AtanariaAfter two disappointing outings, the Jurassic World series seemed destined for extinction. Fallen Kingdom (2018) was a soggy mess, Dominion (2022) a joyless trudge. Few expected anything fresh from a saga that had traded awe for noise. But Jurassic World: Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards and written by franchise veteran David Koepp, has pulled off an improbable feat: it makes dinosaurs thrilling again.
Back to Basics, Back to the Island
From its opening flashback—rewriting recent history with a brisk “seventeen years earlier” reset—Rebirth wastes no time in returning to what made Spielberg’s original work: simple stakes, likable characters, and tension you can chew on. In the present day, dinosaurs have largely died out, save for a few surviving on the verdant, treacherous Île Saint Hubert. Enter a shady pharmaceutical giant, led by Rupert Friend’s smarmily sinister Martin Krebs, who sends a special team to harvest dinosaur blood for its lucrative medical potential.
Johansson Leads with Bite
Scarlett Johansson anchors the film as Zora Bennett, an ex-military leader whose sharp wit and unshakable cool give the film its center of gravity. Her dynamic with Jonathan Bailey’s shy, cerebral Dr. Henry Loomis is a delight—part romantic comedy, part odd-couple banter. Mahershala Ali brings easygoing charm as Duncan Kincaid, a boat captain with more nerve than luck, while a parallel family-in-peril subplot offers familiar Jurassic emotional beats.
Spielberg Thrills, Modern Confidence
Edwards leans hard into Spielbergian craftsmanship: slow, dread-filled turns toward unseen predators, sudden bursts of chaos, and yes, a hilariously doomed “security guy” (Ed Skrein) whose arrogance practically invites his grisly fate. The set pieces feel earned rather than obligatory, and the humor lands without undermining the danger.
The Right Note to Go Out On
Not everything is perfect—there’s some heavy-handed product placement, and the plot doesn’t stray far from the franchise’s comfort zone—but Rebirth knows exactly what it is. It’s a crowd-pleasing adventure, buoyed by sharp performances, zippy pacing, and a tonal confidence that’s been missing for years.
If this is the final chapter, it’s the right note to go out on: roaring, romantic, and endlessly fun. After all, survival isn’t just for the smartest—it’s for the ones who still know how to put on a show.
