With Gareth Edwards at the helm of Jurassic World: Rebirth, everyone expected the movie to roar onto screens, but the excitement seems to have faded already, and the latest installment is struggling at the box office. With a July 2, 2025, release, it introduced a fresh slate of characters who go on a DNA-obtaining mission, entering a dinosaur-infested island. 

Scarlett Johansson is headlining the project as Zora, but despite her Marvel star power, ambitious storyline, and striking visuals, the movie has been receiving a lukewarm response. So, let’s dive into what’s going wrong with Jurassic World Rebirth’s reception, and why its long struggle might kill any sequel plans. 

Jurassic World Rebirth has a production budget of $225 million, so it has a long way to go before it’s considered a financial success (via Comic Book News). Previous movies starring Chris Pratt entered the billion-dollar club, but the Scarlett Johansson starrer has opened with just $80 million over three days, and those numbers are raising major concerns about its future. 

Jurassic World (2015)	72%	78%	6.9/10	59	A
Fallen Kingdom (2018)	47%	48%	6.1/10	51	A-
Dominion (2022)	29%	77%	5.6/10	38	A-
Jurassic World Rebirth	51%	72%	6.3/10	52	B

The movie needs to earn around $675 million globally to just break even. Some outlets have predicted that it will hit $133.5 million over five days, but if we compare that to its predecessors like Jurassic World, the 2015 release, which made $208 million ($283 million if adjusted to inflation) during its opening, then Rebirth’s numbers are a clear indication that its underperforming. 

Plus, its mixed critical reception means that word-of-mouth is less likely to boost the feature’s earnings. Unless it shows extraordinary staying power in international markets or benefits from late summer, it’s going to be difficult to even make back what it spent. 

You’d think the Fourth of July holiday would give the film a boost, but history, and this year’s crowded release schedule, say otherwise. Although Jurassic World Rebirth opened mid-week and tried to catch the holiday rush, the timing may have backfired. 

It’s been observed that when Independence Day lands on a Friday, people usually prioritize BBQs, fireworks, and family gateway over movie nights. That’s exactly what seems to have happened here, plus it doesn’t help that F1 hogged all the IMAX screens because it could have been a game-changer for a dinosaur spectacle like Jurassic World Rebirth. 

And if this isn’t enough, Universal is already facing stiff competition ahead, as James Gunn’s DCU is ready to take off with Superman, releasing next week. Early buzz indicates that it could take a huge chunk out of the summer box office. All these factors suggest that things aren’t looking optimistic for the franchise. In an interview with ScreenRant, Gareth Edwards made it clear that he had no plans for a follow-up:

We tried to make this movie like a single standalone… I’ve genuinely never talked about it with anybody. Not a single conversation with David Koepp or Frank Marshall or Universal about a sequel.

That explains why Jurassic World Rebirth feels like a self-contained story. With the director having no intentions to return, and the movie’s poor box office performance, a sequel seems unlikely. Still, it’s too early to count it out because overseas numbers and nostalgia might save the day. So, what do you think about the film’s performance? Should the franchise just end or find a new path forward?