Steven Spielberg’s name is pretty much synonymous with almost every iconic film there is in the history of cinema. The director has crafted some of the most unforgettable experiences for audiences throughout the years, but now he feels a pull to focus on more grounded narratives. He believes he has fulfilled his duty in the realm of outworldly spectacle and wishes to shed light on Earth-bound stories that resonate with him deeply.
As a result, he may choose to step away from big franchises like Jurassic World, as its success doesn’t bring him the same level of happiness as working on projects that hold personal significance to him.
Why Steven Spielberg Might Never Return to Big Franchises Like Jurassic World
Throughout his illustrious career, Steven Spielberg has crafted cinematic universes that have later been expanded into vast worlds of their own. However, in recent years, the director has found himself increasingly drawn to narratives rooted firmly on Earth, devoid of any extraterrestrial elements.
In an interview with Time, while discussing his film Bridge of Spies, a gripping Cold War drama centered around the exchange of spies between the United States and the Soviet Union, Spielberg expressed his interest in stories that focus solely on earthly matters. He explained,
“Thank goodness. I can’t live on an alien planet my entire career. I’ve got to find things that are earthbound that make me glad to be on this planet and experiences, when I’m making films, that have relevance and have kinship to actual events in history. That fills me up; that makes me actually happier in this stage of my life than even a success like Jurassic World.”
While Jurassic World indeed took place on Earth, Spielberg currently finds himself not interested in some expansive franchise worlds or fantasy realms anymore. Fans do understand the reasons behind his shift in focus and are here for all the adventures he has in store for them.
How Successful Is the Jurassic World Franchise Actually?
Imagine a movie franchise that’s not only hugely profitable but also keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with each installment. That’s exactly what the Jurassic franchise has achieved in Hollywood. With five films already under its belt, this live-action series has raked in an average of $1 billion worldwide per movie, all while keeping production costs relatively modest, averaging around $123 million.
With the latest addition, Dominion hitting $1 billion, and the franchise’s combined earnings are over $6 billion as per Box Office Mojo, all on a combined budget of $736 million. That’s an incredible average gross of $990 million per movie against that $123 million budget.
To put everything into context, when Jurassic World hit the screens, it was bigger than The Avengers in its opening weekend, with $208 million compared to $207 million. Not only that, but it also outpaced The Avengers in the long run as well, boasting a larger global gross of $1.671 billion compared to $1.515 billion as per The Numbers.
The excitement didn’t stop there. The Fallen Kingdom wowed audiences, earning $417 million domestically, even more than Wonder Woman, and a whopping $1.308 billion worldwide, surpassing The Last Jedi and Black Panther in overseas earnings.
Every Jurassic World movie is available on Max to stream.
