If I loved Jurassic Park less, I might be able to talk about it more. Because every time I try, words fail me, even if it’s just an attempt to write about the original score and how genuinely moving it is. It’s the first movie I watched that made me understand just how unbeatable practical effects can be, and it helps that the story’s also an exemplary cautionary tale that still holds up today.
I know there are people out there who’ve still never watched the original Jurassic Park trilogy because I know too many of them personally. Some thought it’d be too scary; others just haven’t gotten around to them yet. And because of the newer movies, it can be hard to piece together which ones are essential. But if you only ever marathon a few, let it be the big three (and one bonus)!
Jurassic Park
If you only watch one dinosaur movie for the rest of your life, it’s got to be the original Jurassic Park. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is revered as an AFI Top 100, but I stand by the fact that Jurassic Park is the stronger film on all fronts. It’s a brilliantly compelling story that explores our human curiosities on top of the dangers of our minds, and it gets better with every viewing.
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With the most iconic score from Sir John Williams, memorable performances from the whole cast, and practical effects that should still be the standard, it’s a perfect movie in every way it can be. Plus, Laura Dern’s Dr. Ellie Sattler is the kind of woman who should always be on our screens, and I’ve aspired to be just like her since I was a kid.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The second movie, The Lost World, is personally my least favorite because the absence of Ellie and the late Sam Neill’s Alan Grant is so sorely felt that the movie doesn’t feel right without them.
Still, it’s an entertaining sequel that answers questions and explores why these characters are here without delivering a movie that’s an obvious cash grab. There’s nuance in the story, and the dinosaurs are still so cool that it’s compelling to watch regardless.
Jurassic Park III
All is well again in Jurassic Park III when Ellie and Alan return. And while they’re essentially broken up here, it still feels significantly better that they’re sharing the same space. Not to mention that the research portion of the movie works to make it feel like a justified trilogy that advances the plot in a way that ensures it feels organic.
The visuals and music are still incredible, and a good portion of it still provides thrilling entertainment that makes it fun for the whole family. As someone who never found these movies scary as a kid because I was always fascinated with dinosaurs, this might not be the case for everyone. Still, maybe introducing it to younger audiences slowly could do the trick.
Honorable Mention: Jurassic World: Dominion
While the Jurassic World spin-offs personally don’t work for me, save for Jurassic World Rebirth, because I’m a Jonathan Bailey fan first and foremost, Jurassic World: Dominion is worth revisiting for how it delivers a solid second chance romance for Ellie and Alan fans. There, it shines. There, it provides perfect closure that both newer fans and original fans could appreciate.
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