JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION
Don’t mess with mama — a thrilling dinosaur rescue for older viewers.
Should You Watch It?
You get a full-scale roller coaster ride here, with terrific action set pieces and dangerous dinosaur encounters. The lengthy Malta sequence, including an exciting chase scene, is the standout. The film also gives its adventure a strong moral center through its celebration of motherhood.
That comes with costs. The nonstop action sometimes grows wearying, and a few plot developments could have been removed to tighten the story. The movie also includes about 11 obscenities, several profanities, and many frightening moments involving dinosaurs that kill or threaten people.
If your family can handle scary dinosaur violence and the language concerns, this is worth seeing with middle schoolers and older children; parents should use discernment for younger kids.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFour years after a volcano destroyed the Jurassic Park island, dinosaurs now live and hunt alongside humans around the world.
Owen Grady and Claire are trying to protect their adopted 12-year-old daughter, Maisie, from people who want to use her genetic enhancements for experiments. When Maisie and a baby velociraptor are kidnapped, Owen and Claire begin a rescue mission. At the same time, scientists Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm investigate a biotech corporation whose genetically modified locusts threaten the world’s crops. The two missions eventually converge.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining adventure, even with some script weaknesses. The movie delivers terrific action set pieces and many dangerous, thrilling dinosaur encounters. The lengthy Malta sequence, especially its chase scene, is the strongest action material.
The constant roller coaster ride becomes a little wearying several times. A few plot developments, including the opening scene involving dinosaur-rights activists, could have been eliminated to tighten the script. Still, the action and family-centered stakes make this an exciting science-fiction film.
The Worldview
The film’s central moral theme is a celebration of motherhood. Maisie’s biological mother is concerned about her, Claire protects her as an adopted mother, and Blue is fiercely concerned about her baby dinosaur. Owen, as father, husband and friend, dedicates himself to rescuing both young ones.
That strong theme is mixed with environmentalist elements and implied references to evolution. The story also includes the manipulation of human genes through genetic engineering. A woman tells the husband of a red-haired wife that she also likes redheads, an unnecessary moment that adds another worldview element for viewers to weigh.
The film’s strongest longing is for parents to protect their children and for families to remain faithful to one another. Scripture calls believers to care for the vulnerable: “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
String moral worldview celebrates motherhood (much of the movie concerns to rescue two children of a human mother and a dinosaur mother), mixed with strong environmentalist elements, implied references to evolution, and a woman tells the husband of a red-headed wife that she also likes redheads
Foul Language
11 obscenities and six light profanities
Violence
Strong, sometimes scary violence includes dinosaurs chase and stalk humans several times, dinosaurs eat or bite or kill humans, a swarm of giant locusts chase children into barn, woman releases four trained velociraptor dinosaurs and uses a laser to target human victims for the dinosaurs, many near escapes from dinosaurs, lengthy chase scene between a truck and a motorcycle and three raptor dinosaurs, giant locusts get loose, a swarm of giant locusts are deliberately set on fire, but they set a surrounding forest on fire too, dinosaurs fight one another, man falls through ice but is pulled out, plane crashes on frozen lake, a gunfight occurs, etc.
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Kidnapping, lying, manipulation of human genes, cheating.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film celebrates mothers protecting their children. What does Scripture teach about caring for children and other vulnerable people?
Psalm 82:3 · James 1:27Owen promises to bring Blue’s baby back. What does faithful responsibility look like when someone depends on you?
Proverbs 12:10 · Luke 16:10The story includes genetic engineering and implied references to evolution. How should Christians think about humanity’s power over creation?
Genesis 1:26–28 · Psalm 24:1The characters face frightening danger while trying to rescue others. Where can you turn for courage when fear takes over?
Psalm 56:3–4 · 2 Timothy 1:7The Final Word
JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION offers terrific action, thrilling dinosaur encounters and a strong theme of motherhood. Its language and frightening violence call for discernment, especially with younger children. For families ready for those concerns, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
