Anne Hathaway Saves Dinosaur Blockbuster From Extinction
The End of Oak Street drops a 1982 Michigan cul-de-sac into a dinosaur-filled prehistoric ecosystem. Hathaway plays Denise Platt, a housewife quietly writing a novel while her marriage unravels — then the carnage begins.
- 99-100 minutes long; rated PG-13 in the US, 12A in the UK.
- Budget reportedly came in well under $100 million, per producers.
- ILM handled visual effects; Michael Giacchino composed the score.
- The cast includes Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, and Christian Convery alongside Hathaway.
Why it matters: The film is Hathaway's fourth of five releases in 2026, following Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2 and preceding Verity. Her performance draws the most consistent praise across reviews.
- Mitchell's previous feature, It Follows, came out in 2014; Oak Street is his return after an eight-year gap from commercial filmmaking.
How 8 sources split on this story
Where they split: Critics agree Hathaway carries the film but disagree on whether Mitchell's direction and script rise to match her.
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center frames it as a gleefully shameless blockbuster — cheesy dialogue and all — that delivers enough non-stop action and creature spectacle to earn its ticket price, provided audiences check plausibility at the door.
Left coverage, 6 sources: The left splits between enthusiasm and qualified praise: some call it one of the summer's best films and a genuine heir to Spielberg's imagination, while others argue Mitchell's thin screenplay nearly undoes strong visual instincts and Hathaway's committed performance.
The Independent3hThe End of Oak Street review – Anne Hathaway’s dinosaur blockbuster is better than any of the Jurassic World filmsSFCSan Francisco Chronicle3hReview: Anne Hathaway saves ‘The End of Oak Street’ from extinction
Gizmodo3h'The End of Oak Street' Is the Family vs. Dinosaur Adventure You Didn't Know You Needed
Hollywood Reporter3h‘The End of Oak Street’ Review: Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor in Ersatz ’80s Amblin Nostalgia That’s Fun as Far as High-End Trash Goes
Rolling Stone3h‘The End of Oak Street’ Is the Best Vintage-Spielberg Rip-Off of the Past Decade
The Daily Beast2hOscar Winner Proves She Can Do Anything With Bold New SwingWhat’s next: The film opens wide August 14 in direct competition with Paw Patrol Dino Movie.
- Whether the film's reported sub-$100 million budget translates to box-office profitability remains to be seen.
- How audiences respond to the film's tonal shifts — from quiet suburban drama to large-scale action — is untested at wide release.