Jurassic Park Movies Ranked from Worst to Best

July 2 marks the premiere of the blockbuster Jurassic World: Rebirth. This is already the seventh entry in the popular film series about genetically engineered dinosaurs. To celebrate the release of the new installment, let’s revisit the previous ones and rank them from the weakest to the strongest.

The most recent and, so far, the weakest film in the series. It was envisioned as a kind of finale to the saga that began back in 1993. For this, Dominion brought together all the main characters from past films, including Dr. Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm. The story follows them as they join forces to stop dangerous experiments that could disrupt the fragile coexistence between humans and dinosaurs.

Despite its star-studded cast and the fan dream of seeing beloved characters reunite on the big screen, the movie sadly couldn’t be saved. First, the iconic characters don’t quite feel like their former selves. Second, the plot is too unfocused and chaotic, with too many narrative threads competing for attention. And perhaps worst of all — there’s a surprising lack of memorable dinosaur moments, arguably the most essential part of any Jurassic Park movie.

A middling film with a serious identity crisis. It feels like the creators initially wanted to make two separate movies: a disaster flick about escaping Isla Nublar, and a gothic horror about a dinosaur hunting people inside a mansion. Instead, they crammed both ideas into one movie. The result is jarring tonal shifts and a film that lacks cohesion or clarity.

Additionally, Fallen Kingdom is riddled with illogical moments, the villain is forgettable, and the main characters feel flatter than they did in the first Jurassic World.

Not exactly a bad movie — especially compared to the ones ranked lower — but also not particularly memorable. It was the first film in the series without Steven Spielberg’s direct involvement, and his absence is immediately felt. Spielberg had a unique talent for balancing wonder, suspense, and heartfelt drama. His characters always felt real and relatable — all of that movie magic is sadly missing here.

What the film does offer, however, is brisk pacing and action without too many dull moments. And the dinosaurs, particularly the Spinosaurus — who serves as the main antagonist — come across as a more formidable threat than in most other entries.

A reboot and, at the same time, a direct continuation of the franchise that brought it roaring back into the mainstream. And it’s no surprise: Jurassic World is a textbook blockbuster and, in many ways, the perfect theme park movie.

It was clearly crafted to please fans: we finally got to see the dinosaur park as envisioned by John Hammond in the original film. The movie also introduced several memorable new dinosaurs and delivered spectacular action sequences.

That said, compared to the franchise’s best entries, Jurassic World lacks emotional and philosophical depth. It doesn’t quite stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Spielberg’s classics.

The sequel to Jurassic Park might not reach the same heights as the original, but it still has plenty to offer. Many fans appreciate its darker tone — the depiction of a primal and deadly island perfectly embodies the idea of a "lost world."

The directing is also worth highlighting. Several scenes are crafted with a level of cinematic mastery that later films couldn’t replicate — the iconic sequence featuring two T. rexes attacking a trailer, for instance, remains unmatched in intensity, even though visual effects have come a long way since then.

And, of course, another standout element is Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum. His charismatic cynicism makes him a brilliant choice for the lead.

Not just the best film in the series, but one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. A phenomenal cast, a strong and coherent script, groundbreaking special effects that blend CGI with practical work, perfect pacing, an unforgettable score, and layers of philosophical themes — there’s so much to love about the original Jurassic Park.

But perhaps its greatest strength lies in Steven Spielberg’s ability to perfectly balance opposites. Beauty and terror exist side by side: the dinosaurs inspire awe, but also dread.

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Where Jurassic World: Rebirth will land in this ranking remains to be seen. According to early reviews, unfortunately, the new film continues the trend of declining quality. In any case, we’ll publish a full review soon — so stay tuned to the site.

And what about you? What’s your personal ranking of the Jurassic Park films? Share your thoughts in the comments.