Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Movie · 2018 · Adventure, Science Fiction, Thriller · 2h 9m · PG-13 · English

Curator score: 1.1/10 (1.1M ratings)

The park is gone.

Overview

Three years after Jurassic World was destroyed, Isla Nublar now sits abandoned. When the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.

Ratings

Director

J. A. Bayona

Production

Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Cast

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, James Cromwell, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, Geraldine Chaplin, Isabella Sermon, Robert Emms, Peter Jason, Kevin Layne, John Schwab, Sam Redford, Charlie Rawes, Patrick Crowley, Alex Dower

Curator Review

Verdict

A loud, often ridiculous sequel that swings hard from disaster-movie spectacle to gothic monster-movie melodrama. It has real visual flair and a few memorable set pieces, but the plotting is messy and the character logic is frequently absurd.

Best for

  • viewers who want big-budget creature chaos
  • fans of darker, more gothic blockbuster energy
  • people who enjoy franchise movies that get increasingly unhinged
  • audiences willing to forgive weak plotting for spectacle

Skip if

  • you need airtight logic in your action movies
  • you want the tight suspense and wonder of the original Jurassic Park
  • you dislike cynical franchise setup for future installments
  • you prefer character-driven adventure over chaos and set pieces

Overview

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is the rare franchise sequel that feels both overstuffed and oddly committed to its own madness. J. A. Bayona brings a moody, almost haunted-house sensibility to the material, and the volcanic opening and mansion finale give the movie a distinct identity even when the script is wobbling under the weight of its own ideas.

Worth noting

What works best is the movie’s willingness to become a full-on dinosaur rescue-and-trafficking thriller with gothic flourishes. What works worst is everything that requires the characters to behave sensibly. The plot keeps inventing new complications, and the moral stakes are often undercut by the franchise’s habit of treating catastrophe like a setup for the next sequel.

Bottom line

Still, there’s enough visual invention, creature spectacle, and sheer absurdity to make it watchable if you’re in the right mood. It’s not a great Jurassic movie, but it is a very committed example of a blockbuster that has lost the plot in an entertaining way.

Top Letterboxd reviews

saskia 🦈 (4★) · 5695 likes

my feelings were hurt real bad when that one dinosaur was left behind on that island

davidehrlich (0.5★) · 3927 likes

FALLEN KINGDOM makes Jurassic World look like Jurassic Park. a tedious, infuriating, and braindead ordeal that knowingly epitomizes so much of what’s wrong with modern blockbusters. i *hated* every cheap, cynical, ill-considered moment of this stupid fucking movie. it's so thunderously awful that i almost *want* to watch the "Cinema Sins" video about it, just to try and keep score. almost. i can't think of a more damning criticism right now. please for the love of god put this franchise… more

Jay (2.5★) · 3082 likes

hi guys it’s jeff goldblum here :) sorry i was gone for a few days i was kidnapped by universal and forced to star in fallen kingdom (im fine so dont worry) so yeah :/

sree (1★) · 2207 likes

[screeching] WHEN WILL YOU LEARN WHEN WILL YOU LEARN THAT YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

Holly-Beth (3★) · 2128 likes

dr. henry wu stop making dinosaurs you messy bitch!!!!!!

Recommended similar titles

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

1997 · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction · 2h 9m · PG-13 · Curator 2.3/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: Peacock Premium, AMC+, AMC, Philo, Peacock Premium Plus

A more chaotic, creature-forward sequel with similar jungle peril and franchise excess.

King Kong

2005 · Adventure, Drama, Action · 3h 8m · PG-13 · Curator 5.2/10 (922.8K ratings)

Big-budget adventure with rescue, exploitation, and tragic creature spectacle.

Godzilla

2014 · Action, Drama, Science Fiction · 2h 3m · PG-13 · Curator 2.8/10 (953.4K ratings)

A modern monster blockbuster that balances disaster scale with ominous buildup.

The Meg

2018 · Action, Science Fiction, Horror · 1h 53m · PG-13 · Curator 0.7/10 (727.6K ratings)

A knowingly absurd creature blockbuster that prioritizes spectacle over realism.

Kong: Skull Island

2017 · Action, Adventure, Fantasy · 1h 58m · PG-13 · Curator 2.8/10 (941.6K ratings)

Loud, stylish monster action with military danger and big set-piece energy.

The Mummy

1999 · Adventure, Action, Fantasy · 2h 4m · PG-13 · Curator 4.2/10 (1.1M ratings) · Where to watch: AMC+, Philo

Adventure-horror with pulpy momentum, ancient threats, and blockbuster fun.

Rampage

2018 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction · 1h 47m · PG-13 · Curator 0.7/10 (425.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Max

Another effects-heavy monster movie built on chaos, destruction, and corporate nonsense.

Twister

1996 · Action, Adventure, Drama · 1h 53m · PG-13 · Curator 4.0/10 (593.6K ratings)

Disaster-movie momentum and large-scale spectacle with a crowd-pleasing pace.

Alien: Covenant

2017 · Horror, Science Fiction · 2h 2m · R · Curator 2.8/10 (847.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Max

A franchise sequel that mixes creature horror, bad decisions, and bleak sci-fi.

The Host

2006 · Horror, Drama, Science Fiction · 2h · R · Curator 9.0/10 (145.1K ratings)

A monster movie with family stakes, government failure, and sharp genre energy.

The Abyss

1989 · Adventure, Thriller, Science Fiction · 2h 20m · PG-13 · Curator 5.9/10 (360.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus

A tense effects showcase about human arrogance, technology, and the unknown.

Topics

science fiction, adventure, thriller, monster movie, disaster movie, gothic atmosphere, blockbuster spectacle, corporate villainy, animal rights, franchise sequel

Open Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) on Curator TV