Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Has Lofty Standards

The buzz is beginning to build for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which is slated for a 2018 release. Just recently we posted the release of the first trailer, which was received with a great deal of excitement on the internet. But is this a film destined to disappoint? Or can it meet or exceed the high bar set by its predecessor?

Jurassic World was a massive undertaking by Universal – a bold reboot of one of the most legendary franchises in Hollywood history. And it didn’t disappoint; in fact, it probably excelled beyond studio executives’ wildest dreams. Jurassic World put up some of the biggest box office numbers ever seen, and has settled into fourth place among the highest grossing films of all time (at roughly $1.67 billion worldwide). Next year’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom represents the second film in a planned trilogy. But is there really any way it can outperform the stunningly successful first movie? 

One small possibility is that this sequel could reach a broader audience than Jurassic World itself. That seems unlikely when you consider the numbers of the first one, as well as the fact that Jurassic World already seems to appeal to just about everyone. That said, the details here matter. For instance, Chris Pratt – the central actor for this rebooted franchise – has only become a bigger star since the first movie, and may be an even bigger draw. Additionally the sequel is already gaining a better reputation for humor. One account of the trailer described it as “absolutely goofy.” The idea of Fallen Kingdom doubling as a comedy could also attract a broader audience. 

This sequel could also expand upon the original when it comes to potential in other media. These days it seems like every action or adventure film produces a strong video game – let alone one with the name recognition of Jurassic Park (or World). Yet the first reboot only really produced a mobile game, as well as an online slot reel. The latter may actually have been truer to the film, given that the basis of the game is Chris Pratt’s character Owen Grady (whereas the mobile game felt more generic). The fact remains though, mobile and slot games aside, that Jurassic World didn’t capitalize on the most basic potential of producing a major console game. Perhaps this sequel will.

Maybe more important than the size of the audience or the potential for games and other media is the critical response. We’ve seen on multiple occasions before that sequels in major franchises can earn superior responses from critics – and if anything, it sounds as if Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom could be following the Empire Strikes Back formula of better developing a core story. In a trilogy, the middle film has the opportunity to move past introductory phases and serve up the big questions for the finale, often making it the most interesting and most naturally paced of the three. Some accounts of the trailer have noted that it serves up big questions, so there’s a chance this is the type of sequel we’re about to see. And if the critics like it more than the original, it could ultimately be viewed as having “outperformed” that original regardless of box office numbers.