Review: 'Jurassic World Rebirth' marks a competent, if unremarkable, return to the world of dinosaurs
Gareth Edwards brings visual spectacle and a fresh cast to the franchise’s latest reboot, but thin storytelling and repetitive structure keep this prehistoric adventure from evolving.
If there’s one thing more inevitable than life finding a way in the “Jurassic” franchise, it’s Universal finding a way to reboot this dinosaur money machine every few years.
"Jurassic World Rebirth" is the latest effort to revive the franchise – or dare I say rebirth it – and while it’s more coherent than the genetically spliced nonsense that rounded out the Pratt-saga, it still struggles to justify its own existence beyond “Hey, remember dinosaurs?”
After hitting theaters in June, “Rebirth” is now available on digital and releases Sept. 9 on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray with over one hour of exclusive bonus content, including never-before-seen deleted scenes, an alternate opening & behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Set five years after 2022’s "Dominion," the film trades theme parks and corporate sabotage for something more expeditionary. A scientific crew, led by no-nonsense survivalist, Zora (Scarlett Johansson), ventures into remote equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric beasts. The mission? Use their genetic material to unlock a groundbreaking medical cure. But all that pales in comparison to the multi-million-dollar payday – except for altruistic scientist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey).
At the helm is Gareth Edwards, who is known for one thing: spectacle. From “Godzilla” to "Rogue One" and "The Creator,” the man knows how to take your breath away on screen. "Rebirth" leans firmly toward the latter when it comes to narrative, though. Visually? Impressive. Dinosaurs stomp through impossibly lush landscapes, and one standout set piece at sea genuinely had me invested. But once the dino dust settles, you’re left with a very pretty shell of a movie that doesn’t have much soul under the surface.
The structure becomes the biggest offender. The core narrative of retrieving DNA from three beasts starts off strong, but when you’re seeing it take place for the third time in 90 minutes, it gets a bit stale. And just when you’re ready to sink into a rhythm with the crew led by Johansson, Bailey and Mahershala Ali, the story keeps cutting away to a secondary crew who contribute little besides runtime. These cutaways zap the momentum every single time and deliver little payoff.
Still, the central cast keeps things afloat. Johansson is in full action-hero mode and gets to flex her physicality in a way that feels more grounded than her Marvel days. Bailey brings some levity and warmth, while Rupert Friend slots in nicely as the group’s morally ambiguous wildcard.
There’s enough to enjoy in "Jurassic World Rebirth" – some solid horror inspiration, beautiful visuals and the fact that dinosaurs still kick ass – but it never feels like it has anything new to say. It plays the hits, and it plays them just fine. But once the credits roll and the roar fades, don’t be surprised if the details already start slipping from your brain.
If the past is any indication, this is probably the peak before the inevitable nosedive of any future sequels. So enjoy this brief moment of dino-clarity while it lasts. Just don’t expect it to evolve beyond serviceable popcorn entertainment.
Star Rating: 2.5 out of 5
“Jurassic World Rebirth” is now available on digital and releases Sept. 9 on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray.
Bonus Features:
Alternate Opening
Deleted Scenes
Raptors
Mutadon Attack
Jurassic World Rebirth: Hatching a New Era
The World Evolves - Journey into a reimagined Jurassic World with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali and the rest of the cast and filmmakers.
Off the Deep End - Dive into the thrilling ocean sequence and learn about the challenges of shooting on open water, the one-of-a-kind gimbal used to toss around the Essex and Mariposa, and the VFX wizardry that brought the Mosasaurus and Spinosaurs to life.
Trekking Through Thailand - Follow the cast and crew’s footsteps as they navigate the challenges of shooting in exotic jungles, beaches, and tall grass fields that become home to the Titanosaurs.
Rex in the Rapids - Brace for a T. Rex encounter that’s different than anything experienced before with a nail-biting river chase recreated from Michael Crichton’s original “Jurassic Park” novel.
Don’t Look Down - Soar into the Quetzalcoatlus sequence with Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Bechir Sylvain as they train for and shoot their cliff rappelling scenes.
Mini-Mart Mayhem - Go inside the heart-stopping third act of “Jurassic World Rebirth” and witness the process of crafting sets that allow the movie’s mutant dinosaurs to step out of nightmare-inspired designs and stop on an exhilarating rampage.
Gag Reel
Meet Dolores - Meet the animatronic Aquilops with an extraordinarily lifelike personality.
Munched: Becoming Dino Food - Get a victim’s firsthand view inside the frightening jaws of deadly dinosaurs that munch, chomp, and chew their way into creating unforgettable death sequences.
A Day at Skywalker Sound – Actress Audrina Miranda guides a personal tour of Skywalker Sound in California to meet the audio editors, foley artists, and mixers who design the movie’s wide array of sounds.
Hunting for Easter Eggs - find out where to look for cleverly hidden Easter eggs that pay homage to everything from the first “Jurassic Park” film to other Steven Spielberg classics.
Feature Commentary with director Gareth Edwards, production designer James Clyne, and first assistant director Jack Ravenscroft
Feature Commentary with director Gareth Edwards, editor Jabez Olssen, and visual effects supervisor David Vickery
