The Jurassic Park film series might be well and truly finished.
Last year's Jurassic World Rebirth may have grossed an impressive $869.1 million worldwide, but the response from audiences, critics, and longtime fans suggested that the franchise is now running dangerously close to extinction.
While opinions will always differ, many fans now regard Rebirth as the weakest installment in the entire series, raising an uncomfortable question for Universal Pictures: where exactly does Jurassic go from here?
When Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park arrived in 1993, it changed blockbuster filmmaking forever. The film's revolutionary visual effects, unforgettable John Williams score, breathtaking suspense sequences, and unique concept of resurrecting extinct species through genetic engineering immediately secured its place in cinema history.
But Jurassic Park was never simply about dinosaurs. The franchise worked because audiences cared deeply about the people trapped alongside them.
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Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm quickly became every bit as iconic as the Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptors, with Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum providing the emotional core that carried the series through multiple sequels.
Over the years, all three characters returned across many sequels, culminating in their long-awaited reunion in Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. For many fans, that felt like the natural ending point for the franchise.
However, the tragic passing of Sam Neill at the age of 78 is now likely to change the entire conversation surrounding Jurassic Park.
Should the Jurassic Park Films Continue?
Even if Universal never intended to bring Alan Grant back to the series, it's difficult to imagine the franchise continuing without one of its defining figures.
Another sequel is reportedly in early development, but perhaps there is now a stronger argument than ever that Jurassic Park should finally be allowed to rest.
The original film remains one of the greatest blockbusters ever made, while Dominion provided a fitting farewell for Grant and Sattler by reuniting them decades after audiences first visited Isla Nublar.
Sometimes the best thing a franchise can do is recognize that its story has already been told. Jurassic Park may indeed continue without Sam Neill, but it will never feel quite the same again.
Our thoughts are with Sam Neill’s family and friends during this difficult time.
