Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Dinos in Danger, Humans Too

🦖 Introduction

🦕 This review is part of the Jurassic Park Movie Series Guide – explore all 6 dino adventures in order!

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is where the franchise takes its most unexpected turn yet. Gone are the shiny theme park attractions and familiar formulas—instead, we dive headfirst into extinction-level events, bioethics, and haunted-mansion horror. It’s a bold swing that might not please every fan, but it definitely offers something new.

This chapter takes the franchise into visually stunning, emotionally heavier, and thematically darker waters. While still delivering the crowd-pleasing dino action, it pushes into ethical and even philosophical territory—ideal for families with older kids ready to explore more complex themes alongside raptors and lava.

🧬 Story & Characters

The story picks up three years after the fall of Jurassic World. Isla Nublar is now abandoned, and the dormant volcano at its center threatens to wipe out all remaining dinosaurs. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) has become an activist for dinosaur rights, heading the Dinosaur Protection Group. She recruits Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) for a rescue mission to save Blue, the last known Velociraptor, and others from the island.

But the mission is a ruse. Behind it lies a plot to exploit the dinosaurs for profit—and something even more chilling: a new genetically engineered creature known as the Indoraptor.

While Claire and Owen remain solid leads, Maisie Lockwood, the young girl at the heart of the mansion mystery, steals the show emotionally. Her connection to the moral stakes of the story gives the film real heart. Jeff Goldblum’s brief return as Ian Malcolm bookends the story with reflections on the ethics of resurrecting extinct life.

Owen and Blue’s bond also evolves meaningfully. Their relationship reflects loyalty, memory, and trust—and provides a welcome emotional counterbalance to the film’s heavier plot.

🎥 Visuals, Sound & Action

This is arguably one of the most visually spectacular entries in the franchise. The scenes on Isla Nublar as lava begins to erupt are breathtaking and terrifying all at once. Watching dinosaurs flee an island literally crumbling beneath them is not just exciting—it’s tragic.

The film’s second half shifts to the Lockwood Estate, a gothic mansion filled with secrets. Here, the tone transitions into something more like a horror thriller. The Indoraptor, stalking the halls like a monster from a haunted house, delivers genuinely suspenseful moments. While some may find this tonal switch jarring, it also adds tension and a new visual style to the series.

Composer Michael Giacchino blends nostalgia with urgency. His use of John Williams’ original Jurassic themes anchors us in the familiar, while new darker cues reflect the changed world these characters now inhabit.

Sound design is top-notch. From the distant rumble of volcanic tremors to the blood-curdling shrieks of the Indoraptor, every audio cue hits with impact.

🧠 Themes & Emotional Weight

Fallen Kingdom goes further than its predecessors in asking: Should these creatures be saved? Are they animals or property? Do humans have a responsibility to preserve life—even life they shouldn’t have brought back?

The film openly grapples with bioethics, the consequences of unchecked science, and what happens when corporate greed meets scientific power. It also makes bold choices with Maisie’s character—whose own origin opens an entirely new ethical layer.

While still a blockbuster, this entry doesn’t shy away from weightier themes. The cost of playing god is front and center. And yet, it manages to keep that balance with enough awe and wonder to still feel like a Jurassic movie.

👨‍👧‍👦 Our Experience & Recommendation

Watching Fallen Kingdom as a family was a thrilling experience, but one that left more room for reflection than previous entries. My daughter was glued to the screen during the escape scenes and loved Blue’s return—but she also had lots of questions afterward. That’s a good sign.

The emotional beats landed. The moment the Brachiosaurus is left behind on the island as the boat pulls away is heart-wrenching and unforgettable. And while the mansion finale veers into horror territory, it gave us a chance to talk about different types of movie tension and why fear works so well when it’s earned.

Overall, we appreciated the depth this movie brought. It’s not just popcorn thrills—it’s a story about decisions, consequences, and what kind of world we’re leaving for the next generation.

📌 FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions