‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ First Reactions: Back from Extinction or Stumbling Out the Gate? Fans & Critics Are Divided

The dinos are back, but the audience is well and truly split. Early reactions to Jurassic World Rebirth are in, and the verdict is anything but unanimous. While some are calling the latest installment a bold return to form, others feel the franchise may have overstayed its welcome.

Directed by Rogue One and Godzilla filmmaker Gareth Edwards, Rebirth stars Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. The story picks up five years after Jurassic World Dominion, sending a new group of characters to a remote island where mutated dinosaurs, castaways from the original Jurassic Park project have evolved unchecked. The film is set for wide release on July 2.

Initial reactions range from glowing to glum. Variety’s Jazz Tangcay praised the movie on X (Twitter), calling it “a roaring triumph and perfect entry into the franchise.” She added, “Loved all the new dinosaurs and boy, are some scary. Get ready to fall in love with Dolores. Loved it and what a beautiful homage to the original.” Collider’s Perri Nemiroff was equally enthusiastic, writing, “#JurassicWorldRebirth is a winner! Gareth Edwards knew just how to bring a Jurassic story to screen.” She noted the director’s use of practical effects, stating, “Those digital elements work especially well here because Edwards knew exactly how to ensure the film still had that reach-out-and-touch-it texture — particularly by choosing to film in real locations and shoot the movie on film.”

But others weren’t as charmed. Variety’s Clayton Davis summed up his thoughts with a shrug: “Welp…#JurassicWorldRebirth is a movie. It has that going for it.” YouTube critic John Flickinger also voiced disappointment, saying, “It’s a string of forgettable scenes that go nowhere. The characters are dull, there’s zero chemistry, and I found myself rooting for the dinosaurs just to feel something.”

Even fans seemed torn. One viewer said the film was “shallow and an unnecessary entry in the Jurassic Park universe,” adding, “The action and the cool cinematic shots doesn’t help the film overcome the GLARING flaws within its characters and the bland narrative.” Another called it “gorgeous” and said, “The dinosaurs are AWESOME, and Jonathan Bailey may be one of my new favorite actors.”

With Rebirth bringing back Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp and boasting a high-profile cast, expectations were naturally high. Whether this one earns its place in the franchise—or gets lost in the jungle—may depend entirely on the viewer.

Jurassic World: Rebirth is set to hit theaters on July 2.

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