Jurassic Park roared into theaters in 1993, it captured the imaginations of moviegoers everywhere with its groundbreaking special effects, thrilling action sequences, and the childhood-dream-come-true of seeing dinosaurs brought to life on the big screen. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Michael Crichton’s bestselling novel, Jurassic Park follows a group of scientists and visitors to a wildlife park populated by cloned dinosaurs. But when the park’s security systems fail, the once-extinct creatures break free, turning the island paradise into a terrifying fight for survival.
Jurassic Park set a new standard for blockbuster filmmaking, seamlessly blending practical effects with (at the time) cutting-edge CGI to make the dinosaurs appear startlingly lifelike and believable. The film’s iconic set-pieces, like the initial brachiosaurus reveal and the raptors stalking the kids in the kitchen, have been seared into pop culture memory. With an all-star cast including Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, a memorable John Williams score, and Spielberg’s signature flair for adventure and spectacle, Jurassic Park is a cinematic classic.
Jurassic Park, the film’s massive success inspired a wave of imitators looking to capitalize on the renewed interest in dinosaurs and monster movies. If you’re a fan of Jurassic Park and are looking for more movies that capture a similar mix of awe-inspiring creatures, pulse-pounding thrills, and memorable adventure, look no further. Here are 24 of the best movies like Jurassic Park to add to your watch list.
1. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park is the first sequel to the original film. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) summons chaos theorist and reluctant adventurer Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) to lead a research team to study the dinosaurs at a second island site. But their expedition faces new threats when a rival group arrives to exploit the dinosaurs.
The Lost World expands the Jurassic Park universe with new dinosaurs like the vicious Compsognathus and the towering Mamenchisaurus. It brings back the T-Rex as the main antagonist and ups the ante with multiple T-Rexes including a baby. Like the first film, it features a mix of awe-inspiring dinosaur encounters and jump-scare attacks.
The Lost World is still an entertaining dino-sized adventure. Jeff Goldblum’s larger role as the lead provides plenty of laughs and charisma. The cliffside trailer scene is a suspenseful standout.
2. Jurassic Park III (2001)
Jurassic Park installment, Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) is lured to the dino-inhabited Isla Sorna under false pretenses. When their plane crashes, Grant and the others find themselves stranded and hunted by a fierce new dinosaur breed: the Spinosaurus.
Jurassic Park III brings back the tropical island setting and dinosaur terror of the first two movies. Sam Neill’s return as Alan Grant provides welcome continuity. The Spinosaurus makes for a formidable new villain, and the Pteranodon aviary attack is thrillingly staged.
Jurassic Park trilogy, III still delivers some fun dino action, but the plot feels thin with lower stakes. The Spinosaurus vs. T-Rex fight upset many fans by establishing a new apex predator. The abrupt ending also leaves much to be desired.
3. Jurassic World (2015)
Jurassic World is a sequel/soft reboot that takes place 22 years after the original Jurassic Park. Isla Nublar now hosts a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, but declining attendance leads the park’s scientists to genetically engineer a bigger, scarier hybrid dinosaur called the Indominus Rex, with disastrous results.
Jurassic World resurrects the franchise with a return to Isla Nublar and a modernized take on the dinosaur park concept. The Indominus Rex is an intimidating new threat that terrorizes the island. Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady, a raptor trainer, makes for a charismatic action hero lead in the vein of Sam Neill’s Alan Grant. It captures a similar “dinosaurs run amok” premise and large-scale spectacle.
Jurassic World is a fun, if flawed, revival of the Jurassic franchise. The early park scenes evoke a sense of wonder and the finale is an epic dinosaur battle royale. However, the human villains are cartoonish and it lacks the nuance and restraint of Spielberg’s original.
4. King Kong (2005)
Peter Jackson’s remake of the 1933 classic follows a film crew to the mysterious Skull Island where they encounter Kong, a gigantic ape worshipped as a god by the local inhabitants. They capture Kong and bring him back to New York City to be exhibited, but he breaks loose and rampages through the city in search of Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts), the actress with whom he’s bonded.
Jurassic Park, King Kong features humans confronting awe-inspiring giant creatures in a jungle setting. Skull Island is populated by dinosaurs that engage in thrilling battles with Kong, including a memorable T-Rex fight. It also grapples with themes of man exploiting nature and creatures for profit and entertainment.
