Jurassic World: Rebirth, the seventh go-round for the Jurassic Park franchise, is shaping up to be a summer blockbuster, with early projections from Deadline pegging a $115 million to $135 million haul over its five-day July 4th opening. Directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, this reboot is bringing fresh blood to the dino saga, and it’s got the buzz to match. Here’s why Rebirth is set to tear up the box office and what might trip it up.
A New Dino Adventure
Taking place five years after Jurassic World: Dominion (2022), Rebirth ditches the theme park chaos for a high-stakes mission to snag DNA from three giant prehistoric beasts for a medical breakthrough. Scarlett Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a badass covert ops leader, alongside Jonathan Bailey as paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis and Mahershala Ali as her right-hand man Duncan Kincaid. With Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo rounding out the crew, the cast feels like a big win. Gareth Edwards (Rogue One) directs, and Jurassic Park writer David Koepp is back with a script that mixes old-school thrills with a tighter, action-packed vibe, aiming to bring back the wow factor of the 1993 classic.
The Jurassic World trilogy pulled in over $6 billion worldwide, with every film—Jurassic World (2015), Fallen Kingdom (2018), and Dominion (2022)—hitting the $1 billion mark globally. The 2015 reboot scored a massive $208.8 million domestic opening, while Dominion kicked off with $145 million. Rebirth’s $115M-$135M five-day projection is a bit lower but still huge for a Wednesday launch, something the franchise hasn’t done since Jurassic Park III ($85M in 2001).
Why Everyone’s Hyped
Early buzz shows Rebirth pulling in all kinds of fans, with guys and gals both stoked in early polls. Younger crowds, especially guys under 25, are super pumped, with gals in that age group not far behind. The July 4th holiday gives it a long weekend to pack theaters, and let’s be real—dinosaurs are a slam dunk for families and thrill-seekers alike. The trailers are leaning hard into scary, adventure-y vibes, with a T-rex swimming scene that’s got science backing it up, which sounds freaking cool. David Koepp’s return and Edwards’ knack for epic visuals give it serious cred, and Universal’s dropping $265 million on this, so you know it’s gonna look big.
What Could Go Wrong?
It’s not all smooth sailing. The Jurassic World trilogy lost some steam over time, with Dominion pulling $376.8M domestically and a rough 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, hinting folks might be a bit over the dino sequels. Skipping IMAX screenings could hurt its big-screen appeal compared to past films. Plus, it’s up against Universal/Blumhouse’s M3GAN 2.0 and Apple/Warner Bros.’ F1, both eyeing $30M+ openings the weekend before, which could steal some summer moviegoers. The super-fast production—greenlit in January 2024, filming by June—might mean it’s not as polished as it could be, kind of like Jurassic Park III’s messy behind-the-scenes. Still, the new cast and standalone story could dodge the “same old sequel” vibes.
The Big Picture
Rebirth is hitting theaters when the box office needs a boost. After a slow start to 2025, summer heavy-hitters like Rebirth, Superman (July 11), and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25) are set to turn things around, with yearly domestic totals expected to hit $9.3B-$9.5B. Fandango’s poll has Rebirth as the summer’s most hyped movie, beating out Superman and Fantastic Four. With Steven Spielberg exec producing and franchise pros Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley on board, Universal’s banking on Rebirth to kick off the season with a chomp.
The Bottom Line
Jurassic World: Rebirth is looking at a monster $115M-$135M five-day opening, thanks to its holiday slot, killer cast, and dino-powered fun. Sure, there’s a chance of sequel burnout, and competition’s lurking, but its fresh story and wide appeal should fill seats. If it nails the mix of Jurassic Park nostalgia and new-school thrills, Rebirth could rule the July 4th weekend and maybe even the summer.
Think Twice If: You’re done with sequels or really want that IMAX vibe.
Source: Deadline