Jurassic Park Franchise Had Only One Truly Great Movie – It's This 91%-Rated Flick
Like all other installments of the franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth could not come close to surpassing the success of the first film. Here's what went wrong with the cult franchise.
Jurassic World Rebirth was supposed to be a triumphant reboot of the cult franchise, which had struggled in recent years, and a return to its roots.
However, it was not to be – Jurassic World Rebirth became just another unremarkable installment in the franchise, receiving 51% from critics and 72% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
32 Years Later, 'Jurassic Park' Is Still the Best Film in the Franchise
Unfortunately, Jurassic World Rebirth proved only one thing: the original Jurassic Park remains the franchise's best achievement, a feat that no one has ever achieved and most likely never will.
Steven Spielberg reverently adapted the book and created original, distinctive characters. The director made a gigantic effort to create a high-quality product filled with the latest sound technologies, computer graphics, and well-thought-out scenes.
However, in pursuit of the success of the first movie and proven clichés, the directors of the sequels forgot the main components of a masterpiece: quality, an idea, deep characters, and a scrupulous approach at every stage of work.
These factors have allowed Jurassic Park to endure for 30 years. Can the same be said about the other movies in the franchise?
What Exactly Went Wrong With All the Movies After 'Jurassic Park'?
'The Lost World: Jurassic Park', 1997
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%
The Lost World: Jurassic Park may not be as brilliant as the first movie, but it still has many merits.
Many fans liked the film's darker tone – the primeval, deadly island perfectly captures the concept of the lost world. Another important ingredient in The Lost World is, of course, Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum.
'Jurassic Park III', 2001
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
Jurassic Park III was the first movie in the franchise without Steven Spielberg, and his absence was immediately felt.
Unlike anyone else, Spielberg knows how to balance delight, suspense, and dramatic, touching moments. The characters in his movie always seem alive and close to the viewer, but none of that cinematic magic is present in Jurassic Park III.
'Jurassic World', 2015
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
Jurassic World is a reboot and direct sequel that has brought the franchise back to its former popularity. It's not surprising: Jurassic World is almost the perfect example of a summer blockbuster.
Finally, we get to see a dinosaur park as John Hammond envisioned it in the first movie. Additionally, Jurassic World introduced memorable new dinosaurs. However, it lacks the emotional and philosophical depth of the original film.
'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom', 2018
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 47%
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a movie with a clear identity crisis. It seems that the filmmakers wanted to make two films: a disaster one about escaping Isla Nublar and a horror flick set in a Gothic mansion. And then combined both movies into one.
The result is disappointing: the jump in tone and genre halfway through is confusing, and the movie does not leave the impression of being coherent or thoughtful.
'Jurassic World: Dominion', 2022
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 29%
The weakest one in the franchise right now is Jurassic World: Dominion. Despite its stellar cast and our favorite characters on the big screen again, the movie was a total disaster.
Dominion is too chaotic, with too many different storylines. Additionally, the lack of memorable dinosaur moments is hard to forgive – after all, this is a key element of a good Jurassic Park movie.
