I’m not sure what I expected from The End of Oak Street, the new ’80s-era suburban dinosaur romp produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by David Robert Mitchell (It Follows). Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway being chased by prehistoric beasts? Sure. A dash of Spielbergian nostalgia? Absolutely. But I didn’t think it would be the best dinosaur flick since the original Jurassic Park. These dinos have teeth.
The creatures in this film are brutal and ugly, inspiring more eww than awe as they chomp on the Platt family’s neighbors in gruesome fashion after a strange phenomenon transports an entire neighborhood to the prehistoric era. It was refreshing to see a smattering of creatures that are visually distinct from the now-iconic Jurassic designs. And it’s not just dinosaurs, either! I don’t blame the family dog Starbuck for going into hiding for most of the film’s 99-minute running time.
The film doesn’t get too bogged down by the science of the time travel—although it does explain things, ultimately—leaving us with a brisk, action-packed adventure that keeps moving without overstaying its welcome.
The characters in this movie don’t always make the smartest choices in harrowing situations, and I can see cynics finding the ending hokey. Still, The End of Oak Street was, to me, the most pleasant surprise at the cinema in 2026.
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