By Uzma Sahar 
Jurassic World: Rebirth is off to a thunderous start at the domestic box office, earning $30.5 million on Wednesday, its first official day of release.
Released just ahead of the July 4th holiday surge, Universal’s dino epic hopes to build momentum going into the long weekend. Forecasts suggest the film may reach $133 million over five days, with an estimated $80 million haul by Sunday night.
Although these are strong numbers, they fall short of the towering performance of earlier franchise entries. In its heyday, Jurassic World (2015) pulled in a massive $208 million in its opening weekend. Fallen Kingdom (2018) earned $148 million, and Dominion (2022) debuted to $145 million.
Still, Rebirth brings new energy. With Scarlett Johansson stepping into the lead role as Zora Bennett, the movie introduces a bold narrative shift. Her character, a former mercenary, leads a covert team to extract genetic material from the most dangerous dinosaurs still in existence.
Jonathan Bailey co-stars as a dinosaur specialist, while Mahershala Ali brings his gravitas to the role of the team’s tactical expert. The film’s narrative intensifies when an innocent family strays into the dinosaur zone, forcing a chaotic rescue.
Rebirth was made with a reported budget of $180 million, excluding promotional expenses. Directed by Gareth Edwards, known for Rogue One, the film delivers high-stakes action and visually immersive sequences.
Initial audience reactions have been favorable, with viewers praising the film’s new direction and cast dynamics. Whether the film can reach profitability or match the scale of its predecessors remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the dinosaur legacy continues to roar at the box office.