Three decades after Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park forever changed the creature feature genre, dinosaurs are once again stampeding across cinema screens in a pair of films that are sparking nostalgia, debate, and a new wave of dino-mania. Jurassic World Rebirth, the latest entry in the iconic franchise, has taken a familiar formula and injected it with fresh—and sometimes surprising—nods to its literary roots. Meanwhile, the Australian-made Primitive War has burst onto the scene, drawing both critical praise and lively comparisons to Spielberg’s legacy.
Released in August 2025, Jurassic World Rebirth is written by David Koepp, the scribe behind both the original Jurassic Park and its first sequel, The Lost World. According to Screen Rant, Koepp’s script doesn’t just revisit familiar territory—it actively mines Michael Crichton’s novels for moments never before brought to life on screen. One such moment has become the talk of the franchise’s devoted fan base: the infamous Snickers candy wrapper incident.
The film opens on Île Saint Hubert, a new island setting where genetic experiments have spawned a menagerie of mutant dinosaurs, including the terrifying D-Rex—a beast that looks more like a Rancor from Star Wars than any known prehistoric creature. During a routine inspection, a scientist named Williams absentmindedly eats a Snickers bar and drops the wrapper, which gets sucked into the airlock for the D-Rex’s pen. The resulting system failure traps Williams inside with the monstrous dinosaur, a sequence that is both horrifying and darkly comic.
This seemingly absurd plot twist is actually a direct homage to a moment from Crichton’s 1995 novel The Lost World, as Screen Rant points out. In the book, chocolate wrappers attract velociraptors to the High Hide, a concealed observation platform, after another character carelessly leaves them behind. The film’s Snickers scene, then, is more than just a bit of product placement—it’s a clever nod to the franchise’s literary origins and a reminder that, in the world of Jurassic Park, human carelessness is often the real monster. As the article wryly notes, "life finds a way, and man's own carelessness can often be their undoing."
The consequences of this blunder echo throughout Rebirth. The laboratory is abandoned after the incident, leaving the D-Rex free to escape and terrorize the film’s protagonists in a climactic chase. The film’s embrace of such chaos is vintage Jurassic—but with a twist that rewards die-hard fans who remember the novels as well as the films.
While Rebirth treads familiar ground, it also introduces new faces and fresh visual flair. One standout is Dr. Henry Loomis, played by Jonathan Bailey. Loomis’ look has become a sensation among cosplayers and style aficionados alike. According to Jurassic-Pedia, his wardrobe is a meticulously curated blend of rugged practicality and subtle callbacks to the franchise’s history. Loomis wears an olive Mowbray Tailored Shirt by Barbour (now discontinued but with many similar alternatives), a Filson waxed canvas "oil tin cloth" vest with artful distressing, and khaki Knockabout Traditional Fit Cargo Pants from Lands’ End, tailored for a slim fit by costume designer Sammy Sheldon.
His gear doesn’t stop there. Loomis carries a Taw 2.0 Waxed Canvas Rolltop Backpack from Kovered, stripped of its branding and adorned with a custom patch. On his feet are Oliver Sweeney Laxfield dark tan waxed leather boots, distinguished by their Vibram soles and double lace hooks. Loomis’ accessories include silver Cubitts Plimsoll Glasses with unique hexagonal rims, a plain brown leather belt, and speckled woolen socks. In a direct connection to Jurassic Park lore, he carries a Udig folding trowel in a leather holster—the very same prop used by Dr. Alan Grant in the original film, a detail confirmed by the film’s costume designer.
For those interested in the finer details, Loomis sports an Omega Seamaster Railmaster-Steel watch with a leather band, though Gentleman’s Quarterly suggests the Timex Expedition Metal Field Watch as a more affordable alternative. He also carries a Nikon Z fc mirrorless camera and a collection of survival odds and ends, from a silver canister water bottle to Altoids mints (Wintergreen flavor, naturally) and a vintage drum canteen. These touches, while minor, help ground the film’s adventure in a tactile reality that fans of the franchise have come to crave.
But this summer’s dinosaur fever isn’t limited to the Jurassic universe. Primitive War, an Australian sci-fi action horror film, debuted in theaters on August 21, 2025, and has quickly become the talk of the genre. According to Comic Book Resources, the film boasts an 89% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been hailed for its action, dinosaurs, soundtrack, and performances. Some reviewers have gone so far as to call it "better than every single Jurassic movie except for [Jurassic Park] 1, 2 and [Jurassic World] 1," while others declare, "Primitive War is 20x the better movie: more action, more dinosaurs and more terror! This is THE must-see dinosaur movie!!"
Directed by Luke Sparke and based on Ethan Pettus’ 2017 novel, Primitive War blends war, science fiction, and creature feature elements in a story set in Vietnam in 1968. The film follows a recon unit called Vulture Squad as they venture into a remote jungle valley to discover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon—only to encounter dinosaurs and other terrifying creatures. The cast includes Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Jeremy Piven, Anthony Ingruber, Ana Thu Nguyen, and Aaron Glenane.
Early reviews have been enthusiastic. NYC Movie Guru’s Avi Offer calls it a "thrilling, action-packed B-movie movie that blows Jurassic World Rebirth out of the water," while jimschembri.com’s Jim Schembri quips, "If Platoon and Jurassic Park had a love-child Primitive War is what it would look like. Plenty of chomptastic fun here with this big fat serving of masterfully made B-movie mayhem." ScreenSpace’s Simon Foster praises Sparke’s understanding of "what makes for a rattlin’ good B-movie romp," highlighting the cast and the film’s "bang/roar for your buck" effects.
Not all reviews are glowing, however. Bloody Disgusting’s Meagan Navarro criticizes the film for a "bloated runtime overstuffed with tropes yet stretched thin on plot," and finds its tone "surprisingly inert" despite the relentless action. Still, with only six reviews at press time, the critical consensus remains in flux.
Director Luke Sparke, who co-wrote the screenplay with Pettus, told CBR that his military background and love for dinosaurs inspired him to create his own take on the genre, especially since making an official Jurassic Park seemed out of reach. Jeremy Piven, who plays a hard-bitten officer, joked, "I send them into this impossible mission, and my character has seen everything that you can see in war until he discovers a dinosaur tooth... and then he needs his diaper."
As Primitive War continues to draw crowds and comparisons, it’s clear that the appetite for dinosaur-driven adventure is as strong as ever. Whether you’re drawn to the legacy and nostalgia of Jurassic World Rebirth or the adrenaline-fueled chaos of Primitive War, there’s never been a better time for fans of prehistoric thrills to head to the movies.
With studios mining both old and new sources for inspiration, and filmmakers eager to put their own stamp on the dino-movie tradition, audiences can expect the next era of creature features to be as wild, unpredictable, and entertaining as ever.
