Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense dino sequel has scary, jump-worthy violence.
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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 43 parent reviews
Based on 152 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is entertaining but heavily criticized for both its violence and quality. While many viewers appreciate the intense action and visuals, a recurrent theme in reviews is that it's too violent and scary for younger audiences, featuring moments of gore and disturbing scenes, making it suitable primarily for older teens and adults.
- intense violence
- scary moments
- mixed reviews
- suitable for teens
- strong visuals
- negative storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM takes place three years after the catastrophic events of Jurassic World left the revamped Jurassic Park abandoned. When the volcano on the island where the park was located is forecasted to erupt, Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard), who now works for the Dinosaur Preservation Group, is asked by the billionaire who helped start the original park to go on a secret mission to rescue the remaining dinosaurs so they can be taken to a special preserve. She asks Owen (Chris Pratt), her now ex-boyfriend, to accompany her on the trip in order to track Blue, his beloved velociraptor. During the trip, it's clear that Claire and Owen are in over their heads; eventually they're forced into a life-or-death situation -- both for themselves and for the dinosaurs they want to save.
Is It Any Good?
Despite this action-packed sequel's uneven tone, director J.A. Bayona continues to thrill audiences with jump-worthy suspense and to create a bond between viewers and the dinosaurs. The elements of a summer blockbuster are all there: charismatic stars, smarmy villains (Rafe Spall, who's inherited his father Timothy's ability to play eevil quite well), plucky/adorable child (Isabella Sermon, in her first role), swooping score (Michael Giacchino, doing a wonderful job of channeling John Williams), and lots and lots of heart-stopping action. But something keeps this sequel from ranking up there with the best of the Jurassic films. It explores too many avenues and doesn't close the loop on a few of the issues it raises.
While the story requires suspension of disbelief in several places -- and Spall's character is all but mustache-twirling in his stereotypical villainy -- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom still delivers where it ultimately counts: the dinosaurs. The intricate computer-generated creatures are so convincing and so terrifying that audiences will likely grab their armrests or their seatmates during key moments. One scene in particular involving young Maisie and a foodchain-topping dinosaur will definitely tie stomachs in knots. So go for the action and the dread, but don't expect a movie that's nearly as iconic as the original Jurassic Park.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the amount of violence in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. How does it compare to the previous movie? Did some of the scenes affect you more than others? Why? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What makes the Jurassic World films scary? What's the difference between horror and suspense? Which has more impact on you, and why? When are kids ready for horror movies?
Which characters do you consider to be role models? Which character strengths do they exhibit?
Do you think there should be more of these movies? Which elements of the story were left open-ended?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 22, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : September 18, 2018
- Cast : Bryce Dallas Howard , Chris Pratt , Ted Levine
- Director : J.A. Bayona
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs )
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 128 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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