King Kong is an epic, visually stunning adventure that pays loving homage to the original while expanding on it. The Skull Island scenes are a particular highlight, immersing you in a lush, primordial world of beauty and danger. Andy Serkis’ motion-capture performance as Kong is soulful and emotionally resonant.
5. Godzilla (2014)
This American reboot of the Japanese kaiju franchise pits the titular monster against two giant parasitic creatures known as “MUTOs” that feed off radiation. When the MUTOs awaken and threaten cities along the Pacific coast, Godzilla rises from the ocean depths to battle them in a fight for dominance.
Godzilla shares Jurassic Park‘s interest in giant prehistoric creatures reawakened in the modern day. The MUTOs have an almost dinosaur-like design. The monster action and scenes of destruction evoke the T-Rex’s rampage through San Diego in The Lost World. Both also explore the folly of man trying to control or destroy forces of nature.
Godzilla is a somber, slow-burn take on the kaiju genre with an almost Spielbergian sense of restraint and grandeur. The monster battles are epic in scale but sporadic, with most of the focus on the human drama. While well-crafted, some may find it lacking in fun factor compared to its sillier predecessors. Gareth Edwards’ direction shines in shots that emphasize the monsters’ enormous size and impact.
6. Jaws (1975)
A great white shark terrorizes the fictional coastal town of Amity Island, prompting the local police chief to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist and professional shark hunter. Directed by Steven Spielberg, Jaws was the prototypical summer blockbuster that established many of the genre conventions Jurassic Park would later follow.
Jaws is the clear predecessor to Jurassic Park in Spielberg’s oeuvre. Both are “creature features” that use a giant animal as a primal force of terror, and both blend genuine scares with crowd-pleasing adventure. The scenes of the shark’s attacks parallel the T-Rex and raptor attacks in Jurassic Park. Both tap into the fear of being hunted by apex predators.
Jaws remains the gold standard for natural horror blockbusters. It’s a masterclass in suspense, using the shark sparingly but powerfully. The dynamic between the three leads is the heart of the movie, with Robert Shaw’s grizzled shark hunter stealing the show. John Williams’ menacing two-note shark theme is as iconic as his Jurassic Park score.
7. Predator (1987)
Predator stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team on a mission in Central America. But the team soon becomes the prey of a technologically advanced alien that stalks and hunts them for sport, leading to a battle for survival in the jungle.
Jurassic Park, Predator features an ensemble cast being hunted by a powerful creature in a tropical setting. The Predator’s advanced cloaking device allows for similar suspenseful “stalking” scenes as the raptors use stealth. Both also have military/mercenary characters who arrogantly believe their firepower is a match for the creature.
Predator is a testosterone-fueled ’80s action classic with a sci-fi twist. Schwarzenegger and the cast are in peak macho form, with plenty of quotable one-liners and banter. The jungle setting is atmospheric and the Predator an iconic movie monster with a memorable design. The special effects hold up well and the action delivers. It’s not as cerebral as Jurassic Park but just as thrilling.
8. Tremors (1990)
Tremors is a comedic creature feature about giant carnivorous worm-creatures called “Graboids” that terrorize a small Nevada desert town. Two handymen and a seismology student lead the town’s eccentric residents in fighting off the subterranean monsters.
Tremors shares Jurassic Park‘s mix of humor and horror in a “small town under siege by monsters” format. The Graboids use vibrations to hunt prey similar to the T-Rex sensing movement. There are suspenseful scenes of characters trying to evade detection. The idea of long-dormant prehistoric creatures reawakening also parallels Jurassic Park.
Tremors is a cult classic for good reason – it’s a funny, charming B-movie with a creative monster design and likable characters. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward have great buddy chemistry and Reba McEntire is a scene-stealer as a gun-toting survivalist. The practical Graboid effects are impressive and the script is smarter than it has to be. It’s more tongue-in-cheek than Jurassic Park but has a similar spirit of fun.
9. The Mummy (1999)
This remake of the 1932 classic follows adventurer Rick O’Connell and Egyptologist Evelyn on a quest to stop the resurrected mummy Imhotep from conquering the world. Along the way they battle ancient curses, armies of the undead, and rival treasure hunters in 1920s Egypt.
The Mummy blends action, horror, and humor in a period adventure setting, similar to Jurassic Park‘s mix of tones and genres. The cursed mummy Imhotep is an unnatural creature villain like the cloned dinosaurs. Both also feature romance subplots and a race to stop the creature(s) from spreading destruction.
