Jurassic World Rebirth stormed into cinemas on July 2, 2025, roaring with ambition and promising a bold new chapter in the saga. Departing from the global dinosaur spectacle of Jurassic World Dominion, the latest installment refocuses on a stealthy, tactical mission led by Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) and a diverse team including Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey. The team’s objective is to secure dinosaur DNA with life-saving pharmaceutical potential. However, what they discover is far darker. A clandestine experiment has yielded mutant dinosaurs hiding behind walls of secrecy, shifting the franchise’s tone into uneasy sci-fi territory.
Under the direction of Gareth Edwards and crafted by screenwriter David Koepp, Rebirth blends intense action, practical effects, and moral complexity. Building on the legacy set by Dominion, Rebirth seems intent on resetting the franchise’s direction entirely. From mutated creatures to new heroes, and its blend of horror and science fiction, the film feels much more than another sequel. It almost feels like Rebirth is laying the groundwork for a new Jurassic universe. Could this be Universal’s bold new path forward?
Are Mutant Dinosaurs the Future of the ‘Jurassic’ Franchise?
They Shouldn’t Be a Gimmick
From the moment the camera pans on the terrifying D-Rex and the screeching ptero-raptor hybrids known as Mutadons, Rebirth signals a tonal shift, one that steers the franchise into sci-fi territory in ways previously unexplored. These mutated dinosaurs stem not from cloning mishaps but from direct, covert experimentation. The chilling new species introduced in the film suggests a clear departure from the series’ grounded science into more experimental, horror-tinged territory. Speaking to GamesRadar+, director Gareth Edwards himself admitted:
“I guess we sort of pushed it a little bit further on this one. I kept waiting for [producer] Frank Marshall to tap me on the shoulder and say, ‘This is a family movie, Gareth.’…I think we just pushed it a little bit harder than before, and I was kind of amazed that we were allowed to go that far.”
This fresh horror-meets-sci-fi angle does more than just visually expand the franchise. It works to set up potential narrative spin-offs. With these mutants quarantined to an off-limits island, there is enough space for stories involving rogue scientists, more black-market DNA, and moral dilemmas about what qualifies as a living creature in the Jurassic world. Rebirth itself delves into this. Characters stumble upon hidden labs and long-abandoned research outposts that suggest decades of unethical experimentation, leaving plenty of thematic threads to explore.
That said, some critics have questioned whether this pivot is a bold reinvention or franchise overreach. As a result, the film has been receiving mixed reviews. If Universal wants this mutant subgenre to be a lasting pillar, the studio will likely need to invest in deeper world-building, focusing on scientific logic, ethical stakes, and plausible consequences. With the right development, these engineered beasts could drive a whole new Jurassic mythology. However, without it, they risk becoming little more than thrilling, toothy gimmicks.
Can the New Team Anchor a ‘Jurassic’ Reboot?
Stepping into the spotlight, Scarlett Johansson’s Zora becomes one of the franchise’s sharpest and most capable protagonists. Accompanied by Mahershala Ali’s morally grounded captain and Jonathan Bailey’s enthusiastic paleontologist, the film stakes its survival on character-driven drama as much as dinosaur mayhem. Each cast member brings a distinct voice. While Zora embodies disciplined resolve, Bailey’s Henry adds nerdy curiosity, and Ali’s Duncan brings a quiet conscience. Their chemistry and tactical dynamics refresh the franchise, giving audiences new emotional roots to invest in.
Both the (relatively) grounded tone of Rebirth and its strong character ensemble have received positive feedback from critics. In fact, the film shines brightest when it slows down to foster human connection, as seen in scenes where Henry cradles a dinosaur egg and Zora leans into her protective instincts. These moments give Jurassic World Rebirth a sense of heart and meaning that extends beyond the monster scenes.
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Additionally, the talented new cast also represents opportunities for spin-offs and standalone arcs. It becomes easy to imagine narratives where Zora’s clean-up unit confronts abandoned labs, or Henry leads excavation digs in historically rich fossil sites, each with mutated dino tangents. However, caution remains key. Universal must commit to more fleshed-out character arcs, rather than just franchise proliferation. If Johansson, Ali, and Bailey remain central and well-developed, audiences may rally around this fresh era, ushering in a Jurassic reboot that is part gear-grinding adventure, part moral drama, and wholly compelling.
Should ‘Jurassic’ Lean Into Mutation or Maintain Spectacle?
Jurassic World Rebirth consciously diverges from the blockbuster spectacle of dinosaurs roaming cities, opting instead to confine them to equatorial islands under tight human control. This approach amplifies both the suspense and ethical tension. As Edwards admitted, the film pushes the horror further than previous installments, leaning into atmosphere and dread, making the film a stylistic gamble that redefines Jurassic as darker, more intimate, and morally fraught.
However, this is exactly what has led to a division among viewers. On the one hand, long-time viewers feel alienated by the film’s narrower scope and the absence of the sprawling set pieces seen in Dominion. Some critics argue that formulaic beats, such as the predictable child-forms-connection-with-dinosaur trope, feel overused and tired. Others, however, have welcomed Rebirth as a creative resurgence. According to People Magazine, “Rebirth is one of the best films in the whole Jurassic franchise.” This polarity highlights a crossroads for the franchise: should it stick to spectacle or dive deeper?
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The optimal path may lie in blending evolution with tradition, maintaining enough dinosaur rampage to satisfy spectacle cravings, while weaving in mutant science and grounded character arcs. A hybrid model could preserve blockbuster thrills while allowing for serialized exploration in spin-offs, such as a global hunt for mutant containment or a political thriller involving biotechnology regulation.
Ultimately, the challenge for Universal is to strike a balance. If they choose to evolve too drastically, they risk alienating legacy fans. However, if they do not evolve enough, they run the risk of stagnation, resulting in extremely disappointing films like Dominion. Rebirth is the perfect foundation for a middle ground, given its spectacle that is refined through science, horror, and moral inquiry, risking just enough to make future installments worth rooting for. Jurassic World Rebirth is now playing in theaters.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
