For Millennials. By Millennials.
Today is your lucky day! As we are here with the list of the Jurassic Park movies in order for you to watch. The Jurassic Park franchise ignited a love for dinosaurs amongst a lot of people, this is why the franchise itself is so popular. When the first Jurassic Park movie came out it impressed the audience and took the industry by storm as it quickly became one of the best movies of the 1990s. After the success of the first film, two more movies were released about Jurassic Park, making it a trilogy.
However, after this trilogy, there was a 14-year gap in the franchise after which the Jurassic World movies came out. The first Jurassic World movie came out in 2015, subsequently, two more movies were released under the Jurassic World banner. The most recent Jurassic World movie was released just a few weeks ago. Until now, so many movies in the franchise are confusing its viewers on how many Jurassic Park movies are there. So, if you want to catch up on the franchise and do not know where to start, here is a list of the best Jurassic Park movies in order for you.
1. Jurassic Park
Directed by Stephen Spielberg and based on the book of the same name by Michael Crichton, this film was released in 1993. It went on to become a blockbuster and the highest-earning film of all time. This Jurassic Park movie was produced by Universal Pictures. The story follows John Hammond, and Richard Attenborough, the owner of a theme park. Hammond hires a team of scientists and specialists to evaluate and make sure that the park is safe and can be opened to the public.
The team included Dr. Allan Grant (played by Sam Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (played by Laura Dern). However, all hell breaks loose when the creatures in the park escape due to a security failure, and chaos ensues. The original Jurassic Park movie is still one of the best Jurassic Park movies out of the lot. The film managed to acquire more than 20 awards including 3 Academy Awards.
2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Stephen Spielberg returned four years after the original movie, in 1997, with a sequel called ‘The Lost World’. In this film, it is shown that John Hammond has lost ownership of his company, InGen. Hence losing ownership of the park. However, it is revealed that there is another secret island that Hammond still possessed ownership rights to. This island was used for the breeding of dinosaurs. And ultimately to cover up the blunder that happened in the first film.
Unfortunately, an incident takes place on the island. This leads to Hammond recruiting mathematician Ian Malcolm (played by Jeff Goldblum) to help him. Things get further complicated when the owners of InGen start to sneak out dinosaurs. They do this to send them to a new Jurassic Park in San Diego. While this film did not do as well as the original, it was still enjoyed by many. This Jurassic Park movie was not the best Jurassic Park movie but it managed to get an Academy Award nomination.
3. Jurassic Park III
Following the chronological order of Jurassic Park Movies, here we have the third one that was released in 2001. It saw the return of Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant. The film follows Dr. Grant who is working on a new project to determine the intelligence of Velociraptors. However, he does not have enough funds to complete his research and finish the project.
That is when he meets a wealthy couple, Paul and Amanda Kirby (played by William H Macy and Tea Leoni respectively). The couple agrees to fund Dr. Grant’s project on the condition. That they get an aerial tour of Isla Sorna (the same island used in the Lost World movie). Unknown to Dr. Grant, the couple has ulterior motives. As they are on the search for their son who got lost on the island. While this film was also somewhat of a success. Still, it did not do as well as the other two Jurassic Park movies in terms of ratings. It was directed by Joe Johnston and the screenwriters were Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor, and Peter Buchman.
4. Jurassic World
After a long and overdue wait by the franchise’s die-hard fans came along Jurassic World. While the film itself was released in 2015. Some reports suggest that its production was supposed to be way back in 2004. But there was a decade-long delay due to some unknown reasons. Jurassic World reveals that Simon Masrani, CEO of Masrani Corporation acquires ownership of InGen back in 1997. Simon bought InGen to operate his own theme park known as ‘Jurassic World’. The film begins 10 years after the opening of Jurassic World.
The story follows how during a routine day at the theme park, two little boys, Zach and Gary visit it. While their aunt, Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) is in charge there. However, chaos ensues when a genetically-engineered dinosaur manages to escape its enclosure. In order to save her nephews, Claire seeks help from Owen Grady (played by Chris Pratt), a velociraptor specialist. This Jurassic Park movie was also highly successful according to its box office earnings. Which were over a billion dollars making it one of the highest-grossing films of its time. In the chronological order of Jurassic Park movies, this is also considered one of the best projects of Universal Pictures. Colin Trevorrow was the director of this popular film.
5. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
It is a sequel to the first Jurassic World film, the Fallen Kingdom in 2018. Directed by J. A. Bayona, it came three years after the release of Jurassic World. This film follows how the dinosaurs are living peacefully in Isla Nubar for four years. They lived peacefully without the interference of human beings. However, a volcanic eruption near the area may lead to the extinction of the dinosaur species. In order to save them from extinction and safely move them from the island, Claire seeks help from one of Hammond’s former partners, Dr. Benjamin Lockwood.
Chris Pratt also returns as Owen Grady to help Claire in her mission to save the dinosaurs. Jeff Goldblum also returns to the screen to reprise his role as Ian Malcolm, the mathematician in the original films. This film was also highly successful worldwide and managed to cross the billion-dollar mark. When you’re watching the Jurassic Park movies in order, be sure to watch this one!
6. Battle at Big Rock
Set a year after the events of Fallen Kingdom in 2019, Battle at Big Rock is a short film by the director of the first Jurassic World, Colin Trevorrow. The story follows that while the dinosaurs were released, a family decided to go on a camping trip at Big Rock Park. While they were camping they come across a baby and adult dinosaur which leaves them in awe of the specie. It also shows the first real interaction between the dinosaurs and human beings. However, this interaction is quickly interrupted when a dangerous dinosaur approaches the family and attacks their baby. What follows is a deadly battle between the dinosaurs while the family seeks shelter in their camper.
This short film is 10-minutes long and is available on YouTube, you can watch it right here.
7. Jurassic World Dominion
In the third and final movie of the Jurassic World franchise, Jurassic World Dominion witnesses the return of the original three. The original three were Dr. Allan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm with the original actors reprising their roles. The story takes place after the events of the Fallen Kingdom where the dinosaurs are roaming around freely on earth, living amongst the human beings. When Maisie Lockwood, the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Lockwood gets kidnapped by a big corporation called BioSyn for their ulterior motives. Claire, Owen, and the original three all end up at the BioSyn headquarters to fight the wrongdoings and eventually determine the fate of the dinosaurs. Colin Trevorrow was also the director of this installment of the franchise.
The final installment to the franchise was definitely a delight to watch as it brought together the original cast from the first-ever Jurassic Park film. It also features the original cast of the Jurassic World film, making it a fusion between the two branches of the franchise. Only time will tell whether there will be another installment in the Jurassic World Movies franchise. Maybe a completely new branch is introduced to ignite the love for dinosaurs in people’s hearts again.