--- title: "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom" critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 55 from 19 reviews: 6 positive, 8 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split down the middle, leaning slightly warm. Most critics agree that director J.A. Bayona is the film’s main asset, bringing gothic horror and a surer hand with set pieces than the previous entry managed; the volcanic eruption and the Indoraptor stalking a mansion draw most of the praise. Several call it an improvement on Jurassic World, and a few note better work from the leads, Bryce Dallas Howard in particular. The reservations gather around the script. Critics find the human plot slight, predictable and heavy with exposition, and several complain that the second half shrinks into a haunted-house chase after a large-scale opening. The spread is wide, from a firm recommendation at Deadline to a handful who think the franchise itself is worn out: IndieWire and The Wrap find the spectacle stale and say a new director cannot rescue it. Even sympathetic reviews admit the film spends much of its time setting up the next one. ## Empire — Ben Travis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2018. The critic praises director J.A. Bayona for injecting gothic horror tension and big-scale set pieces into the series, particularly the volcanic eruption sequence and Indoraptor scares, while noting improved character work for the leads. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2018. With J.A. Bayona directing, the dinosaurs finally leave the island for an enjoyably sinister new setting in a spooky old house, bringing gothic glee and actual villains who are satisfyingly dispatched. The family-friendly franchise tone occasionally cramps the director's style, but the change of locale and focus on villains marks a welcome shift. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-dinosaurs-go-gothic) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2018. The critic finds this a stronger entry than the prior film, with Bayona bringing classic monster-movie energy and treating the dinosaurs more like characters while shifting much of the action into a spooky mansion setting. He praises the visuals, pacing, and thrills but notes some old-fashioned handling of the female lead. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-1117350/) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2018. The critic notes franchise fatigue in the first half but highlights strong set-pieces in the second, especially the volcano sequence and the Indoraptor's gothic mansion scares, crediting Bayona for bringing soul to the dinosaurs. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review/) ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Rating ★★★. 5 June 2018. The film is a fun romp with unusual new ideas, pleasant characters like newcomer Maisie, and plenty of dinosaur action, bolstered by strong set pieces from director J.A. Bayona. However, it functions more as a stepping stone to set up the next film, leaving this entry feeling slight and unsatisfying despite its ambitions. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-a-stepping-stone-towards-a-bigger-better-and-more-interesting-story/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). The film follows Owen and Claire as they attempt to rescue dinosaurs from a volcanic island, but human villains feel minor. Bayona delivers one standout suspense sequence with a child and a giant claw, though the franchise's demands limit him. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2018. It is an improvement over the prior entry thanks to Bayona’s confident direction of destruction and horror scenes, but remains ho-hum and predictable overall. The move of dinosaurs to the mainland and some adjustments to characters provide minor pleasures, yet the series fails to evolve meaningfully. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-20180605-story.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2018. It is the first entry to pretend to be more than a ride by incorporating topical conspiracy elements, but the dinosaur action still rules though not enough; Bayona keeps it moving competently but the script weighs it down into a so-so ride. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-chris-pratt-1202829194/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2018. The film is merely serviceable despite some genre flourishes and a gothic mansion set piece. The critic singles out its overlong, video game-like scenarios and on-the-nose political satire for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/10/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review) ## The Times — Tom Shone Rating ★★. 10 June 2018. The sequel starts strong but gets smaller, with the volcano as the best performer and a finale reduced to a mano-a-dino chase. The critic complains about the halting plot and gothic trimmings that fail to elevate the material. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/mcqueen-and-jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-8k5xb6tbd) ## Evening Standard — Matthew Norman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2018. The critic finds the film an improvement over its predecessor but still calls the franchise irretrievably dull, criticising the hackneyed script, lack of tension, and absence of humour while noting some effective dinosaur empathy shots. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdon-review-its-time-this-dino-bore-franchise-became-extinct-a3858456.html) ## IndieWire Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2018. The review criticizes the film as formulaic and ludicrous in its CGI dinosaur elements, arguing that the franchise's repetitive approach to spectacle and plot has worn thin despite the new director and setting shifts. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/jurassic-world-the-fallen-kingdom-review-1201971471/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 June 2018. The critic finds the dinosaurs still hard to resist after 25 years, praising how director J.A. Bayona spreads the mayhem more intelligently than in prior entries. The action sequences once the dinosaurs are unleashed are described as top notch and entertaining. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-chris-pratt-bryce-dallas-howard-sequel-video/) ## Collider — Haleigh Foutch Rating B. 21 June 2018. The critic praises director J.A. Bayona for bringing back awe, wonder, and horror elements to the franchise through strong visuals and set pieces, while also noting improved performances especially from Bryce Dallas Howard. The film is seen as a fun, pulpy, and absurd evolution of the series despite some logic issues and heavy CGI. [Read the review](https://collider.com/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review/) ## Den of Geek — Matt Edwards Rating 3/5. 5 June 2018. The film takes the franchise in a slightly different direction with strong action set pieces and striking visuals from director Bayona, though the story feels slight and the dinosaurs lack scale. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review-2/) ## Digital Spy — Matt Chapman Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2018. The blockbuster shifts from explosive action to a haunted house/slasher tone in the second half, which slows the pace and feels repetitive, resulting in an enjoyable but less biting franchise entry. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a858028/jurassic-world-2-fallen-kingdom-review-evolution-trailer-chris-pratt-bryce-dallas-howard/) ## Polygon — Matt Patches Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2018. The critic finds the action sequences and Bayona's direction exciting and pulpy, especially the dinosaur-focused set pieces and kaiju-style moments, but criticizes the script's overreliance on human drama, twists, and exposition that drag down the fun. Overall, it falls short of its potential as a silly blockbuster due to the human elements. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17484284/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 4/10. 20 June 2018. The critic finds the film knows the notes but not the music of the original Jurassic Park, with stupid characters and poor script choices throughout. Bayona's direction of the mansion action sequences is praised as an improvement over the prior entry. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/559060/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-review/) ## The Wrap — Dan Callahan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2018. The critic faults the film for treating its action and suspense sequences without enthusiasm, rendering even iconic hiding-from-dinosaurs moments hackneyed and expected. The overall result is a dull sequel that drains the excitement from the dinosaur premise. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-film-review-chris-pratt-jeff-goldblum/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom.md