Over the Fourth of July weekend, Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth stormed to the top with an astonishing $147 million in American ticket sales, growing on 2022’s earnings. This shattered estimates and almost matched the 2022 sequel the film was supposed to follow.
It pushed apart its rival F1, which made around 26 million, expecting strong weekly performance. Analysts did start to wonder about the summer slate though, predicting hits like Superman, or Fantastic Four: First Steps. Overall, compared to last year, the box office increased by 14%, making this one of 2025’s busiest summer seasons.
The T-Rex Raft Escape Scene
Recently Mulligan lauded director Gareth Edwards for some of the bold choices he took as a director saying that he has a great understanding of the audience. The standout scene happens while the family is trapped on a raft, with a sleeping T-Rex actively menacing beside them.
As previously mentioned, the scene “was refined” when viewers were puzzled at the raft inflating “right beside the dinosaur”, so a clever edit was inserted where the T-Rex disappearing so suddenly adds the wow factor to the reveal. The calm waters of Thailand’s quarry lake and rapids of England’s Lee Valley provided the freezing waters required, constantly pushing the actors to new limits.
A Near-Death, Then Survival: The Ending Change
Initially, villain-turned-hero Duncan, portrayed by Mahershala Ali, was supposed to perish in the climactic duel with the fearsome Distortus rex. Duncan’s character sacrifices himself when his helicopter gets destroyed while igniting a flare to distract the dinosaur. Yet, in Ali’s case, he had a different vision and requested his character live, a change supported by the studio and test screenings. This alteration adds to a powerful yet hopeful conclusion, softening the thundering sacrifice-infused roar with relief and hope.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Domestic Box Office | $147 million in first five days |
| Historical Franchise | 7th film; original from 1993 made ~$924 million ($2 billion adjusted) |
| Audience Reaction Scene | Raft-T-Rex gag added after test screening |
| Ending Revision | Changed from tragic death to rescue with flare distraction |
Why It Matters
- This film proves that even a franchise over 30 years old can still thrill audiences.
- Its smart editing choices show how test screenings shape the final cut.
- The star-driven ending update highlights the growing role of actor feedback in big movies.
Final Take
Jurassic World Rebirth delivers blockbuster returns, tense thrills, and smart filmmaking decisions. From record-breaking box office numbers to a pulse-pounding T-Rex raft scene — and a more hopeful hero’s ending — this film truly earns its roar.
FAQ
Q: Is Jurassic World Rebirth doing well at the box office?
Yes — it made $147 million over the July 4 weekend, exceeding expectations.
Q: What’s the famous T-Rex scene?
A: A family escapes on a raft over rapids with a sleeping T-Rex lurking nearby. Clever cuts keep the dinosaur mystery high.
Q: Did Mahershala Ali’s character almost die?
A: Yes — his fate was changed after audiences and Ali himself asked for a rescue ending instead of death.
Q: How many Jurassic Park/World movies are there?
A: Seven total — from the original 1993 Jurassic Park to 2025’s Rebirth.
