Out now to own digitally, and available physically on 9/9, this latest installment in the Jurassic World franchise offers some exciting moments, but mostly what we've seen before. Still, for any fan of the franchise who has grown up with these films since 1993, the awe and wonder, the world Spielberg created, that's enough to warrant taking the expedition with this group of characters back to the island filled with dinosaurs to see who survives.
“A new era is born. A covert extraction team races to the most dangerous place on Earth, an island research facility where dinosaurs too deadly for the original Jurassic Park were left behind. Their mission: collect DNA from three colossal creatures to unlock a drug with huge benefits for humanity. In a terrain populated by perils, they will make a shocking discovery that has been hidden for decades. Iconic action superstar Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali star in this action-packed epic from dynamic director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and writer David Koepp (Jurassic Park).”
It’s hard not to compare any Jurassic World film to Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. That original film wasn’t just a box office success, it was a cultural phenomenon, combining groundbreaking effects with awe, terror, and a superb cast of characters who are exceptionally written. Every sequel since has tried, with varying degrees of success, to capture that same magic. Jurassic World Rebirth is no exception, offering familiar spectacle and solid performances, but ultimately struggling to escape the sense that we’ve seen this all before.
The acting across the board is decent, with a few standout performances elevating the material. Among them is Mahershala Ali, who brings gravitas and quiet intensity to every scene he’s in. He feels completely at home in this franchise, grounding the movie whenever it threatens to become too over-the-top. Scarlett Johansson is strong as well, but the script doesn’t give her the same depth, which makes some of her key emotional beats feel less impactful.
That points to the film’s biggest issue: the characters don’t feel very layered. Much of the backstory is delivered through dialogue that feels forced rather than earned. The clearest example is a conversation between Johansson’s character and Ali’s, where their past connection is spelled out with little subtlety. It’s the type of scene that wants to feel revelatory but instead comes across as mechanical, checking off boxes rather than deepening our understanding of them.
The B-story involving the family that gets swept up in the main characters’ journey works in small doses. At times, it provides some welcome emotional grounding and a reminder of what’s at stake for them. For the rest of the group, it’s about money, for them, only survival. There are some wholesome moments that manage to hit the right note, but as the story progresses, the inclusion of this family feels increasingly like another narrative obligation rather than an organic thread. It’s heartfelt on the surface, but again, doesn’t seem to feel that same emotional depth you feel with character relationships in earlier installments. One thing I always feel is more of an emotional crutch in a story is the inclusion of some kind of animal on the journey the audience can latch onto. In this instance, it’s Dolores, a baby dinosaur that inexplicably joins the family on their journey, often providing life-saving instincts. Although I see through these screenwriting tactics, it’s hard not to have your heartstrings pulled by this tiny CG creation.
Coming from a giant fan of the series, especially the originals, Rebirth is still a thrilling way to spend your time. The dinosaurs look fantastic, with amazing digital effects that give real weight to the action sequences. There are some genuinely tense and heart-pounding sequences, and for fans who come to these films to see prehistoric predators run wild, this entry delivers exactly that. The directing leans more into tension and horror than some of the previous World installments, leaning more into the DNA tampering to make more scary and dangerous dinosaurs, with the ultimate Dino-Baddie looking like something straight from a nightmare.
Video
Presented in 2160p 4K Ultra High Definition with Dolby Vision and HDR10, Jurassic World: Rebirth looks excellent. Fine detail is razor-sharp, from jungle foliage to the scales and skin textures of the dinosaurs themselves. The HDR grading adds real pop to the brighter daylight sequences and maintains strong shadow detail during the darker nighttime set pieces. The wide color gamut makes the lush greens of the jungle and the deep reds of fire-lit destruction stand out beautifully. Grain is minimal and natural, maintaining a cinematic look without looking overly processed. This is a major step up from the standard Blu-ray.
Audio
Presented in Dolby Atmos, the sound design is superb. Dinosaur roars hit with chest-rattling force, and ambient jungle sounds envelop you in the mix. Dialogue is clear, but some may notice that the balance leans heavily into spectacle, occasionally burying quieter character moments. It’s a strong track overall, but like the film itself, it sometimes sacrifices nuance for blunt impact.
Special Features
This 4k set comes with a Blu-ray copy and Digital Code, with over an hour of bonus content included on the 4k disc:
- Alternate Opening
- Deleted Scenes
- Jurassic World Rebirth: Hatching a New Era
- Gag Reel
- Meet Dolores
- Munched: Becoming Dino Food
- A Day at Skywalker Sound
- Hunting for Easter Eggs
- Feature Commentaries
Jurassic World Rebirth is a solid entry in the franchise, though not without flaws. The acting is capable, with Mahershala Ali standing out as one of the best parts of the film. But the characters themselves lack the layers and natural development needed to make their journey resonate. For a film named Rebirth, there unfortunately isn’t much that is new and exciting story-wise.
That said, as a spectacle-driven blockbuster, it delivers what you expect from the Jurassic brand: dinosaurs rendered with awe-inspiring detail, thrilling action sequences, and the occasional spark of genuine wonder, not reaching the heights of the original in that sense, but the beautiful moments are appreciated. This is not the franchise’s finest outing, but still an entertaining ride for fans who want to hear those familiar roars echo once more.
Jurassic World Rebirth is available now to own digitally, and on physical September 9th. This is one to definitely pick up on 4k, with the best video and audio possible.
