As summer movie season reaches its peak, dinosaurs and racecars are leading the charge at the box office. Universal Pictures' latest installment, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” has made a significant impact, grossing an impressive $26 million domestically from 6,105 venues on the Fourth of July. This film marks the seventh entry in the iconic franchise and showcases the ongoing popularity of its prehistoric themes.
The strong box office performance of “Jurassic World Rebirth” has been bolstered by its initial release on July 2, where it earned a remarkable $55.8 million before the holiday weekend even commenced. Industry projections suggest that by the end of the weekend, the film could surpass $140 million, solidifying its position as the seventh-highest domestic earner of 2025. However, this success comes with its challenges, as the film's production budget is around $180 million, excluding marketing costs. Analysts estimate that the domestic gross over the traditional three-day weekend could reach approximately $85 million.
While “Rebirth” is currently king of the box office, it has recorded the lowest opening weekend of any film in the “Jurassic World” series. For context, the original 2015 film launched with a staggering $208 million, while its sequels, “Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom” and “Jurassic World Dominion,” opened with $148 million and $145 million, respectively. Notably, these films achieved their box office numbers during a standard three-day frame rather than a five-day holiday window.
Directed by Gareth Edwards and featuring a script from David Koepp, the original screenwriter of “Jurassic Park,” the film stars acclaimed actors Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey. Together, they navigate a perilous jungle landscape in search of dinosaur DNA that could potentially cure heart-related diseases.
The audience reaction to the franchise reboot has been generally positive, with pollster CinemaScore awarding the film a solid “B” grade. However, critics have been less enthusiastic, as evidenced by the film's 51% rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. This mixed reception highlights the challenges of meeting audience expectations in a long-running franchise.
In second place is Brad Pitt’s international racing drama, “F1,” which earned $7 million on Friday, projecting a significant 72% drop from its opening weekend. This film has become a favorite in premium formats like IMAX and Dolby, marking a commercial victory for Apple Studios following previous misfires such as “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Argylle.” Starring Damson Idris as a promising young driver and Pitt as his seasoned mentor, “F1” is projected to earn $24 million over the weekend, pushing its total past $107 million by Sunday.
In third place is “Universal How to Train Your Dragon,” which grossed $2.8 million on Friday. With a projected drop of 50%, the animated film is expected to achieve a fourth-weekend gross of $9.7 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to around $222 million by Sunday. Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the original 2014 film, this live-action remake is set to be followed by a sequel slated for release in Summer 2027.
Fourth place goes to Disney’s “Elio,” which has unfortunately recorded the lowest opening for a Pixar film ever. The family-friendly story about a lonely boy fascinated by aliens grossed $1.5 million on Friday, reflecting a 53% drop. It is expected to reach an estimated $54 million by the end of the weekend.
Rounding out the top five is Sony’s “28 Years Later,” the first installment in Danny Boyle’s rebooted zombie saga. The film earned $1.15 million on Friday, with a projected total of $60 million by the end of its third weekend. A follow-up, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” is already completed and scheduled for a January release. Depending on the box office performance, Boyle may consider financing a third installment himself.
