10 Movies and Shows Like Jurassic Park (1993)

Description: This influential monster movie shares Jurassic Park's theme of prehistoric creatures unleashed in the modern world. Its stop-motion dinosaur directly inspired later creature features and pioneered many tropes used in Jurassic Park.

Fact: Features groundbreaking stop-motion by Ray Harryhausen. Based loosely on a Ray Bradbury short story. The film's success directly led to the creation of Godzilla.

Description: This animated classic shares Jurassic Park's fascination with dinosaurs, though in a more family-friendly format. Both feature detailed dinosaur designs based on then-current paleontology (though both are now outdated).

Fact: Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. The original script was much darker before being revised for children. The film spawned 13 direct-to-video sequels, a record for an animated franchise.

Description: As the direct sequel to Jurassic Park, The Lost World shares the same director (Steven Spielberg), themes of man vs. nature, and the dangers of genetic engineering. It expands on the original's premise with more dinosaur species and action sequences.

Fact: The film's climax in San Diego was originally intended to be a much longer sequence involving more dinosaurs loose in the city. This was the first Jurassic Park film not to feature any animatronic T. rex; the dinosaur was entirely CGI in this sequel. The famous trailer scene with the glass breaking was achieved by actually breaking real glass with a hydraulic ram.

Description: Disney's ambitious CGI/live-action hybrid shares Jurassic Park's groundbreaking visual approach to dinosaurs. Both blend scientific accuracy with dramatic storytelling about prehistoric creatures.

Fact: The film took 12 years to develop due to technological limitations. It was Disney's first film with entirely computer-generated characters. The meteor sequence was based on real asteroid impact research.

Description: Peter Jackson's remake shares Jurassic Park's sense of adventure and wonder about prehistoric creatures, with similar themes of humans exploiting nature for entertainment. The Skull Island sequences particularly echo the dinosaur island concept.

Fact: Andy Serkis's performance as Kong was so detailed that CGI artists used his facial expressions directly. The film holds the record for most digital characters in a single shot (16,000 in the stampede scene). Jackson originally wanted to make this film in 1996 but waited until technology could do justice to his vision.

Description: This soft reboot of the franchise captures the original's wonder and terror of dinosaurs while updating the concept for modern audiences. It maintains the theme park setting and explores similar themes of corporate greed and scientific irresponsibility.

Fact: The Indominus rex was designed to look like a hybrid that even other dinosaurs would fear. Bryce Dallas Howard performed all her own stunts in high heels. The film contains numerous Easter eggs referencing the original Jurassic Park, including the original banner and Mr. DNA.

Description: This reboot shares Jurassic Park's approach of slowly building suspense before revealing its creatures, focusing on human perspectives. Both films explore themes of nature's power and military responses to massive threats.

Fact: Godzilla's roar was created by rubbing a leather glove along a double bass string. The film deliberately avoided showing Godzilla fully until 58 minutes in. The HALO jump sequence was inspired by a similar scene in Jurassic Park III.

Description: While featuring giant robots, the film shares Jurassic Park's sense of scale and wonder about massive creatures. Both explore humanity's technological attempts to control or combat nature's power.

Fact: Guillermo del Toro designed the Kaiju to look like they evolved naturally. The film's budget was $190 million but only $80 million was spent on CGI. The Hong Kong battle took 6 months to animate and render.

Description: Based on the video game, this film shares Jurassic Park's theme of genetic experimentation creating monstrous creatures. The urban destruction sequences mirror Jurassic Park's later entries with dinosaurs in cities.

Fact: The film's budget was $120-140 million, making it one of the most expensive video game adaptations. Dwayne Johnson performed all his own stunts except the helicopter jump. The wolf's design was inspired by Jurassic Park's velociraptors.

Description: This shark thriller shares Jurassic Park's formula of scientists encountering prehistoric creatures with modern technology. Both blend scientific concepts with thrilling action sequences and underwater scenes reminiscent of Jurassic Park's aquatic dinosaur.

Fact: The Megalodon was based on real fossil evidence and scientific estimates. Jason Statham did most of his own underwater stunts. The film was in development hell for over 20 years before production.