Dinosaurs still rule the earth, especially when it comes to the box office. Universal’s Jurassic World: Rebirth lit up the July 4th box office with a thunderous $91.5 million domestic debut. Adding in its Wednesday opening, the five-day total soared to $147.3 million, making it one of the strongest franchise launches of the year.
Despite lukewarm critical reception (51% on Rotten Tomatoes), Rebirth proved audiences still have an appetite for genetically modified mayhem. With a 72% audience score and plenty of spectacle, the film’s early global total of $318.3 million puts it well on the path toward profitability, having been produced for $180 million. To break even, it needs to hit around $450 million worldwide.
This is the seventh film in the Jurassic franchise and the fourth installment in the Jurassic World era. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, Godzilla) and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Rebirth introduces an all-new cast led by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. The story is set on the mysterious Ile Saint Hubert, where a team must extract DNA from mutant dinosaurs to develop life-saving medications. It’s a premise more sci-fi thriller than traditional theme park terror.
Critics have largely shrugged, with The New York Times calling it “a straight monster movie with zero awe or prestige,” while Rolling Stone lamented its “by-the-numbers” approach despite having “a better-than-average filmmaker at the helm.” But audiences seem more forgiving, perhaps buoyed by nostalgia and star power.
For context, here’s how Rebirth stacks up against previous Jurassic World films:
- Jurassic World (2015): $208.8M opening / $1.67B worldwide
- Fallen Kingdom (2018): $148.0M opening / $1.31B worldwide
- Dominion (2022): $145.1M opening / $1.00B worldwide
F1: THE MOVIE Holds Steady in Second Place
Warner Bros. and Apple Original Films’ F1: The Movie held its own in its second weekend with $26.1 million, bringing its domestic total to $109.5 million and a global tally of $293.6 million. Starring Brad Pitt, the high-octane racing drama has managed to expand beyond its core demographic, with 52% of ticket buyers being women and 33% under the age of 25.
F1 is tracking ahead of previous genre benchmark Ford v Ferrari, which had earned just $57.7M after ten days. Apple’s theatrical-first strategy seems to be paying off, with plans to move the film to Apple TV+ this fall. For now, its strong audience score (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) suggests a long summer runway.
How to Train Your Dragon Still Flying High
Universal’s live-action/animated hybrid How to Train Your Dragon landed in third place with $11.0 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic total to $224 million—already outperforming all three previous entries in the franchise at this point in release.
ELIO Struggles for Pixar
On the flip side, Pixar’s Elio continues to underwhelm. The film dropped 45% in its third weekend to land at just $5.7 million, bringing its domestic cume to $55.1 million—the lowest ever for a Pixar film at this stage. For comparison, even Lightyear had crossed $105M by this point in 2022.
28 Years Later Fading Fast
Sony’s horror sequel 28 Years Later dropped another 53% in its third frame, adding $4.6 million and bringing its total to $60.2 million domestic. Despite strong reviews (90% critics on Rotten Tomatoes), the sharp weekend drops signal a tough road ahead for profitability.
Looking Ahead: Superman Takes Flight
With Jurassic World: Rebirth now roaring through theaters and F1 holding momentum, next weekend’s wild card is DC Studios’ Superman. Industry projections suggest it could eclipse the entire box office of this same weekend in 2024 ($123M) all on its own. If that happens, July 2025 may shape up as a historic turning point for theatrical.
As of July 3rd, the 2025 box office stands at $4.12 billion, up 14% from 2024, but still only 72% of 2019 totals—a sign that recovery continues, but full strength has yet to be reached.
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How to Train Your Dragon burns Box Office competition
