Jurassic World Rebirth Review: Familiar Footsteps and Missed Opportunities

Familiar Footsteps in a Franchise Built on Evolution

As a lifelong fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, I went into Jurassic World: Rebirth with cautious hope. With a new subtitle promising a fresh direction, I was ready for the franchise to finally break new ground, boldly evolving while honoring the DNA of what made it so captivating in the first place. Unfortunately, while the film offers moments of fun and a few sparks of potential, it ultimately feels like more of the same: a glossy repackage of familiar ideas, told with little of the daring that once made this franchise revolutionary.

That’s not to say Rebirth is without merit. If you’re looking for big-screen dinosaur spectacle, it certainly delivers. The visual effects remain top-tier, and there are a handful of well-executed set pieces that show just how far creature design and cinematography have come. There’s one particular jungle chase sequence and an underwater encounter that stand out as highlights—both pulse-pounding and visually thrilling.

And of course, there’s still a nostalgic charm in hearing that unforgettable John Williams theme swell as we’re introduced to a new generation of dinosaur chaos. The sound design is immersive, and the scale of the film feels as large as ever. But great visuals and nostalgic cues can only carry a film so far.

The biggest letdown here is the story. Rather than taking the franchise in a new direction, Rebirth largely plays it safe. The film revisits many of the same beats we’ve seen before: man meddling with nature, corporate greed outpacing ethical responsibility, dinosaurs on the loose, and humans scrambling to clean up the mess. It’s not that these themes are tired, it’s that they’re underdeveloped. The plot doesn’t dive deeper into any new moral dilemmas or philosophical explorations. It simply dusts off the old rulebook and runs another lap around the island.

Where Rebirth does start to shine is in its introduction of new characters. The ensemble brings a fresh energy to the screen—young, diverse, and full of potential. There’s a real sense that this cast could carry future entries forward if given stronger material. Their chemistry works, and a few emotional beats between characters hint at what could have been a deeper, more character-driven story. Unfortunately, even these promising newcomers often find themselves falling into familiar traps, archetypes we’ve seen before, making the same poor decisions their predecessors made, just in shinier clothes.

One thing that’s become apparent over time is how central the human element is to a Jurassic film’s success. The original movie succeeded not just because of the dinosaurs, but because it cared about the people. Here, while the cast does their best, the script doesn’t give them enough depth. There’s a lot of reacting, a lot of running, but not much growth. And without emotional stakes, even the most exciting sequences lose impact.

Visually, the film is strong, with a healthy mix of practical effects and digital artistry. The dinosaurs look great, and some of the newer species introduced here are a welcome addition. But what’s missing is that sense of awe, that Spielbergian wonder that made us feel like we were truly witnessing something extraordinary. In Rebirth, those moments are fleeting.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect is that the film flirts with ideas that could have taken the series in exciting new directions, hints of shifting ecosystems, global consequences, and the moral fallout of a world permanently altered by genetic manipulation. But none of it is explored with the depth it deserves.

In a franchise literally built on the concept of evolution, Jurassic World: Rebirth feels like it's standing still. There’s no major leap forward, no redefinition of the franchise. It's a decent popcorn flick, sure, and longtime fans will still find things to enjoy. But it’s hard not to feel like the series is running out of creative steam—relying more on echoes of the past than forging a bold path into the future.