Jurassic World Rebirth: Reviews Are Mixed, But There’s 1 Thing Critics Can Agree On

By Daniel Welsh

While the combination of Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson might be a guaranteed seat-filler when Jurassic World Rebirth hits cinemas next week, whether or not it’s worth the trip to the cinema depends on which critic you ask.

The first reviews are out for the latest instalment in the Jurassic Park series, with the most glowing suggesting that Rebirth is the best movie in the franchise since the original.

Others are somewhat less impressed, though, suggesting that the latest iteration pales in comparison to the best in the series – and questioning whether it even needs to exist in the first place.

And while one thing critics can seem to agree on is that Rebirth manages to hit many of the same beats as the best films in the franchise, they’re less unanimous on whether that’s a strength or weakness.

Here’s a selection of what is being said about Jurassic World Rebirth so far…

“Entertaining as it can be at times, stripped of the silliness that tainted the second trilogy (but also the saga-advancing narrative), Rebirth doesn’t necessarily make the same case for itself. The movie offers an updated version of the same basic ride Spielberg offered 32 years earlier, and yet, it hardly feels essential to the series’ overall mythology, nor does it signal where the franchise could be headed.”

BBC Culture (2/5)

“There is a definite whiff of staleness about the latest Jurassic film […] Jurassic World Rebirth has major stars in Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, and better-designed creatures than ever, but so few thrills that it may be the weakest of the Jurassic franchise.”

The Guardian (4/5)

“What a comeback […] against all odds, these dinosaurs have had a brand refresh: a brighter, breezier, funnier, incomparably better acted and better written film, with unashamed nods to the summer smashes of yesteryear, that makes sense of the dino-spectacle moments that earn their place.”

Empire (3/5)

“It’s not doing much daring or different but this delivers a fun, well-made summer theme-park ride, with fast highs and slow lows. Pleasurable, though it doesn’t linger.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“There are some mighty new monsters on the prowl, but this is primarily an assembly of recycled story beats.”

Time Out (3/5)

“The best dinosaur action since Spielberg […] the Rebirth in this Jurassic World sequel’s title is apt because this seventh entry is a renaissance of sorts for a franchise that looked ready to curl up and turn to fossil.”

The Independent (4/5)

“[Jonathan Bailey is as] charming as usual (see: Wicked, Bridgerton, his entire back catalogue), but also crucially nails the ‘man who dedicated his life to dinosaurs sees a dinosaur for the first time’ sequence. Former dinosaur kids may shed a tear or two.”

Radio Times (4/5)

“Despite its popularity, [the Jurassic Park movies have] never quite seen any subsequent entry top that 1993 masterpiece. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the first British filmmaker to join the franchise, Rebirth comes close. A loving tribute to the spirit of the original, it’s easily the best Jurassic in a decade.”

IndieWire (C-)

“Rebirth doesn’t do itself any favours by so frequently harkening back to the original. Bad as some of the previous sequels have been, none of them have been so eager to measure themselves against Spielberg’s masterpiece […] The Jurassic sequels were bad enough when they made an effort to evolve — they’re even less worth seeing now that they already come pre-fossilised.”

The Telegraph (5/5)

“Easily the best film in the series since the original […] Jurassic World Rebirth is a giddy resurrection for a franchise many had feared extinct. While technically the seventh in the series about cloned dinosaurs running amok, it feels like a brand new thrill ride.”

“Audiences may not have run out of enthusiasm for what the Jurassic Worlds are selling, or at least they haven’t yet, but the people tasked with making them sure are out of ideas. Rebirth, as though fulfilling its franchise’s own prophecy, really does manage to be boring.”

Little White Lies

“Even working at full pelt, there’s just too much that’s wrong and silly and derivative about this tired, tired run-out. The actors are competent; there are a few tasty zingers; the effects are seamless. But the whole enterprise just feels like the same thing we’ve seen over and over again.”

“A cold-blooded clone in which wonder has gone extinct […] Hold on to your water glasses because you can hear the plot of Jurassic World Rebirth coming from a mile away.”

“There’s a disappointing amount of ‘same old thing’ to Jurassic World Rebirth. Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and the rest of the cast are intriguing and sympathetic throughout, but Gareth Edwards doesn’t quite recapture his signature flair for grand-scale visuals nor does David Koepp find the magic of his original Jurassic Park screenplay,”

Jurassic World Rebirth is in cinemas from Wednesday 2 July.

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