It’s easy to hate on the Jurᴀssic World movies, but there are plenty of things to admire about this dinosaur-centric series. While these films always had their work cut out for them when it came to living up to the lofty expectations set by Steven Spielberg, it can sometimes feel like they get a bit too much hate.
The Jurᴀssic World movies have been hugely successful at the box office, and that wouldn’t have happened if they weren’t getting at least a few things right. With awe-inspiring visuals, some incredibly creative choices, and the return of beloved characters, not everything about Jurᴀssic World was flawed.
Jurᴀssic World Felt Like A Welcome Return
The Jurᴀssic World movies get a lot of flak, but back when the first film was released in 2015, it felt nice to see this franchise return with a new installment. Had Jurᴀssic World not tried to continue as its own trilogy focusing on Chris Pratt’s velociraptor expert Owen Grady, we’d likely have a lot more goodwill for it.
The problem with Jurᴀssic World was that it kept coming back with sequels that never felt truly necessary. However, the numbers don’t lie, and audiences also kept coming back to see these movies in the theater, with Jurᴀssic World, Dominion, and Fallen Kingdom all grossing over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Dominion Incorporated Contemporary Science
One issue paleontologists have long had with Jurᴀssic Park was that its depiction of dinosaurs didn’t match contemporary science. The most glaring example of this was that most dinosaurs featured in the film would have been feathered, although science didn’t know this while Steven Spielberg was making his movies, and they were instead shown with more reptilian-scaled skin.
While the Jurᴀssic World series didn’t completely redesign its creatures to align with modern science, Dominion did incorporate feathered dinosaurs for the first time. Although we’re unlikely to see a feathered Tyrannosaurus rex anytime soon, it’s clear the series took note of this criticism and has quietly corrected it for some, but not all, dinosaurs.
Hybrid Dinosaurs Brought Something New To The Franchise
The original Jurᴀssic Park movies were already so grand in scope and scale that it’s challenging to think of ways to make this sequel series more bombastic than what came before. While some criticize the inclusion of hybrid cloned dinosaurs as the moment the series jumped the shark, it opened up the doors for more creative storytelling and grander visuals.
Whether it was the awe-inspiring intensity of the Indominus rex in Jurᴀssic World or the fascinating Mutadon in Rebirth, these unique creatures offered audiences new marvels. Although some fans may lament the departure from scientifically accurate dinosaurs, it’s worth remembering that Jurᴀssic Park has always been sci-fi at its core, and hybrids simply push its concept further.
All These Films Are Still Visually Spectacular
While the visual wonder of seeing the dinosaurs in Jurᴀssic Park on screen for the first time is tough to match, there’s no denying that the Jurᴀssic World movies also look spectacular. With detailed texturing, skin movement, and even eye expression, the filmmakers behind these movies have gone the extra mile to ensure that the dinosaurs feel real.
From wide sH๏τs of stampeding Velociraptors to epic fight sequences between gigantic dinosaurs, every installment is visually stunning and highlights just how far computer-generated imagery has come over the past 30-plus years. Although audiences might sometimes feel burnt out on CGI overload, these films have pushed the boundaries of that technology.
Much of the criticism aimed at the Jurᴀssic World movies is centered on narrative issues, but it’s the impressive visuals that have audiences returning to theaters year after year. This is movie magic in its purest form, and it would be disingenuous to pretend that the Jurᴀssic World sequels aren’t impressive visually.
Rebirth’s Back To Basics Approach Worked (Mostly)
After a trilogy of movies centered on Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing, Jurᴀssic World has kick-started a new era with Rebirth. With a new set of stars, including Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, this latest film tapped into the sense of adventure of the original Spielberg movie with a story of survival.
With a back-to-basics style that echoed Jurᴀssic Park in many ways, Rebirth told the story of humans being pursued by dinosaurs in isolated environments, rather than focusing on the global threats seen in previous films. Much like the cloned dinosaurs themselves, this stripped-back approach restored some of the franchise’s DNA and reminded audiences what they loved about it.
Although some argue Rebirth leaned too heavily on its source material and was a pointless retread of past glories, as a piece of action-packed blockbuster spectacle, it still worked. Rebirth was certainly a step in the right direction, but if it wants to maintain the audience’s goodwill, it will have to try something new in a potential sequel.
It Was Fun To See The Original Trio Reunite In Dominion
One issue many had with the Jurᴀssic World movies was that this next generation of characters just couldn’t live up to the legacy of the original stars. Fallen Kingdom addressed this through the inclusion of Jeff Goldblum, who came back to reprise his role with a cameo as Dr. Ian Malcolm, effectively opening the door for a full reunion down the line.
This came true in Dominion, which not only featured Goldblum but also Laura Dern’s Dr. Ellie Sattler and Sam Neill as Dr. Alan Grant. While some might call this fan service, it was a real delight to witness the original trio back on our screens, and this long-awaited reunion acted as a wholesome piece of nostalgia for longtime viewers.
The appearance of Malcolm, Ellie, and Alan felt like a full-circle moment for the series and gave the Jurᴀssic World movies an important connection to their cinematic heritage. With the group’s chemistry still firmly intact, their appearance was like a pᴀssing of the torch moment that reinforced Jurᴀssic World’s continued appeal.
Jurᴀssic Park
- Movie(s)
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Jurᴀssic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurᴀssic Park (1997), Jurᴀssic Park 3 (2001), Jurᴀssic World (2015), Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Jurᴀssic World Dominion (2022)
- Created by
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Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg
- First Film
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Jurᴀssic Park (1993)
- Latest Film
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Jurᴀssic World: Dominion
- Upcoming Films
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Jurᴀssic World Rebirth
- First TV Show
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Jurᴀssic World Camp Cretaceous
