Like it or not, Jurassic Park isn’t going extinct anytime soon.

Universal Pictures knows it has a cinematic goldmine on its hands. Despite widespread criticism of the Jurassic World trilogy, all three films grossed over a billion dollars each, thanks to the franchise’s undeniable iconography and the world’s endless love for dinosaurs. So, the studio isn’t slowing down. But with Jurassic World Rebirth arriving July 2, 2025 there’s hope this beloved franchise may finally evolve into something new… and maybe even great.

Back to Survival: Koepp Returns, Edwards Takes the Helm

After the chaotic mess that was Jurassic World Dominion (2022), Universal wisely handed the reins back to David Koepp, the original screenwriter behind Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World (1997). His mission? Strip the series back to its core themes: survival, wonder, and dread.

Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, The Creator) takes over as director, bringing with him a gritty, tactile visual style and proven studio experience. He’s the ideal filmmaker to handle massive dino-scale stakes while grounding them in human emotion and he doesn’t disappoint.

A New Setting, A Desperate Mission

Set five years after Dominion, Rebirth imagines a world where dinosaurs are once again dying off due to climate change. They now only survive in tropical zones near the equator areas that are legally off-limits to humans. That setup alone adds fresh urgency to the franchise.

Enter Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert ops mercenary hired by pharma-giant ParkerGenix to recover DNA from three massive dino-survivors: a Mosasaurus, Titanosaurus, and Quetzalcoatlus. Why? Supposedly, their genes could unlock a miracle drug capable of curing terminal illnesses including cancer.

Zora assembles a ragtag crew that includes her old comrade Duncan Kincaid (played with cool gravitas by Mahershala Ali), embarking on a dangerous mission to Ile Saint-Hubert, a dino-infested island that hides a secret…

Mutants, Mercenaries & Missed Opportunities

That secret? A forgotten InGen laboratory once used to cook up hybrid mutant dinosaurs for the Jurassic World park. Yes, we’re talking genetically engineered nightmares.

Chief among them is the Distortus rex a six-limbed monstrosity that looks like a twisted fusion of a T. rex, a Xenomorph, and a Rancor. It’s the centerpiece of the film’s marketing, but here’s the catch: it’s woefully underused. The D-Rex doesn’t truly shine until the final act, and by then, its presence feels like more of a toy commercial than a thematic threat.

Also introduced are the Mutadons flying raptor hybrids that offer brief thrills but little substance. These creatures are fun, but unlike the Indominus Rex or Indoraptor, they don’t carry a narrative weight. They’re cannon fodder, albeit cool-looking.

The Family Angle That Might Surprise You

What the trailers won’t show you is the film’s biggest risk: a subplot involving a shipwrecked Latino family.

Zora’s squad crosses paths with Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia Rulfo) and his two daughters strong-willed Teresa (Luna Blaise) and sweet Isabella (Audrina Miranda) along with Teresa’s awkward boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono). While Xavier’s jokes sometimes fall flat, the family brings real heart and stakes to the film. It’s not just about dinosaurs anymore it’s about the human cost of greed and survival.

And yes, there’s a tiny dino companion: a baby Aquilops named Dolores, who bonds with little Isabella. Think “Baby Yoda meets The Land Before Time,” and somehow, it works.

A-List Cast That Actually Delivers

Let’s be real big stars often phone it in for blockbusters like this. Not here.

Johansson, Ali, and Jonathan Bailey (as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis) deliver surprisingly heartfelt performances. They don’t just react to green screens they sell the wonder, terror, and emotional weight of their characters’ journeys. Their chemistry elevates every set piece and makes the film feel alive in a way the previous trilogy never quite managed.

Bailey, in particular, nails the quirky but passionate scientist archetype, channeling just enough Goldblum energy without going full chaos-theory.

Edwards’ Visual Mastery Jurassic Has Never Looked This Good

From Thailand’s lush jungles to stormy ocean sequences and temple ruins swarming with flying predators, Rebirth is visually stunning.

Edwards shoots on 35mm film with cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven), giving the film a grounded, textured feel. The action is thrilling, the suspense unbearable at times, and the sense of prehistoric awe is fully intact.

A river raft chase involving a T-Rex adapted from Michael Crichton’s original novel is a highlight, as is a nerve-wracking egg retrieval sequence involving the sky-dominating Quetzalcoatlus.

Final Verdict: Life Still Finds a Way

Jurassic World Rebirth isn’t perfect. Its mutants are undercooked, the comedy doesn’t always land, and some story beats feel familiar. But for the first time in a long while, this franchise is pulsing with real creative energy.

It dares to ask big questions. It grounds its spectacle in character. And most importantly, it reminds us why we fell in love with dinosaurs in the first place.

With Gareth Edwards behind the camera and David Koepp back at the keyboard, Rebirth gives this aging franchise something it’s lacked for years: a reason to exist beyond the box office.

Jurassic World Rebirth Film Details

• Release Date: July 2, 2025
• Director: Gareth Edwards
• Writer: David Koepp
• Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda
• Composer: Alexandre Desplat
• Runtime: 134 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Produced by: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Kennedy/Marshall Company