Jurassic World Rebirth Debuts Amid Mixed Reviews, Director Notes Waning Dinosaur Interest

Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, is set five years after Jurassic World Dominion in a world where dinosaurs have largely disappeared due to climate change, disease, and public disinterest. The film explores this decline by acknowledging early on that audiences may no longer be captivated by dinosaurs, which is reflected in the story's premise and the closing of dinosaur parks. Critics have given the movie mixed reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 57%, praising its special effects and tension but criticizing the story and human characters for lacking depth and emotional connection. The film attempts to pay homage to the original 1993 Jurassic Park, with screenwriter David Koepp and producer Steven Spielberg involved, aiming to capture the spirit and tone of the classic, though many feel it falls short of the original's nostalgic impact. The plot centers on a mission to a forbidden island, Île Saint-Hubert, to extract dinosaur DNA for medical purposes, highlighting themes of survival and secrecy in a changed world. Despite the lukewarm reception, the film represents a fresh take on the franchise that reflects modern cinema's challenges with revitalizing familiar franchises.