The End of Oak Street is different from the dinosaur movies we’re used to watching. It feels more like a horror movie, which works in some places, but at other moments it’s just a little too obvious.
Honestly, this is better than the recent dinosaur movies we’ve watched, but unfortunately, the bar isn’t that high. But if you ask me whether this is anywhere close to Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, it’s a big no.
The End of Oak Street plot
A suburban family’s entire neighbourhood is suddenly transported back to the prehistoric past after a mysterious cosmic event. Now surrounded by dinosaurs, the Platt family has to stick together and figure out how to survive in this completely unfamiliar world.
What’s working and what’s not working
There are definitely logic issues, but honestly, going into this movie expecting everything to make perfect sense doesn’t make sense. Especially after watching a spectacle like The Odyssey in IMAX just before this, the flaws are very noticeable. The only similarity between the two movies is Anne Hathaway, and this is honestly an amazing year for her.
Some parts of the movie feel dumb. One second, the whole area shifts back to the past, but there’s barely any shock or emotion from them. The next second, they’re already using wood and logs to block the windows.
If the movie had spent a little more time showing their shock and emotions, it would have been much easier for us to relate to what they were going through.
Like in most thriller-fantasy movies, the story moves forward because of the kids doing something they’re not supposed to. In this movie too, it’s pretty much the same. The kids don’t listen to what they’re told and go outside looking for their dog, Starbucks (definitely one to watch out for). Their parents then go after them, and from there, it’s the usual stuff.
The movie feels a little slow midway, but towards the end, the pace definitely picks up. There are some humour scenes here and there that genuinely work, along with a few shocking, unexpected moments that definitely lift the audience’s spirits.
There’s not much to say about Anne Hathaway’s acting; she absolutely killed it. Ewan McGregor does his job well.
Dinosaurs & Visuals
The only reason most of us are going to this movie is very obviously the dinosaurs, so I have to talk about them.
Honestly, when you look at the graphics, this is definitely not Jurassic World level. In this department, Jurassic World definitely wins. In some places, the CGI looks quite obvious and doesn’t feel all that realistic. But one thing I really liked is how they’ve tried to keep the dinosaurs more accurate to how they actually looked in prehistoric times, based on the latest research.
Like, the T-Rex we’ve enjoyed watching all these years? Forget that. These ones have hair too. And the Brachiosaurus… these guys are another highlight of the movie.
IMAX Experience
Is it worth watching in IMAX? Honestly, I don’t think so. The cinematography and visuals aren’t impressive enough to make the IMAX experience feel essential. Especially after watching a spectacle like The Odyssey in IMAX, almost any movie is going to feel underwhelming visually.
The movie is still enjoyable, but I wouldn’t say IMAX is necessary for this one.
Final Verdict
The movie feels like a mix of Dark, Back to the Future, and Marriage Story, all thrown into one.
It’s also pretty clear that they’re trying to turn this into a separate franchise. They haven’t even explained why this whole area shifted back in time, so yeah, let’s wait and see what this potential franchise brings to us.
Overall, it’s a decent thriller-fantasy dinosaur movie with some logic issues and pacing problems, but the performances, especially Anne Hathaway, definitely work. It doesn’t completely live up to the expectations set by the trailer, and I don’t think it’s worth prioritising in IMAX.
Honestly, it might be the best dinosaur movie we’ve had in years, but ironically, it doesn’t really feel like a Jurassic World movie.
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- The Last House Review: It Tries to Be the Next “A Quiet Place”, But Stumbles in Between — another 2026 thriller chasing a genre classic, with mixed results
- OTT Releases This Week (August 10–16, 2026): Cocktail 2, Reacher Season 4, Mourinho, Aakhri Sawaal & More — if Oak Street isn’t your thing, here’s what else is streaming this week
