Jurassic World Rebirth Roars to Top of North American Box Office

The July 4th holiday weekend witnessed a dynamic shift at the North American box office, with major releases competing for audience attention. Leading the charge was Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” which delivered a strong performance, while other notable films experienced varied outcomes.

Dinosaur Franchise Roars Back

“Jurassic World: Rebirth,” the seventh installment in the long-running dinosaur saga, premiered on July 2, 2025, and quickly ascended to the top of the box office.

Over the three-day weekend, the film amassed $91.5 million domestically, contributing to a five-day total of $147.3 million in the U.S. and Canada. Internationally, it garnered an additional $171 million, including a notable $41.5 million debut in China, bringing its global earnings to $318.3 million.

The film features a new cast, including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, and is directed by Gareth Edwards with a screenplay by David Koepp. Set five years after “Jurassic World: Dominion,” the narrative follows a team attempting to extract dinosaur DNA from isolated equatorial regions, where the creatures now reside due to climate shifts.

Despite initial skepticism over the absence of original cast members, the film’s performance surpassed expectations, aided by a more modest production budget of $180 million compared to its predecessors.

Racing Drama Holds Strong

Apple Original Films’ “F1: The Movie,” starring Brad Pitt as a retired Formula One driver returning to the sport, experienced a slight decline, securing second place with $26.1 million over the weekend. The film, directed by Joseph Kosinski, has achieved a global total of $172 million since its release on June 27, 2025. Its strong debut marked Apple’s most successful theatrical release to date, and the film continues to perform well internationally.

Animated Reimagining Maintains Momentum

Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” maintained its position in third place, earning $11 million during its fourth weekend. The film has accumulated $224 million domestically and $292.9 million internationally, totaling $516.9 million worldwide. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the remake has surpassed the original 2010 animated film’s global earnings, becoming the highest-grossing entry in the franchise within North America.

Pixar’s Original Struggles to Soar

Pixar’s “Elio,” an original sci-fi animated feature, continued to face challenges at the box office, placing fourth with $5.7 million. The film’s global earnings stand at approximately $72.3 million, falling short of its $150 million production budget. Despite an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Elio” has become Pixar’s lowest-grossing opening in nearly three decades, prompting discussions about the studio’s approach to original content.

Horror Sequel Finds Its Audience

In fifth place, Columbia Pictures’ “28 Years Later,” directed by Danny Boyle, added $4.6 million to its domestic total, bringing its U.S. earnings to $50.3 million. Internationally, the film has garnered $52.7 million, resulting in a worldwide total of $103 million. The sequel continues the narrative of survivors dealing with the aftermath of the Rage Virus, resonating with fans of the franchise.

Additional Box Office Performances

Other films rounding out the top ten include:

• “M3GAN 2.0” ($3.8 million)
• “Lilo & Stitch” ($3.8 million)(thewrap.com)
• “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” ($2.7 million)
• “Materialists” ($1.3 million)
• “Ballerina” ($725,000)

The overall box office performance during the holiday weekend indicates a robust summer season, with total domestic ticket sales reaching $156 million, contributing to a year-to-date increase of 14.7% compared to the previous year. Upcoming releases, including “Superman,” are anticipated to sustain this momentum in the weeks ahead.