Jurassic World Rebirth has roared back into theaters, reigniting the awe and majesty that fans of the franchise have long craved. With its release, the film reconnects deeply with the roots of the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World sagas, now streaming on Peacock, while introducing fresh thrills and characters that breathe new life into the dinosaur mythos.
At the heart of this revival is screenwriter David Koepp, who penned the original Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park. His return to the franchise’s narrative helm, alongside director Gareth Edwards—famed for his work on 2014’s Godzilla—and director of photography John Mathieson, has helped recapture the visual grandeur and storytelling magic that made the original film a blockbuster sensation. Steven Spielberg, whose influence has shaped the series since its inception, executive-produced Rebirth, ensuring a continuity of vision that honors the franchise’s legacy.
The story unfolds predominantly on Ile Saint-Hubert, a tropical island that once served as an InGen research and development facility, much like the better-known Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna (Site B). This setting, steeped in scientific hubris, features electrified fences charged with 10,000 volts—an ominous reminder of humanity’s failed attempts to control nature. The film’s opening prologue sets the tone with a seemingly trivial event: an errant Snickers wrapper causes a catastrophic security breach, allowing the terrifying Distortus Rex, a grotesque mutant dinosaur inspired by the Alien franchise’s Xenomorph and Star Wars’ Rancor, to escape containment. This incident forces a hasty evacuation nearly two decades before the modern-day events of the film.
In a striking scene that blends the prehistoric with the contemporary, Martin Krebs, portrayed by Rupert Friend, finds himself stuck in a New York City traffic jam caused by one of the last remaining dinosaurs in North America. This moment is laced with subtle nods to the franchise’s origins, including a school bus labeled "Crichton Middle School," honoring Michael Crichton, the late author whose novels birthed the Jurassic saga. A billboard advertising Jeep, the iconic vehicle brand synonymous with the original park tours, further ties the new story to its cinematic heritage.
Rebirth’s narrative centers on a high-stakes heist-like mission to extract DNA from three colossal Cretaceous-period creatures: the flying Quetzalcoatlus, the aquatic Mosasaurus, and the land-based Titanosaurus. This DNA, sought by the pharmaceutical giant ParkerGenix, is touted as a potential cure for cardiac disease, hinging on complex properties of dinosaur hemoglobin. The catch? The dinosaurs must be alive during extraction, setting the stage for thrilling encounters and perilous expeditions.
Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali star as Zora Bennett and Duncan Kincaid, security and extraction specialists hired to retrieve this genetic treasure for a hefty sum of $10 million. Their mission is complicated when they cross paths with a shipwrecked family—a father, his two daughters Teresa and Isabella Delgado (played by Luna Blaise and Audrina Miranda), and Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier (David Iacono). This group adds layers of humanity and humor, as well as classic Jurassic peril, to the unfolding adventure.
The film expertly intertwines new and familiar elements. Isabella’s yellow rain slicker is a clever homage to Dennis Nedry’s iconic outfit from the original 1993 film, while Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist played by Jonathan Bailey, connects to the franchise’s past by having studied under Alan Grant and embarking on digs since childhood. His childlike wonder upon encountering the massive Titanosaurus echoes Grant’s awe in the original, underscored by John Williams’ legendary score.
One of the film’s standout sequences is a pulse-pounding chase where the Delgado family is pursued by a ravenous T. rex while navigating churning rapids in a rubber raft—a thrilling adaptation of a scene from Crichton’s novel that Koepp had long hoped to bring to life. Later, a tense standoff unfolds in a gas station convenience store, where the group faces off against Mutadons—frightening hybrids of raptors and pterodactyls—in a scene that pays tribute to the original film’s iconic kitchen sequence.
Isabella emerges as an unexpected hero, slipping through bars to open gates and save her companions from the winged predators. Meanwhile, Krebs’s greed leads to a grisly fate reminiscent of Nedry’s demise; he is torn apart by the Distortus Rex on the docks, leaving behind only a severed arm in a torn shirt sleeve—an eerie echo of the original film’s chilling moments.
The climax features Duncan Kincaid’s selfless act of distracting the monstrous D-Rex with a red flare, drawing the beast away from Zora, Loomis, and the Delgado family. This act of bravery adds emotional weight, as Kincaid seeks redemption for losing his own son, highlighting the human cost woven throughout the dinosaur chaos.
Beyond its gripping plot, Jurassic World Rebirth dazzles with its visual storytelling. Filmed amidst Thailand’s breathtaking landscapes—including waterfalls, grassy plains, shoreline caves, and mangrove swamps—the movie immerses viewers in a vivid, living world where dinosaurs roam freely. The creatures themselves are rendered with remarkable detail and realism, from a dozing T. rex along a riverbed to twisting aquatic predators, showcasing their raw power and majesty.
A particularly memorable moment captures a pair of long-tailed Tyrannosauruses entwining their necks, an intimate and almost tender display underscored by Williams’ iconic theme. This scene evokes a sense of timelessness and natural beauty amid the human struggle to control these ancient beings.
The film also weaves in playful motifs, such as candy appearing throughout—from the Snickers wrapper that triggers disaster to licorice fed to a baby dinosaur and a character’s penchant for Altoids—adding a quirky human touch to the high-stakes drama.
Jurassic World Rebirth doesn’t shy away from darker territory, introducing genetically altered "freaks"—mutated hybrids that roam the abandoned research facility. Among them is a massive 20,000-pound T. rex with a misshapen head and a terrifying roar, injecting a monster-movie vibe that expands the franchise’s scope and thrills.
Ultimately, Jurassic World Rebirth succeeds in its ambitious goal: to honor the spirit of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 original while charting a new course for the franchise. It balances nostalgia with innovation, blending heart-pounding action, emotional depth, and stunning visuals to remind audiences why these prehistoric giants continue to captivate our imaginations.
