We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story

In the Cretaceous Period, Rex is chased by a Thescelosaurus and is captured by Captain Neweyes' flying time-traveling ship. Neweyes and his alien assistant Vorb plan to collect four dinosaurs and bring them to the present. They intend to grant the creatures sentience with Brain Grain and guide them to the Museum of Natural History.

On the ship, Captain Neweyes explains the Brain Grain plan. The four dinosaurs—Rex, Woog, Elsa, and Dweeb—are chosen to receive sentience, becoming aware of their fate and the mission ahead. They prepare mentally for the journey to the modern world.

The ship drops the dinosaurs into the East River in 1993, beginning their present-day adventure. They hope to meet Dr. Bleeb and reach the Museum of Natural History, but obstacles quickly appear. Louie and Cecilia, two city kids, sense something extraordinary happening in their city.

Louie and Cecilia encounter the stranded dinosaurs and decide to help them. They keep the creatures hidden from most adults while navigating the city to find a path to the museum. A bond forms between the kids and their prehistoric friends.

To avoid attention, the dinosaurs pose as animatronics in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. During their performance, Rex accidentally deflates an Apatosaurus balloon, revealing the truth to the crowd. The audience cheers at the spectacle, but the adults panic and pursue them.

Chased by authorities, the group flees the parade route and escapes into Central Park. Louie and Cecilia cling to the hope of getting to the museum, while the city tears after them. The dinosaurs struggle to stay hidden and safe in a human-dominated landscape.

The children meet Professor Screweyes, who runs the horror-themed Eccentric Circus. They unknowingly sign a contract to perform under his control, while the dinosaurs arrive to try to rescue them from danger. A new threat emerges as Screweyes watches the kids and dinosaurs with calculating eyes.

Screweyes uses Brain Drain to turn the children into mindless chimps and forces the dinosaurs to take Brain Drain pills as well, causing them to lose their intelligence and revert to their natural forms. Screweyes seeks to exploit them for fearsome spectacle. The situation becomes dire as the bonds between the children and their dinosaur friends fray.

Stubbs, a friendly clown affiliated with Screweyes, reveals the circus' true plan and warns Louie and Cecilia. The kids realize they must act and prepare for a daring escape and an attempt to restore the dinosaurs' minds. The next morning, they move to stage a reunion and escape.

Louie and Cecilia sneak back into the circus as the dinosaurs perform their act. Rex is hypnotized by Screweyes, but a crow's flare interrupts the scene. The children’s earnest pleas and affection reach the dinosaurs, restoring their sentience and ending Screweyes' control.

Captain Neweyes arrives in his ship to lift the kids and dinosaurs out of the circus. Screweyes is devoured by crows, and the magical charm is shattered as the crow drags away the screw. The group heads for the Museum of Natural History.

The dinosaurs meet Dr. Julia Bleeb at the Museum of Natural History, and the next day they are revealed to a crowd of children, fulfilling Neweyes' plan. Louie and Cecilia reconcile and become a couple after reuniting with their parents.

Back in present-day New York, Buster returns to his family and brushes off his siblings' taunts. Rex bids him good night and asks him to remember the story as he heads back to join his friends at the museum.