Do you need to watch the previous films in the franchise before watching Jurassic World Rebirth? Explained in depth

Jurassic World Rebirth had its early screenings in June, but it has yet to have its wider theatrical release. So, we don't know the exact details about its plot, characters, or where they end up in their journey. However, based on the details we know so far, we can figure out whether we need to watch the previous films in the franchise before watching Rebirth.

As the title suggests, the film is supposed to reset the franchise in another direction after the Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard-led Jurassic World Dominion (2022). However, it is important to know a few details about its plot to understand Rebirth because Rebirth takes place five years after the events of Dominion.

The Jurassic World trilogy focused mainly on the theme of humans and dinosaurs peacefully coexisting in a world. The ending of Dominion hinted that it is possible. However, Rebirth shows a new team of experts entering an isolated island to secure the DNA of dinosaurs for a life-altering medical breakthrough. So, once again, it deals with humans interfering with the natural order of things, which doesn't bode well.

Based on these details, Jurassic World Rebirth will likely touch upon the themes already explored in a new light. For the same reason, viewers should ideally see the foundational Jurassic Park films to better understand what they stand for and also to learn Rebirth's direct connections to the older installments implied by the trailers.

Jurassic World Rebirth has a connection to InGen from the Jurassic Park films.

A still from Jurassic World Rebirth (Image via YouTube/Universal Pictures)

Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Evans and written by David Koepp, will take place mainly on the Ile Saint-Hubert island. It is home to one of InGen's research hubs and is connected to some of its mutation experiments. The new team of experts, played by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, is supposed to enter this space and meddle with the dinosaur's natural way of being.

For these reasons, the fans should ideally see Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) to understand the history of InGen and the types of dinosaurs the original team worked with. The first film also discussed the ethics of cloning and whether a peaceful human-dinosaur co-existence is possible, which becomes the central theme throughout the franchise.

Reports suggest that Rebirth won't retcon previous entries as the Jurassic World films reportedly did throughout their run. So, watching the first Jurassic World film might be enough to get the gist of what's about to come. The new film will also analyze how dinosaurs are forced into entering a secluded site, supposedly the only habitable place for them.

Some fans believe that Rebirth will serve more like a standalone summer blockbuster that takes place in the world of Jurassic Park, but is more invested in its cinematic translation than anything else. Still, to understand the basics of the lore about the dinosaurs, viewers might want to catch up on some foundational films to prepare for Rebirth.

Jurassic Park producer speaks about the connections between the franchise and Rebirth.

"Jurassic World Rebirth" World Premiere - VIP Arrivals - Source: Getty

The franchise's long-time producer Frank Marshall shared his views on Jurassic World Rebirth in the production notes. Here's an excerpt:

“We wanted a film that felt like a fresh start while remaining in the world of the previous films. We continue to develop the idea that ‘life finds a way’ with a different kind of story that combines heist-movie adventure with creature-feature horror. We have new characters, a new setting, and new dinosaurs, some of which have gone very, very bad. At the same time, what I find exciting about Rebirth is that it finds a tone that harkens back to the original Jurassic Park. And that has a lot to do with the creative team we assembled for this one.”