The newest addition to the “Jurassic World” franchise, titled “Jurassic World Rebirth,” has captivated audiences despite discussions of dinosaur fatigue in the film industry. The film dominated the Fourth of July holiday box office, amassing a remarkable global total of $318.3 million during its first five days, as estimated by studio executives on Sunday.
Directed by Gareth Edwards and released by Universal Pictures, “Jurassic World Rebirth” premiered on Wednesday, earning an impressive $147.3 million in its opening five days across 4,308 theaters in North America. Of that, an estimated $91.5 million was collected during the traditional three-day weekend, which included ticket sales from the holiday Friday, Saturday, and projected Sunday.
Internationally, the film launched in 82 markets, including a noteworthy opening in China, contributing $171 million to its global total. Specifically, the Chinese market alone accounted for $41.5 million of this amount, where the film screened on 65,000 screens, including 760 IMAX theaters. This performance marked the largest opening of the year for a Motion Picture Association (MPA) film in China.
Jim Orr, who is responsible for domestic distribution at Universal, praised the film's performance, stating, “Jurassic World Rebirth is exactly what audiences crave during the summer: a very big, fun, extraordinarily well-done adventure.” The film found a successful venue in premium formats, like Dolby Cinema, where it generated nearly $8 million from just 167 screens over the five-day period.
Orr noted the strong word-of-mouth surrounding the film, indicating a potential for sustained success over the summer. “The word of mouth on it is stellar,” he remarked, suggesting that this positive reception could lead to a long box office run.
Comparing the launch of “Rebirth” to previous films in the franchise is challenging due to various factors such as the holiday weekend, inflation, and the post-COVID moviegoing landscape. The original “Jurassic World” sequel debuted with $208 million domestically in 2015, while its two successors, “Fallen Kingdom” and “Dominion,” opened with $148 million and $145 million, respectively.
“Rebirth” introduces a new storyline where a new cast embarks on a dangerous quest for dinosaur DNA—not to create dinosaurs but to develop potential cures for heart disease. The film’s production cost was reported at $180 million, excluding marketing and promotional expenses.
The marketing campaign for “Jurassic World Rebirth” was extensive, featuring a global press tour and promotional partnerships with brands such as Jeep and 7-11, alongside collaborations promoting Johansson’s skincare line. The film faced minimal competition from newly released films, overshadowing last week’s box office leader, the Brad Pitt racing movie “F1,” which experienced a respectable 54% decline in its second weekend and earned $26.1 million, bringing its domestic total to $109.5 million.
In the box office rankings, “How to Train Your Dragon” secured third place with $11 million, while Pixar’s “Elio” followed in fourth with $5.7 million. The fifth spot was filled by “28 Years Later,” collecting $4.6 million. A notable re-release of Rob Reiner’s 1984 classic “This is Spinal Tap” also made its way into the domestic top ten.
While the Fourth of July holiday could have negatively impacted the overall weekend box office, it still proved to be solid despite competing fireworks events. Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore, stated, “We had a solid Friday despite some pretty heavy competition from the fireworks.” With more major films lined up for the summer, audiences can look forward to an exciting season in cinema, highlighted by the upcoming release of “Superman.”
As the summer movie season progresses, the competition among films remains fierce, enhancing the overall experience for moviegoers.
