Dino Flick Roars to the Top of the Box Office

The summer movie season is in full swing, and dinosaurs are leading the charge. Universal's latest addition to the Jurassic franchise, "Jurassic World Rebirth, " stomped its way to the top of the box office, raking in $26 million domestically over the Fourth of July weekend. This brings its total earnings since its July 2 release to a whopping $55. 8 million. Projections suggest the film could reach over $140 million by Sunday, making it the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 2025. However, "Rebirth" had the lowest opening of any "Jurassic World" installment. The original 2015 "Jurassic World" launched with a massive $208 million in its opening weekend, while its sequels "Fallen Kingdom" and "Dominion" opened with $148 million and $145 million, respectively. It's important to note that these numbers were recorded over a typical three-day frame, not a five-day holiday window like "Rebirth. " Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by original "Jurassic Park" screenwriter David Koepp, the film stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey. They navigate a treacherous jungle in search of dino DNA that could potentially cure heart diseases. Audiences have been supportive, giving the film a solid "B" grade on CinemaScore. Critics, however, have been less enthusiastic, with the film holding a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Trailing behind "Rebirth" in second place is Brad Pitt's racing drama "F1, " which earned $7 million on Friday. This film represents Apple Studios' first significant box office win after a few commercial misses. Starring Damson Idris and Pitt, the movie is projected to earn $24 million over the weekend and surpass $107 million by Sunday. In third place is Universal's "How to Train Your Dragon, " which grossed $2. 8 million on Friday. Despite a 50% drop, it's projected to earn $9. 7 million over the weekend and reach a total domestic gross of $222 million by Sunday. This live-action remake, directed by Dean DeBlois, has soared past "Captain America: Brave New World" to become the fourth highest-grossing film of 2025. Disney's "Elio" sits in fourth place, marking the lowest opening ever for a Pixar film. Grossing $1. 5 million on Friday, the family film about a lonely boy obsessed with aliens is expected to reach $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. Grossing $1. 15 million on Friday, the film is projected to reach $60 million by the end of its third weekend. A sequel, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, " is already in the works and set for a January release.