Steven Spielberg crafted one of the unquestioned greatest blockbusters of all time with 1993’sJurassic Park. It also spawned one of the most successful franchises in cinematic history, with six sequels produced over the years, earning more than $6 billion at the box office.Jurassic World Rebirth, the latestJurassic Worldentry, was just released and is already raking in big numbers on its own, practically guaranteeing future entries in the franchise. So, now comes the task of ranking the movies, in order, from worst to first.
Right off the bat, it is fair to say thatJurassic Parkis a fan-favorite movie of all time (not to spoil things in terms of the ranking here). That’s important because the film is very near and dear to several ’90s kids' heart, who grew up around creature features. This series is at the apex of this massive pillar of a generation’s existence.
The fact that the franchise is still going strong and has brought forward fresh faces to join the box office-dominating release ofRebirthis testament to its appeal. But this is just a single perspective on the subject, and there is not even one of these movies we don’t enjoy on some level.
Here, with nothing but love, we’re ranking every movie in theJurassic Parkfranchise from worst to the inevitable first.
7’Jurassic World Dominion' (2022)
Jurassic World Dominion
Set four years after the volcanic destruction of Isla Nublar inJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, this one drops viewers into a world where these prehistoric creatures roam freely around the world, disrupting ecosystems and human existence. Owen Grady and Claire Dearing live off-grid, raising Maisie Lockwood, a genetically engineered clone of Charlotte Lockwood. When Maisie and Blue’s offspring, Beta, are kidnapped, the couple goes on a rescue mission.
Too Many Threads, Too Little Impact
There are two storylines in the movie, both converging at Biosyn’s dinosaur preserve in Italy’s Dolomites and ending with dinosaurs and humans learning to live in harmony. Despite its billion-dollar box office haul,Jurassic World Dominionstruggled under the weight of its own ambitions. The return of the original trio of Laura Dern, Sam Neill, and Jeff Goldblum offered some nostalgia, but their inclusion felt disconnected from the main arc. Overall, it juggles espionage, family drama, and creature feature elements, but never quite leaves a mark.
6’Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' (2018)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Director J.A. Bayona was tasked with following up 2015’s smash blockbusterJurassic World,and the result was 2018’sJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to its predecessor and ended up being something of a big mess, albeit one that has its moments. There is a lot going on, oftentimes too much, with the world trying to figure out what rights, if any, the dinosaurs who were brought back from extinction through science have.
A Small but Harmless Tumble and Fall
It feels like a too many cooks in the kitchen scenario that goes firmly off the rails at points. The clone girl subplot, in my humble opinion, is an all-time low point in the series. That said, the cold open is truly excellent and there are some cool sequences, as well as some solid dino action. But this two-hour spectacle felt like a complicated means to an end. The goal was to get the dinosaurs off Isla Nublar and out in the world with humans, setting the stage forJurassic World 3. The journey left something to be desired, but mission accomplished.
5’Jurassic Park III' (2001)
Jurassic Park 3
I’ve often joked, even though I am quite serious when I say it, thatJurassic Park IIIis the worst movie I have seen the most times. Directed by the great Joe Johnston, the third entry in the series suffers from a lack of a meaningful story to tell. It feels, more than any other entry in the series, obligatory. There are only a handful of people at play who end up stuck on Isla Sorna, aka Site B, because the Kirbys, played by William H. Macy and Tea Leoni, were attempting to rescue their son, with disastrous results. The good news is this broughtSam Neill back as Alan Grant. Credit to Neill for bringing his A-game. Even when he reacts to the talking raptor in that unforgivable, head-scratcher of a dream sequence.
Darker and Faster Than the First Two
For some reason, I find this movie to be extremely watchable. It is paced well. The story sails by with little drag. Johnston also has an inherent gift for bringing a sense of wonderment and adventure to life, which led to some really great sequences, such as the “birdcage” set piece, which finally made good use offlying dinosaurs. Not to mention the Spinosaurus being thrown in the mix, for better or for worse. Part of my problem withFallen Kingdomis that the stakes areso big,and that has lasting consequences in the universe. In contrast,Jurassic Park IIIis an isolated story. So, while it’s not quite as impactful as some of the other entries in the series, it can be enjoyed as its own thing, and that’s refreshing in some ways.
4’Jurassic World Rebirth' (2025)
Jurassic World Rebirth
In a post-Dominionworld, dinosaurs have retreated to faraway zones because Earth’s climate has become inhospitable. Pharmaceutical giant ParkerGenix hires covert operations expert Zora Bennet and Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist, to retrieve DNA samples from three massive dinosaur species to cure a heart disease. Their mission collides with a shipwrecked family of civilians who get stranded on the same island. As the team navigates the jungle, they eventually escape via an underground boat tunnel, but not without casualties.
