Some say you can hear the plot of Jurassic World Rebirth coming from a mile away. A ragtag group of adventurers lands on a remote island, planning to exploit dinosaur DNA – and naturally, some of them get chomped. But let’s be honest: it’s not 1993, and you’re most likely taking your kids to the cinema for a story from your own early years.

And that’s precisely what Rebirth provides, beginning with the screenwriter. The film marks the return of David Koepp, the same man who wrote the screenplay for the original Jurassic Park. That connection alone brings a tinge of nostalgia, even as the franchise stomps into new terrain.

Now, here’s the cast and their characters: Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali lead the story as covert operatives; Jonathan Bailey plays the inevitable paleontologist; and Rupert Friend appears as a pharmaceutical mogul hoping to treat heart disease by harvesting samples from three giant reptilian hearts. Predictable characters? Sure – at least for those of us who saw the original.

At its core, Jurassic World Rebirth is exactly what it promises to be: a “show me the dinosaur” movie. It’s all about spectacle, not science or psychology. Gone is the wide-eyed wonder that made the original so iconic. These aren’t creatures to dream about – they’re creatures to look at.

In 2025, even kids aren’t surprised by dinosaurs anymore, so the film spends its two-hour-plus runtime delivering visual hits: swooping Quetzalcoatlus, splashing Mosasaurus, frilled Dilophosaurus, and all sorts of LookWhatASaurus one can imagine.

And now for the juicy, sweet cherry on top – one that’s especially irresistible for us here in Phuket.

The dinosaurs roam not in a faraway CGI jungle, but just across the water in Krabi and Trang. That’s right: the seventh Jurassic movie was filmed just 40 kilometers from Phuket’s shores.

In fact, a simple three-hour drive will take you to ATV Nature Viewpoint in Krabi, where some of the film’s most breathtaking panoramic scenes were shot.

Unlike many recent blockbusters filmed here (Fast & Furious 9, Meg 2), Rebirth lets the southern Thai backdrop shine as a true star.

How much of The Beach can you still access? What’s left to explore on James Bond Island? These locations have been loved – and, in some cases, loved to death. But the Jurassic World Rebirth filming sites remain wild, untouched, and fully explorable.

And that’s no coincidence. The production was strictly monitored by Thai environmental authorities, ensuring minimal impact on nature. What you see on screen is almost exactly what you’ll find when you visit – no artificial sets, no Hollywood trickery.

Ready to explore? Here’s where to start:

• ATV Nature Viewpoint – A jaw-dropping jungle-and-sea panorama, just as seen in the film
• Railay Beach – Cliffs, sand, and sunsets make it the perfect base camp
• Ao Phang Nga National Park – Iconic limestone formations and kayaking in mangrove forests
• Khlong Nam Sai – A rafting route through jungle rivers, just like in the movie
• Palm Garden in Khao Kram – Endless green fields captured in cinematic glory
• Huai To Waterfall – The now-famous cascade inside Khao Phanom Bencha National Park

Let’s admit it: no dinosaur movie can ever recapture the magic of seeing Spielberg’s Jurassic Park for the first time. But as a Phuket resident, you’re being offered something else – something just as unforgettable.

With Jurassic World Rebirth, you don’t just watch the adventure. You can live it.

All photos are from the website https://www.jurassicworld.com