Los Angeles, California — The summer movie season has officially taken off, showcasing thrilling adventures from dinosaurs to racecars as films dominate the box office.
Universal’s latest entry, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” made a hefty debut, raking in $26 million domestically during the Fourth of July weekend from over 6,100 theaters. The film’s impressive opening followed its initial release on July 2, which had already tallied $55.8 million. By the end of the holiday weekend, projections indicate that “Rebirth” could surpass $140 million, making it the seventh-highest domestic opener of 2025. However, the film’s considerable production budget of $250 million puts pressure on Universal to maintain momentum in the coming weeks, with forecasts suggesting a traditional three-day gross near $85 million.
Despite its success at the box office, “Rebirth” fell short of expectations compared to its predecessors in the franchise, which enjoyed much larger openings. The 2015 original “Jurassic World” launched with an astounding $208 million, followed by “Fallen Kingdom” with $148 million and “Dominion” at $145 million — all strictly measured over three-day weekends rather than the five-day holiday window utilized for “Rebirth.”
Gareth Edwards directed this latest installment, with a script penned by David Koepp, the original screenwriter of “Jurassic Park.” The star-studded cast includes Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey, who venture into a perilous jungle in search of dinosaur DNA that could potentially heal heart diseases. While audiences are generally receptive, reflected in a solid “B” grade from CinemaScore, critics remain less enthusiastic, as evidenced by a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Following “Rebirth” is Brad Pitt’s “F1,” an international racing drama that earned $7 million on Friday, marking a notable 72% decline from its opening weekend. Known for its visually engaging presentation in premium formats like Imax and Dolby, the film represents a breakout success for Apple Studios, rebounding from recent set-backs with titles like “Fly Me to the Moon.” In “F1,” Damson Idris plays a rising star on an underperforming team, with Pitt portraying his seasoned mentor. The film is forecasted to reach approximately $24 million this weekend, crossing the $107 million mark by Sunday.
In third place, “Universal How to Train Your Dragon” generated $2.8 million on Friday, suggesting a 50% drop for the weekend. The film is projected to finish with $9.7 million for its fourth weekend, bringing its overall domestic total to around $222 million. Originally directed by Dean DeBlois in 2014, this live-action adaptation has surpassed “Captain America: Brave New World” to claim the title of the fourth highest-grossing film of the year. DeBlois is set to return for a sequel, slated for a Summer 2027 release.
Disney’s “Elio” comes in fourth, earning $1.5 million on Friday, and is projected for a weekend total of about $54 million. Unfortunately, it marks the lowest opening for a Pixar film, despite its family-friendly narrative centered on a lonely boy fascinated with aliens.
Rounding out the top five is Sony’s “28 Years Later,” the first film in Danny Boyle’s revived zombie franchise, which garnered $1.15 million on Friday. This title should total around $60 million by the end of its third weekend. A sequel, titled “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” and directed by Nia DaCosta, has already been filmed and is set for a January release, contributing to plans for a trilogy if box office results warrant it.
As the summer progresses, audiences can expect a mix of genres and stories to unfold on the big screen, continuing the season’s festive cinematic atmosphere.