dinosaurs that feel both realistic and menacing. However, the film’s reliance on action sequences sometimes overshadows the awe and wonder that made the original Jurassic Park so compelling.

What Works and What Doesn’t

The film succeeds in several key areas, particularly in its technical execution and visual presentation. The action sequences are well-choreographed and genuinely exciting, providing the thrills that audiences expect from a Jurassic film.

However, the film struggles with its identity crisis. I found that Jurassic World: Rebirth goes into the monster movie route and forgets that it was the splendor and awe of the dinosaur that made the franchise great to begin with.

The pacing suffers from an uneven structure, with periods of intense action followed by slower character moments that feel somewhat disconnected. While the film attempts to explore deeper themes about humanity’s relationship with nature, these elements feel underdeveloped compared to the focus on action and spectacle.

Critical Reception and Public Response

The film has received a mixed response from critics and audiences alike. Critical reviews have noted that the talented cast struggles with limited material, highlighting the challenges faced by even talented performers.

Professional critics have praised the film’s technical achievements while criticizing its narrative shortcomings. The Roger Ebert review particularly noted the disconnect between the cast’s abilities and the script’s limitations.

Audience reactions have been similarly divided, with some appreciating the fresh approach and spectacular action sequences, while others miss the sense of wonder that characterized the original films. The film’s departure from traditional Jurassic Park elements has created a polarizing response among longtime fans.

Final Verdict

Jurassic World Rebirth represents both the potential and the pitfalls of modern franchise filmmaking. While it succeeds as a technical achievement with impressive visual effects and solid action sequences, it struggles to capture the magic that made the original Jurassic Park a cultural phenomenon.

The film’s attempt to reinvent the franchise is admirable, but the execution feels more like a generic action thriller with dinosaurs than a true Jurassic Park experience. Despite the best efforts of its talented cast and crew, the film cannot overcome its fundamental narrative weaknesses.

For fans of the franchise, I believe Jurassic World Rebirth offers enough spectacle and nostalgia to be worth watching, but it falls short of being the revitalizing chapter the series needed. It serves as a reminder that even the most beloved franchises require more than technical excellence and star power to truly succeed.

Rating: 2.5/5