The Mummy is a fun, pulpy adventure romp anchored by the charisma of Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. It has an Indiana Jones-esque blend of supernatural horror and derring-do, with memorable set-pieces like a scarab beetle attack and an undead chariot chase. It’s lighter than Jurassic Park but has a similar sense of globe-trotting excitement. The CGI hasn’t aged as well but the entertainment value holds up.
10. Anaconda (1997)
A documentary film crew in the Amazon rainforest becomes stranded on a river and stalked by a massive, man-eating anaconda snake. They begrudgingly join forces with a snake hunter obsessed with capturing the giant predator alive.
Anaconda follows Jurassic Park‘s creature feature formula of a small group hunted by a giant animal in an isolated jungle setting. The anaconda, like the T-Rex and raptors, is an apex predator that uses stealth and brute strength to pursue its prey. Both also feature a “great white hunter” character determined to bag the creature as a trophy.
Anaconda is a cheesy but entertaining B-movie elevated by a scenery-chewing Jon Voight performance as the crazed snake hunter. The animatronic and CGI snake effects are ambitious if a bit dated and rubbery-looking. There are some genuinely tense and scary moments, but it’s played with a campy wink that sets it apart from Jurassic Park‘s more earnest thrills. Good beer-and-pizza viewing.
11. Reign of Fire (2002)
In a post-apocalyptic future where dragons have reawakened and laid waste to civilization, a group of survivors in England led by Christian Bale must join forces with an American military unit led by Matthew McConaughey to slay the fire-breathing beasts and take back the Earth.
Reign of Fire imagines dragons as long-dormant prehistoric creatures that resurface in the modern day to disastrous results, similar to the cloned dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. The dragons are treated as animals rather than mythical beings, studied for biological weaknesses. There are also themes of the hubris of man and nature reclaiming the planet.
Reign of Fire is an underrated post-apocalyptic action-fantasy with a unique take on the dragon mythos. Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey chew the scenery in entertaining fashion. The dragon designs and special effects are impressive, and the film does a good job of establishing the scorched, ash-covered wasteland of its world. It’s not as iconic as Jurassic Park but a solid creature feature with style.
12. The Meg (2018)
When a deep-sea submersible is attacked by a massive creature and left disabled at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), a rescue diver, is recruited to save the crew. Taylor believes the attack was caused by a Megalodon, a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark once believed to be extinct. Now, Taylor must confront his fears and risk his life to save everyone trapped below.
Like Jurassic Park, The Meg features a giant prehistoric creature wreaking havoc in the modern day. The Megalodon shark is a powerful, terrifying apex predator, much like the T-Rex. Both movies blend action, suspense, and horror with a touch of humor.
The Meg is a fun, silly creature feature that knows exactly what it is. Jason Statham brings his usual gruff charisma to the hero role. The movie has some genuinely tense and exciting action sequences, particularly the underwater scenes. The CGI shark is impressive, if a bit overused. Overall, it’s an enjoyable B-movie romp for fans of giant monster movies.
13. Cloverfield (2008)
Cloverfield follows a group of friends in New York City caught in the middle of an attack by a gigantic monster of unknown origin. Told from the point of view of their video camera, it’s a gripping tale of survival as they attempt to escape the city while avoiding the rampaging creature and smaller parasitic monsters that have infested the streets.
Cloverfield and Jurassic Park both center around normal people trying to survive an encounter with a terrifying, city-destroying monster. The Cloverfield monster, like the dinosaurs, is a force of pure chaos and destruction. Both movies use a “found footage” conceit – the camcorder in Cloverfield, the security cameras in Jurassic Park – to add a sense of realism.
Cloverfield is an intense, visceral experience that puts you right in the middle of a monster movie nightmare. The found footage style makes it feel raw and immediate, as if you’re watching real events unfold. The monster, kept largely off-screen for most of the runtime, has a chilling mystique. It’s a lean, mean monster movie that delivers plenty of thrills and scares. The final shot is haunting.
14. Pitch Black (2000)
In this sci-fi thriller, a spacecraft carrying passengers in cryostasis crash lands on a seemingly abandoned planet. The survivors, led by an antihero named Riddick (Vin Diesel), must work together to survive the harsh environment. But they soon discover the planet is inhabited by deadly nocturnal creatures that emerge during a prolonged eclipse.
