JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH and July 2025 Special Screenings 

• Universal Pictures
• Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth

Jurassic World Rebirth
Screenwriter David Koepp, who adapted the original 1993 Jurassic Park, opens this latest entry with nervy conceit that after 32 years, people have kinda gotten bored with dinosaurs—which could have blown up in his face had this movie not offered something at least a little bit fresh. It doesn't look promising at the outset, with a couple nudging references to the original movie as we set up the premise of a pharmaceutical executive (Rupert Friend) hiring a mercenary (Scarlett Johansson) and a paleontologist (Jonathan Bailey) to secure dino DNA for potentially revolutionary medicines. And Koepp certainly seems to believe his own formula works: a nod to rapacious capitalism; a rescued family that allows him to continue providing a child in peril; half-hearted emotional motivations among the adult characters like Johansson and her boat-captain colleague (Mahershala Ali). It's an inspired choice to turn not to Jurassic Park but to Jaws for the foundation of the seafaring opening act, and that's only the start for director Gareth Edwards (the 2014 Godzilla) offering up several terrific action sequences, including the family's showdown with a T. rex on a river. Maybe we'll never again have the awestruck reactions we see from Bailey's scientist, but if you can crank up the echoes of summer adventure, you at least get an effective evocation of when dinosaurs ruled the box office. Available July 2 in theaters. (PG-13)

JULY 2025 SPECIAL SCREENINGS
This Is Spinal Tap: It's taken more than 40 years, but we'll finally be getting a feature-length follow-up to the landmark mock-rock-umentary This Is Spinal Tap in the fall. To prepare yourselves for its majesty, take advantage of a special opportunity to see the remastered version of the original on a big screen. Local theaters will feature screenings July 5 – 7; visit fathomentertainment.com/releases/this-is-spinal-tap/ to find locations and showtimes near you.

Sundance Local Lens: The Sundance Film Festival may have one foot out the door beyond January 2026, but for the time being, we can still enjoy some of the perks of being its home. This month, several select features from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival will be featured at special free screenings both in Salt Lake City (at the Broadway Centre Cinemas) and in Park City (at The Ray Theatre). Titles include Twinless (July 17, 7:30 p.m., Broadway); Omaha (July 17, 7:30 p.m., The Ray; July 19, 3 p.m., Broadway, both with director Cole Webley); All That's Left of You (July 18, 5 p.m., The Ray; July 19, 7 p.m., Broadway); The Librarians (July 18, 5 p.m., Broadway; July 19, 11 a.m., The Ray, both with director Kim A. Snyder); Selena y Los Dinos (July 18, The Ray, 8:30 p.m.); The Dating Game (July 18, 8:30 p.m., Broadway; July 19, 3 p.m., The Ray); Come See Me in the Good Light (July 19, 11 a.m., Broadway); and Rebuilding (July 19, 7 p.m., The Ray). Visit sundance.org/local-lens to reserve free tickets.

Utah Film Center Summer Outdoor Film Series: Summer is the season for watching movies under the stars, and Utah Film Center kicks off its own series at Liberty Park in July, each film connected to one of the organization's ongoing programs. On Friday, July 11, experience the Oscar-winning Best Animated Feature Flow, about the adventures of a cat trying to survive a massive flood (Tumbleweeds Film Festival for Children). Friday, July 18, catch The Apollo, a documentary chronicling the history of New York City's legendary Apollo Theater (Black, Bold & Brilliant). On Friday, July 25, it's Riddle of Fire, the charming filmed-in-Utah adventure of three young children on a fantastical quest (Utah Filmmaker Showcase). And on Aug. 1, the Sundance 2025 documentary Move Ya Body: The Birth of House captures the creation of house music born out of the death of disco (Utah Queer Film Festival). All screenings start at 8 p.m.; visit utahfilmcenter.org to RSVP for free tickets.

Kurosawa-Fest @ Salt Lake Film Society: The legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa influenced a generation of American filmmakers—and the blockbuster action films they created—with his distinctive style. In July, SLFS begins a multi-week showcase of some of his greatest films, all in 4K restorations. The event begins July 27 with the 40th anniversary of 1985's Ran, followed by Rashomon (1950) and Throne of Blood (1957) on Aug. 3, and both Yojimbo (1961) and Sanjuro (1962) on Aug. 10. Visit slfs.org for showtime information.