My Favourite Jurassic Park Films of All-Time

Few film franchises about dark dinosaurs with a spark are as beloved as “Jurassic Park”. Since introduction during the 1990’s, Steven Spielberg’s franchise gained a huge following. Arguably, the greatest strength of the franchise has always been its awe-inspiring special effects. Through groundbreaking special effects recreating frightening dinosaurs, it has become a series which audiences value. Listed below are my personal picks for the greatest movies in a franchise that deserves to be celebrated.

1. Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is a dazzling franchise about dinosaurs that my grandfather has always loved dearly. At an early age, I formed a strong bond with a grandfather that loved a franchise about dinosaurs causing damage. He would often gape in awe at the jaw-dropping sight of dinosaurs in movies without a flaw. I would always look forward every summer to watching movies about frightening dinosaurs with a grandfather that I grew up to treasure. Through his admiration for the Jurassic Park genre, my grandfather gave me a lifelong love of Cinema. My grandfather’s lifelong appreciation for the Jurassic Park franchise began in 1993 when he first saw “Jurassic Park”. Ever since its release in 1993, Steven Spielberg’s commemorated movie has stood the test of time as an unforgettable classic. The first film in the long-running franchise broke ground through its realistic creation of dinosaurs using motion-capture technology. Packed with breathtaking special effects, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it remains one of the greatest movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Jeff Goldblum, who embodies an iconic scientist with great interest in dinosaurs. Ultimately, what makes “Jurassic Park” the best movie in the franchise is balance. Unlike later movies in the franchise that suffered from poor storytelling, the film found a balance between character development and action. For instance, the scene in which the archaeologists witness the jaw-dropping sight of dinosaurs roaming around in the theme park for the first time remains one of the best moments of the franchise. It remains one of those rare blockbusters everyone can enjoy regardless of their age. A breathtaking beginning of a franchise about dinosaurs in theme parks that are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated series that forever changed the world manufacturing engaging movies that are worth celebrating.

2. Jurassic Park: The Lost World

My parents have played a pivotal role shaping my personality. As far as I remember, I have always shared a strong bond with my parents that I have grown up to treasure. Their inspiring guidance has always inspired me to achieve goals that I am pursuing. However, their approach of parenting hasn’t always proven to be successful. There have been depressing times when my parents have made certain decisions that they aren’t proud of. A common theme running throughout the Jurassic Park franchise is bad parenting. Throughout the franchise, the archaeologists struggle to take care of children whose lives are in grave danger in a theme park where dinosaurs cause terror. This theme is clearly evident in “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”. Released in 1997, Steven Spielberg’s sequel offered awe-inspiring dinosaur spectacle paying tribute to the original. What makes “The Lost World” stand out in the franchise is its realistic depiction of parenting. Unlike previous films in the franchise, the film painted a realistic portrait of parenting. It delivers a strong message about the consequences that come with bad parenting. For all its strengths, “The Lost World” is admittedly not perfect. It’s poorly paced, lacking the strong storytelling of the first film. It falls short of the high standard that the first film set in the visual effects department. Unfortunately, it can’t replicate the jaw-dropping magic of the original film which remains superior in every way. Although “The Lost World” isn’t quite as groundbreaking as the iconic first film in the franchise, it’s still definitely worth watching. A spectacular sequel about strong dinosaurs that marvel, it’s a remarkable reminder about a commemorated franchise that audiences have always considered to be special.

3. Jurassic World

It isn’t easy to create a reboot of a successful franchise. When it was first announced that a reboot of the Jurassic Park franchise was in production, many fans questioned whether it would live up to their high expectation. Arguably, the first Jurassic Park film directed by Steven Spielberg set a high standard that sequels couldn’t possibly meet. I remember being conflicted when I first heard the news debating whether the new reboot would be appreciated. That being said, I was surprised by how much I loved “Jurassic World”. Released in 2015, Colin Trevorrow’s blockbuster did an exceptional job of reimagining a franchise about dinosaurs for a modern generation. Packed with awe-inspiring special effects, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a remarkable reboot of the dinosaur franchise. Trevorrow did an excellent job of paying tribute to the series through nostalgic callbacks. For instance, the final battle scene in which the dinosaurs fight each other witnessed by Owen is one of the greatest moments of the series. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance from Chris Pratt, who embodies a charismatic trainer forming a strong connection with dinosaurs. Ultimately, what makes “Jurassic World” stand out in the franchise is its universal appeal. It captures the long-lasting appeal of a franchise that has always appealed to both kids and adults like. Despite its strengths, “Jurassic World” is one of those films that isn’t quite perfect. It suffers from a bloated running-time, lacking the strong storytelling of Spielberg’s movies. While it isn’t as groundbreaking as Spielberg’s first two films, “Jurassic World” remains a wonderful celebration of the dinosaur franchise. A wondrous reboot of a world-famous franchise about dinosaurs that are dangerous, it’s a breathtaking reminder about a commemorated film series that audiences always consider to be precious.

4. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Dinosaurs are terrifying creatures which have always scared me. Ever since I was a child, I’ve often had a fear of dinosaurs. As far as I remember, I’ve feared dinosaurs. With their sharp jaws, larger-than-life figures and pitiless eyes, dinosaurs frighten me. Although I’m well aware they don’t exist in the real world, dinosaurs remain a source of fear. Scary dinosaurs have always been a common theme in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, and they are most evident in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom”. Released in 2018, J.A. Bayona’s blockbuster captured the enduring appeal of frightening dinosaurs in a franchise that audiences treasure. The scariest film in the Jurassic Park franchise offers a frightening depiction of dinosaurs that cause damage. Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors but “Fallen Kingdom” stands out as an exception. The film managed to improve on the original film through finding a balance between storytelling and spectacle. One area where the film improves upon its predecessor is the depiction of dinosaurs. The dinosaurs in “Fallen Kingdom” were far more scary than the ones in “Jurassic World”. Trevorrow used gothic visuals to bring dinosaurs to life. For instance, the scene in which an Indoraptor dinosaur invades the bedroom of a young girl as she sleeps is one of the most memorable moments of the franchise. While it can’t replicate the magic of Spielberg’s films, “Fallen Kingdom” deserves praise for celebrating Jurassic Park’s legacy. As powerful as dinosaurs escaping the fallen kingdom, it’s a commemorated reminder of a franchise that achieved stardom through depiction of creatures that cause mayhem.

5. Jurassic Park 3

When it comes to the worst movies in the “Jurassic Park” franchise that lack a spark, it’s worth discussing “Jurassic Park 3”. Released in 2001, Joe Johnston’s movie failed to celebrated the legacy of the franchise about dinosaurs causing catastrophe. Considered by many fans to be the worst movie in the dinosaur franchise, “Jurassic Park 3” is one of those films that just didn’t work on any level whatsoever. Despite breathtaking special effects bringing the dinosaurs to life, the film suffered from poor storytelling lacking the magic of previous movies. That being said, the movie isn’t the total disaster that critics made it out to be. For all its faults, the movie does have redeeming qualities that make it worth watching. If there’s one reason why “Jurassic Park 3” is worth watching, it’s the spectacle. Out of all the films in the dinosaur franchise, it’s the film that has always captured spectacle in the series. Watching the scary dinosaurs wreak havoc has rarely been as entertaining as it is in this film. Ultimately, “Jurassic Park 3” is worth seeing for its strong sense of spectacle. While it’s far from a perfect movie, it captures spectacle that the Jurassic Park franchise has become famous for. As powerful as dinosaurs causing parks to face danger, it’s a remarkable reminder of a celebrated franchise which hasn’t lost its abilities to entertain that fans treasure.

6. Jurassic World: Dominion

There’s nothing more depressing than when movies you anticipated seeing leave you disappointed. Unfortunately, this sums up how I feel about “Jurassic World: Dominion”. Back in 2022, I was anxiously anticipating seeing “Jurassic World: Dominion”. I vividly remember being excited to see the latest blockbuster about dinosaurs in the theatre. Feeling excitement, I rushed to the theatre to see the movie expecting great entertainment. Then came the disappointment when the movie ended. Few films I’ve ever seen have let me down falling short of expectation as much as “Jurassic World: Dominion”. Released in 2022, Colin Trevorrow’s blockbuster was a disaster that failed to celebrate the franchise about dinosaurs causing danger. Packed with over-the-top action sequences, lacklustre storytelling and a lack of emotion, “Jurassic World: Dominion” is easily the worst movie in the franchise. For all its faults, however, the film isn’t a total catastrophe. The film does benefit from having a great cast. It is somewhat salvaged by the actors particularly the returning cast from the original series. It’s heartwarming to see Jeff Goldblum returning after several years to his iconic role as the scientist of the dinosaur franchise. Goldblum is one of those actors that elevates every movie he’s in regardless of whether it’s poor quality. Ultimately, for all its faults “Jurassic World: Dominion” is worth watching for its celebration of the franchise’s legacy. As precious as the Jurassic Park theme park, it’s a breathtaking reminder of a franchise that left a lasting mark on the world which I will forever treasure for inspiring my lifelong love for watching movies in the dark.