‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Stumbles Out of the Gate with Weak Reviews — One of the Lowest Scores in the Series

Jurassic World Rebirth is finally here, and the early word isn’t great. The movie, directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, is supposed to be a fresh chapter in the Jurassic Park saga. But according to critics, it’s already falling flat.

Rotten Tomatoes has the film sitting at just 54% right now, based on 92 reviews. That’s not a small number; a lot of critics have already seen it, and most of them don’t seem too impressed.

One critic didn’t hold back at all, simply saying, “It’s bad.” Others were a bit more detailed, but not much kinder. Some liked that it had a bit of an old-school adventure vibe, but even those reviews pointed out problems.

One reviewer from IndieWire said, “There’s a certain B-movie charm in how it embraces classic action-adventure tropes, leaning into its role as a jungle-set creature feature. But the in-between moments tend to lag.”

The movie follows a group of people messing with dinosaur DNA again, hoping to make money. Of course, things go wrong — surprise, surprise. Some critics joked that this plot could also describe how the movie itself was made.

Scarlett Johansson stars in the lead role, alongside Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Ed Skrein. The acting isn’t being praised across the board. One critic called Johansson’s performance “distractingly bad,” and said the film felt like it was just repeating old ideas.

Another reviewer added, “A visually stunning, but overlong sequel with ephemeral thrills, lack of imagination and a distractingly bad performance by Scarlett Johansson.”

A few critics pointed out that the movie is actually better when no one is speaking. One review said, “When nobody is talking in Jurassic World Rebirth, the movie is at its best.”

Some even think this could be the end of the road for the franchise. A writer from The Playlist said, “What is truly amazing to me about this movie is that it is not only not a rebirth… or a re-set… or anything that takes the series to another place. It screams that it is the end of the entire franchise… which is unlikely, but it’s what’s in the movie.”

There’s a certain B-movie charm in how it embraces classic action-adventure tropes, leaning into its role as a jungle-set creature feature. But the in-between moments tend to lag.

Trace Sauveur

The story of a group of people hoping for a big paycheck by repurposing existing DNA without considering the consequences of what they’re doing. That’s the plot synopsis and a recap of the film’s production.

Sean P. Means

When nobody is talking in Jurassic World Rebirth, the movie is at its best.

Jason Flatt

A visually stunning, but overlong sequel with ephemeral thrills, lack of imagination and a distractingly bad performance by Scarlett Johansson.

Avi Offer

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should

Stephen A. Russell

What is truly amazing to me about this movie is that it is not only not a rebirth… or a re-set… or anything that takes the series to another place. It screams that it is the end of the entire franchise… which is unlikely, but it’s what’s in the movie.

David Poland

Not every review is negative, though. A few people actually enjoyed it. One called it, “a rip-roaring, entertaining stomp back to the heart of the franchise.” Another said, “As it is this might be the best sequel to a Jurassic film that Steven Spielberg didn’t direct, it reminds us that there is an awe and wonder to dinosaurs that turns even the most hardened adult into a little kid.”

Even some of the more positive takes admitted the film has a slow and messy beginning. One critic said, “After a rough and clunky start introducing its characters, Rebirth turns goofy but fun once the dinosaurs arrive, much like most of the Jurassic sequels. Would I like more at this point? Sure. But this is still delivering what has worked for this series.”

Jurassic World Rebirth is a rip-roaring, entertaining stomp back to the heart of the franchise.

Dulcie Pearce

As it is this might be the best sequel to a Jurassic film that Steven Spielberg didn’t direct, it reminds us that there is an awe and wonder to dinosaurs that turns even the most hardened adult into a little kid.

Paul Klein

After a rough and clunky start introducing its characters, Rebirth turns goofy but fun once the dinosaurs arrive, much like most of the Jurassic sequels. Would I like more at this point? Sure. But this is still delivering what has worked for this series.

Eric Goldman

There are only fleeting attempts at depth and meaning in REBIRTH’s characterizations…it is [director Gareth] Edwards’ achievement that he keeps the excitement and fear factor cooking nonetheless.

Michael Gingold

The dinosaurs may be dying again, but here with the admittedly overstuffed Jurassic World Rebirth, Edwards has breathed new life into the franchise through some clever mutations of his own while understanding how to craft Spielbergian wonder and adventure

Robert Kojder

The plot is straightforward: get the samples and get out alive. But that doesn’t stop the film from being entertaining. [Full review in Spanish]

Custodio Guerrero

Jurassic World Rebirth had its world premiere on June 17, 2025, in London and opens in U.S. and Canadian theaters on July 2. With fans now getting their chance to see it, we’ll find out soon if audiences agree with the critics, or if this dino-sized sequel can still surprise everyone.

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