The first reactions to Jurassic World Rebirth are in—and they’re as divided as a pack of raptors deciding whether to attack or retreat. While some critics are hailing Gareth Edwards’ (Rogue One) take on the 32-year-old franchise as a return to form, others argue it’s just another forgettable sequel in a series that refuses to go extinct.
The Praise: “A Triumph” with Practical Magic
For supporters, Rebirth is the shot of adrenaline the franchise needed after Jurassic World Dominion’s messy conclusion.
- Variety’s Jazz Tangcay called it a “roaring triumph,” praising its new dinosaurs (especially one named Dolores) and its “beautiful homage to the original.”
- Collider’s Perri Nemiroff applauded Edwards for balancing CGI with tactile filmmaking: “Rebirth has that reach-out-and-touch-it texture… filmed on real locations and shot on film.”
- The Hollywood Reporter noted the script by Jurassic Park scribe David Koepp “brings back the urgency and wonder” of the early films.
The Pan: “A String of Forgettable Scenes”
Not everyone was charmed by the dino mayhem. Critics who disliked it pointed to thin characters and a lack of stakes:
- YouTube’s John Flickinger (The Flick Pick) slammed it as “blah,” adding: “The characters are dull, there’s zero chemistry, and I found myself rooting for the dinosaurs just to feel something.”
- IndieWire’s David Ehrlich tweeted: *“Another Jurassic movie, another hour of people running from CGI reptiles. At least Scarlett Johansson tries to act her way out of this one.”*
- ScreenCrush’s Matt Singer joked: “If you’ve seen one *Jurassic* movie, you’ve seen them all—except this one has slightly better lighting.”
The Wild Card: Scarlett Johansson’s Passion Project
One thing everyone agrees on? Scarlett Johansson is giving it her all. The actress, who famously slept in a Jurassic Park tent as a kid, plays Dr. Ivy Lockwood, a scientist on a mission to extract dino DNA for a medical breakthrough. Early buzz suggests she’s the standout, with The Wrap calling her “the most compelling human lead since Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm.”
The Big Question: Is It Worth Your Time?
With full reviews under embargo until June 25, the jury’s still out. But here’s what we know:
✅ Dino action delivers (especially a “terrifying” new hybrid species)
✅ Johansson + practical effects = franchise highs
❌ Formulaic plot + underdeveloped side characters = franchise lows
Will you be seeing it opening weekend? Or is this one better left extinct?
P.S. For those keeping score: This marks Koepp’s first Jurassic script since The Lost World (1997)—does that make it a must-see, or are you done with dinos?
RJ Tantoco is a writer and researcher with a passion for all things strange, geeky, and genre-bending. Whether it’s horror slashers, offbeat indie gems, or the latest multiverse mind-bender, RJ dives deep. His writing blends fandom with sharp analysis, offering fresh takes on cult favorites and cinematic oddities alike. When he’s not watching movies, he’s probably studying for his masters or deep on an RPG quest.