Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) proved that dinosaurs still sell tickets, regardless of what critics or longtime fans think about the quality of the films themselves. With almost $870 million at the global box office, Universal would be foolish to walk away from one of its biggest properties.
Financially, the franchise has plenty of life left, but creatively the situation looks very different.
The original Jurassic Park (1993) was lightning in a bottle. Steven Spielberg combined groundbreaking visual effects with memorable characters, genuine suspense, and an intelligent script that understood that audiences needed to care about the people running from the dinosaurs just as much as the dinosaurs themselves.
But that formula became increasingly difficult to replicate as the sequels became larger, louder, and more ridiculous. Hybrid dinosaurs, mutant experimentations, and giant prehistoric locusts all moved the franchise further away from what made it special in the first place.
Related: ‘Jurassic Park’ Going Back to Horror Roots With Brand-New Installment
Through all of that, however, Dr. Alan Grant remained one of the constants.
Sam Neill’s portrayal of the reluctant hero became inseparable from the identity of Jurassic Park itself, and his return alongside Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic World Dominion (2022) was one of the few moments in recent years that genuinely felt like classic Jurassic.
Now, following Neill’s passing, which was announced on Monday July 13, it’s difficult not to view Dominion differently.
Without intending to, the film suddenly feels like a farewell to the original era of the franchise.
The final scenes between Grant and Ellie Sattler feel more important than they did four years ago, while seeing the original trio together one last time now carries a weight that nobody expected at the time.
Another Jurassic sequel will probably happen, but the Jurassic era that started it all is well and truly over.
Our thoughts are with Sam Neillâs family and friends during this difficult time.
