10 Movies & Shows Like Jurassic World (2015)

Description: Jurassic Park is the original film in the Jurassic franchise, directed by Steven Spielberg. It shares the same DNA as Jurassic World (2015) in terms of its themes of genetic engineering, human hubris, and the dangers of playing god. Both films feature awe-inspiring dinosaur visuals and thrilling action sequences. The storytelling style, which balances scientific curiosity with edge-of-your-seat suspense, is also similar.

Fact: The T-Rex roar in Jurassic Park is a combination of baby elephant squeals, alligator growls, and tiger snarls. The film was groundbreaking in its use of CGI, blending it seamlessly with practical effects. The iconic 'water ripple' scene was created by placing a guitar string under a cup of water and vibrating it.

Description: The Lost World: Jurassic Park, also directed by Spielberg, continues the themes of the original, much like Jurassic World. It explores the consequences of bringing dinosaurs into the modern world and features even more intense dinosaur encounters. The visual aesthetics, with lush jungle settings and realistic dinosaur animations, are precursors to the polished look of Jurassic World.

Fact: The film's San Diego sequence was inspired by a deleted scene from the original Jurassic Park. The T-Rex attack on the trailer is one of the most suspenseful scenes in the franchise. The film introduced the concept of dinosaurs being brought to the mainland, a theme later expanded in Jurassic World.

Description: Jurassic Park III, while not directed by Spielberg, maintains the franchise's core themes and visual style. Like Jurassic World, it focuses on the thrill of dinosaur encounters and the unpredictability of these ancient creatures. The film's faster pace and emphasis on action are stylistic choices that Jurassic World would later adopt.

Fact: The Spinosaurus replaced the T-Rex as the main antagonist, a controversial choice among fans. The film was originally intended to have a more complex plot involving military-trained dinosaurs. The famous 'Alan' dream sequence was added last-minute to explain Sam Neill's return.

Description: Peter Jackson's King Kong shares Jurassic World's sense of adventure and wonder, with a focus on giant creatures and their interaction with humans. Both films explore themes of exploitation and the consequences of human interference in nature. The lush, dangerous island setting and spectacular creature effects are visual parallels.

Fact: Andy Serkis, who played Kong, also performed the motion capture for the T-Rex in Jurassic Park III. The film's production was so extensive it warranted a separate making-of documentary. Jackson originally planned to film King Kong after The Frighteners in 1996 but delayed it for Lord of the Rings.

Description: The 2014 Godzilla reboot, like Jurassic World, is a modern take on a classic monster franchise. Both films balance awe-inspiring creature moments with human drama, and both explore themes of nature's power and humanity's place within it. The visual style, with its emphasis on scale and destruction, is similarly grand.

Fact: The film deliberately withheld full views of Godzilla to build suspense, much like Jurassic Park did with its dinosaurs. The HALO jump sequence was inspired by Apocalypse Now. This was the second American Godzilla film, following the much-maligned 1998 version.

Description: Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro, shares Jurassic World's love of giant creatures and spectacular action. While the creatures here are alien rather than prehistoric, the themes of humans confronting massive beasts are similar. The visual style, with its emphasis on scale and destruction, is equally impressive.

Fact: Del Toro based the kaiju designs on classic Godzilla monsters. The film was originally planned as a direct sequel to del Toro's Hellboy films. The jaeger designs were inspired by mecha anime like Gundam.

Description: This sequel to Pacific Rim continues the franchise's tradition of giant robot vs. monster action, much like Jurassic World's dinosaur mayhem. Both films feature younger protagonists and more streamlined, action-focused storytelling compared to their predecessors. The visual effects and battle sequences are similarly spectacular.

Fact: Guillermo del Toro did not direct this sequel, though he remained as a producer. John Boyega, who plays the lead, also served as a producer. The film introduces new jaeger designs and a new generation of pilots.

Description: Kong: Skull Island shares Jurassic World's setting of a mysterious island filled with dangerous creatures. Both films feature spectacular action sequences and explore the idea of humans as intruders in these primal environments. The visual aesthetic, with its vibrant colors and epic scale, is reminiscent of Jurassic World's polished look.

Fact: The film was shot in Vietnam, Hawaii, and Australia. It's set in the 1970s, giving it a distinct visual style from other monster movies. The post-credits scene connects it to the larger MonsterVerse, including Godzilla.

Description: This sequel to Godzilla (2014) amplifies the monster action, much like Jurassic World did for its franchise. Both films feature multiple giant creatures and explore themes of ecological balance and human arrogance. The visual effects and destruction set pieces are similarly grandiose.

Fact: The film features classic Toho monsters like Mothra and King Ghidorah. It was originally planned to be released before Kong: Skull Island. The oxygen destroyer weapon is a reference to the original 1954 Godzilla.

Description: Godzilla vs. Kong, like Jurassic World, pits iconic creatures against each other in spectacular fashion. Both films balance monster mayhem with human stories, though the focus is squarely on the creatures. The visual effects and action sequences are state-of-the-art in both.

Fact: The film was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max due to the pandemic. It features the first-ever live-action battle between Godzilla and Kong. The Hollow Earth concept was inspired by classic pulp adventure stories.