THE END OF OAK STREET

It's refreshing to have an original dinosaur film releasing in 2026 that isn't tied down to the Jurassic franchise in any shape or form. Dinosaurs have the ability to bring out that sense of awe and wonder you felt as a child, while also striking fear into you. The End of Oak Street manages to do both, delivering a fun adventure that possesses a nasty streak, which acts as a proper throwback to a time where films were most interested in entertaining their audiences before anything else.

After a mysterious cosmic event uproots Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighbourhood to a location with prehistoric creatures, the Platt family (Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery) soon discovers that their survival depends on sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings.

It's amazing that this film manages to run at just over ninety minutes and not feel weighed down by excess baggage. Unlike the recent Jurassic films, there isn't a human clone or dinosaur auction subplot in sight, and the film is better for it. Instead we are thrown into the middle of a summer block party in 80s America; a time where neighbours liked each other and kids roamed free on bikes while not acting like delinquents. We are introduced to the Platt family, and it's clear not all is well between the parents, even their children picking up on their concerning behaviour towards one another. It's a simple setup however, it's all you need for a film like this.

A strange phenomenon during the night sees the Platt family and the rest of their neighbourhood transported back to prehistoric times, and this is where the film becomes a lean, mean, thrilling machine. The performances really do sell the confusion of it all, while David Robert Mitchell has fun throwing the family into one life-threatening encounter after another. The director of It Follows showcases the same sense of dread in the set-pieces here, my worry that some of the dinosaurs have fleeting appearances later squashed with an encounter with a slippery guest, seen earlier in the film, leaving my skin crawling. Judging from the sounds coming from the rest of the audience, I wasn't the only one. It pushes the rating as far as it can with some real nasty moments scattered throughout - innocent bystanders getting picked off left, right and centre. In fact, my mouth was left wide open at one particular moment that caught me off guard.

As the film reaches its final act, it's clear that the mystery around how this all happened isn't going to be explored and left at just that, a mystery. The film asks you to lean on the side of not having everything explained to you and it's where, for me, the right decision is made. This isn't interested in setting up a new cinematic universe and harkens back to the days of weird shit happening in films without every minute detail being explored. It will no doubt be divisive in that regard, but it's easy to just go along for the ride here and try not to wrap your head around it all. 

Leading the charge against the dinosaurs and trying their best to protect their children, as well as finding a way home in such an impossible situation, is Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway as Greg and Denise Platt. The dire scenario forces them to try and put their issues aside, both working together well throughout - McGregor showing plenty of vulnerability as the proud man trying his best to provide for his family. It's Hathaway though who serves as the film's MVP, determined and fierce in the battle to protect her children while wielding a rifle amongst other weapons. Maisy Stella and Christian Convery serve the film well as Audrey and Brian, the Platt children, but they don't get as much of a chance to shine as the two leads.

The End of Oak Street is a fine summer blockbuster for the whole family to enjoy together. While it may not hold the weight of the Jurassic franchise, it does a great job in making dinosaurs act like the wild and unpredictable creatures they once were, rather than making them sidekicks to the humans. Hopefully, it could see the start of more dinosaur films making their way to cinemas.

Verdict: ★★★★