Hollywood’s newest dinosaur epic, Jurassic World: Rebirth, has charged into Nigerian cinemas with a strong debut, raking in N52.5 million during its first weekend.
According to data from FilmOne Entertainment and local box office trackers, this performance underscores Nigeria’s growing appetite for large-scale, high-concept Hollywood blockbusters and reaffirms the Jurassic franchise’s enduring popularity among Nigerian audiences.
Directed by Gareth Edwards — acclaimed for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Godzilla (2014) — Rebirth serves as the seventh entry in the Jurassic Park saga and a direct sequel to 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion, which grossed over $1 billion globally.
With a reported production budget of $180 million, Rebirth reunites the franchise with screenwriter David Koepp, a longtime Steven Spielberg collaborator behind the original Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997).
A fresh take on an old favorite
Set in 2027, Rebirth offers a narrative and tonal shift from previous installments. Nearly two decades after a failed InGen experiment on a remote Atlantic island, the Earth’s changing climate has rendered most regions uninhabitable for dinosaurs, pushing them into isolated equatorial zones.
The plot follows ParkerGenix, a desperate pharmaceutical company that mounts a covert expedition to extract dinosaur DNA — believed to hold secrets to a revolutionary heart disease treatment. What begins as a scientific mission quickly descends into survival chaos as genetically enhanced predators are unleashed.
The film introduces a terrifying new antagonist, the Distortus rex — a genetically deformed, six-limbed Tyrannosaur that adds a fresh layer of dread to the franchise’s expanding roster of prehistoric threats.
Star-studded ensemble and global scale
Rebirth boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, and Rupert Friend, who navigate a globe-spanning adventure that takes viewers from Thai jungles to the cliffs of Malta and the rugged coasts of the U.K. Principal photography wrapped in September 2024, highlighting Universal Pictures’ commitment to large-scale international productions.
While early reviews have been mixed — with praise for its visual effects and performances but criticism for a dense plot and hints of franchise fatigue — the film has nonetheless exceeded initial box office projections in several markets.
Nigeria’s evolving cinema landscape
The strong Nigerian debut of Rebirth underscores the country’s evolving film market. Traditionally dominated by Nollywood, local audiences are increasingly embracing big-budget foreign films. Previous successes like Fast X and Avatar: The Way of Water have demonstrated the robust appetite for high-octane global entertainment.
Speaking to Nairametrics, a Lagos-based cinema operator noted, “Movies like Jurassic World remind us that Nigerian audiences crave experiences that transport them beyond local narratives, even as Nollywood continues to thrive.”
Beyond entertainment, industry experts see such box office performances as key signals to international distributors and studios looking to tap into Africa’s fast-growing youth market.
What’s next?
With Jurassic World: Rebirth off to a roaring start, it is expected to remain a strong performer in Nigeria in the coming weeks despite fierce competition from summer blockbusters and streaming platforms.
While the local debut figures are modest compared to global earnings, they reaffirm one timeless truth: dinosaurs still sell — and not just in Hollywood.