A Reboot That Roars, but Softly
Jurassic World Rebirthaims toreset the franchise with its fresh cast and a standalone narrative. But the execution feels more like a chore than a new chapter. Gareth Edwards brings the desired visuals, especially during the Mosasaurus retrieval and T-Rex chase, but the story is all over the place. There are mercenaries, corporate greed, and a child bonding with a baby dinosaur. The throwback tone and suspenseful set pieces paired with the visually exhilarating adventure make it a worthy addition, and hence, a breezy watch. Critics may be divided, but the box office numbers tell a different story, with the movie having grossed, so far, over $334 million worldwide against a budget of $180 million.
3’The Lost World: Jurassic Park' (1997)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
This is where things get tricky. I am aware this movie gets a lot of flak from critics and certain fans, but I loveThe Lost World, warts and all. This is in a virtual tie with my number two pick, and on any given day, I could flip-flop the two. In any event, it lands at number three for me. As a huge fan of the franchise, this is where things get downright good in my view. Steven Spielberg returned to direct the inevitable sequel to the original. Following up something likeJurassic Parkis damn near impossible, but going into it knowing it can’t top arguable perfection, there is a lot to love. For one, Jeff Goldblum is back as Ian Malcolm. We also get Julianne Moore thrown in as Sarah Harding, and adding a world-class actress into the mix has never hurt anything.
A True Pleasure To Watch
The core plot involves the introduction of Site B, an island separate from the failed dinosaur-filled theme park on Isla Nublar where the prehistoric beasts run free. John Hammond sends a small team to help stop InGen from taking the animals off the island. It’s not as tight asJurassic Park. It’s not as inventive asJurassic Park, but it’s a tremendous amount of fun. Some of my favorite sequences in the entire franchise are in this movie. Specifically, the “don’t go into the long grass” raptor bit. We also get double theT-rex action. It’s hard to argue against the classic Spielberg intensity of the double T-rex attack, with the RV being pushed over the cliff. I also find Pete Postlethwaite’s Roland Tembo to be one of the best characters introduced outside of the original movie. Imperfect though it may be, the good far outweighs the bad here in my eyes.
2’Jurassic World' (2015)
Jurassic World
I understand this is a divisive movie. I know it is not as objectively great asJurassic Park. But I unabashedly adoreJurassic World. Following the release ofJurassic Park IIIin 2001, the franchise went extinct for 14 years. It took a long time to hammer down what JP4 was going to be. The result was director Colin Trevorrow showing us what an operational dinosaur theme park looks like. Who amongst us that grew up in the 90s can’t say they dreamed of seeing John Hammond’s dream become a reality? This movie, for all of its flaws, captures that magic. And, again, speaking on a purely personal level, I find it to be a great deal of amusement in it.
Built on the Remains of the Original Movies
The Indominus Rex allows for interesting conversations about the franchise as a whole to open up. Where does one draw the lines in playing God? These creatures aren’t exactly as they would have been, given the genetic science being used to bring them to life, so why not make a hybrid creature? Yes, that plays out poorly, but it’s easy to see how corporate greed would get us to that point. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard lead the way as Owen and Claire, but it’s Ty Simpkins as Gray who allows the viewer to remember what it is like to be a kid who grew up loving these creatures. I have never been an inherently cynical viewer, and going into this movie, bright-eyed and deliriously excited back in 2015, made for one of the most memorable viewing experiences of my life. We’re not treated to pop culture anticipation on that level that often, and the shared cultural experience this turned out to be carries with it tremendous value in hindsight. Also, a T-rex and a raptor teaming up to fight a hybrid dinosaur is pretty cool, right?
1’Jurassic Park' (1993)
Jurassic Park
How could it be anything butJurassic Parkatop this list? This is, quite simply, one of the greatest works ever produced from one of the greatest filmmakers to ever do it. Theadaptation of Michael Crichton’s novelof the same name is not only the perfect blend of art and entertainment, but it was a technical achievement that pushed the limits of what movies could be. It is a deeply important movie, aside from being a great one. Spielberg’s brilliant and groundbreaking blend of state-of-the-art CGI, coupled with some of the best practical creature effects ever put to screen, truly brought these prehistoric beings to life in a way nobody had ever thought possible. So much so that it holds up remarkably well, even under intense modern scrutiny. The same can not be said for many big event movies throughout history, which end up being unfortunate products of their moment.
A Spectacular, Awe-Inspiring Milestone In Cinema
While the dinosaurs are the hook here, the genius ofJurassic Parklies in its compelling human characters. Alan Grant. Ellie Sattler. Ian Malcolm. John Hammond. Tim and Lex. All of these characters are brilliant creations in their own right, and, as a group, they make for an all-timer of an ensemble. Far too many blockbusters are forced to learn the lesson that spectacle alone cannot stand the test of time. It must be anchored in something real to resonate. To create something that can endure.Jurassic Parkdoes that as well as any popcorn movie ever has. And, for my money, the T-rex breakout sequence is right up there in terms of mankind’s greatest achievements, standing alongside walking on the moon, the creation of the internet, and sliced bread, or whatever one wants to add to the list. It is roughly seven minutes of pure, unbridled cinematic bliss.Jurassic Parkis now and will forever be something truly special and unique.
