The Jurassic World franchise continues to draw crowds as its latest entry, Jurassic World: Rebirth, opened to a solid $30.5 million at the North American box office on Wednesday.
This performance places the film on course for a $133 million five-day holiday frame, according to analysts. With Independence Day weekend around the corner, box office numbers are likely to climb steadily, offering the film a strong chance to establish its standing among summer hits.
However, Rebirth enters theaters under the shadow of its powerful predecessors. The original Jurassic World set box office records in 2015 with a $208 million debut. Its sequels also performed strongly, with Fallen Kingdom and Dominion opening to $148 million and $145 million respectively.
Despite the slightly lower projections, Rebirth stands out thanks to its new direction and cast. Scarlett Johansson headlines the movie as Zora Bennett, a tactical leader with a mission to steal DNA from the franchise’s three apex dinosaurs.
Jonathan Bailey plays Henry, a top-tier dinosaur scientist, while Mahershala Ali takes on the role of Duncan, a seasoned operations strategist. Together, they face unforeseen obstacles when a civilian family gets caught in the crossfire of their mission.
The movie, directed by Gareth Edwards, features visually gripping set pieces and a darker tone, differentiating it from the earlier trilogy. With a production budget nearing $180 million, Universal is banking on the global market and holiday crowds to push the film into profitable territory.
Industry insiders are also closely watching international numbers, where the franchise has historically performed well, especially in markets like China and South Korea.