Pitch Black, like the Jurassic Park movies, is a survival story about a group stranded in a hostile environment filled with hungry alien beasts. The eclipse premise, with light as the only protection against the monsters, creates a similar tension to the “don’t move” scenes with the T-Rex. Riddick, an escaped convict, parallels the raptor as a human predator among the group.
Pitch Black is a lean, stylish sci-fi horror movie that makes the most of its simple premise. The creature designs are creepy and the action is brutal and intense. Vin Diesel’s breakout performance as Riddick elevates the movie, making him a morally ambiguous yet compelling antihero. It’s a taut, entertaining monster movie with a unique setting and memorable protagonist.
15. The Host (2006)
This South Korean creature feature follows a dysfunctional family’s attempts to rescue the daughter from a mutated amphibious monster that emerges from Seoul’s Han River to wreak havoc on the city. The monster is the result of toxic chemicals being dumped into the river by the U.S. military.
The Host and Jurassic Park both deal with creatures created by man’s recklessness – genetic engineering in Jurassic Park, pollution in The Host. The Han River monster has a tangible presence and impact like the T-Rex, smashing through the city in a rampage. The focus on a family in peril also parallels the Jurassic Park films.
The Host is a wildly entertaining monster movie with a sly sense of humor and social satire. Director Bong Joon-ho stages the monster attacks with skill, capturing the panic and destruction. The creature itself is a memorable, well-realized menace. It’s the rare monster movie that balances scares, laughs, and smarts.
16. Aliens (1986)
In this sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to the planet where her crew first encountered the hostile Alien creature. This time she’s accompanied by a unit of space marines, but they find themselves overwhelmed by an army of Aliens.
While Aliens trades the dinosaurs for extraterrestrial monsters, it captures a similar sense of terror, action, and adventure as Jurassic Park. The marines are the overconfident experts, like the InGen team, underestimating the threat. Ripley’s bond with Newt is also reminiscent of Alan Grant’s arc with the kids in Jurassic Park.
Aliens is a masterclass in action, horror, and sci-fi filmmaking. James Cameron expands the scope and stakes from the original Alien while maintaining the sense of claustrophobic dread. Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley is an iconic heroine, fierce and maternal. The Alien Queen is a formidable adversary, leading to a climactic battle that’s still jaw-dropping. From the pulse rifles to the power loader, Aliens is endlessly quotable and rewatchable. It’s a classic for good reason.
17. Starship Troopers (1997)
In a satirical future where Earth is at war with a race of giant alien insects, young soldier Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) and his friends enlist in the military and find themselves in a battle for survival against the relentless “bugs.”
Starship Troopers, like Jurassic Park, features humans battling giant creatures – dinosaurs in one, alien bugs in the other. The bugs swarm in overwhelming hordes, similar to the Gallimimus or Compy scenes. There’s also a darkly satirical undertone to the gung-ho military characters and the larger themes of human arrogance.
Starship Troopers is a subversive, over-the-top sci-fi action satire that’s wildly entertaining. Director Paul Verhoeven brings his signature blend of ultraviolence, dark humor, and biting social commentary. The CGI bugs still look great and their attacks are visceral and gory. It’s a movie that works as both a thrill ride and a sneaky critique of fascism and militarism. Would you like to know more?
18. The Mist (2007)
Based on a Stephen King novella, The Mist takes place in a small town suddenly enveloped by a thick fog containing deadly creatures. A group of locals trapped in a supermarket must fight for survival and grapple with their own fear and paranoia.
The Mist, like Jurassic Park, is a “siege” story where the characters are trapped and hunted by monsters. The creatures in the mist are just as terrifying and lethal as the dinosaurs. Both also explore how people react in a crisis, and the dangers of mob mentality and rash decision-making.
The Mist is a harrowing, intense horror film that’s as much about the monsters inside as the ones outside. Frank Darabont directs with a sense of dread and claustrophobia, making the supermarket a pressure cooker of fear and desperation. The ending is a gut-punch that still sparks debate. It’s a bleak but powerful film.
19. A Quiet Place (2018)
In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind but noise-sensitive monsters, a family struggles to survive in near-silence. When even the slightest sound can lead to gruesome death, they must find ways to communicate and protect each other without making a noise.
A Quiet Place and Jurassic Park both center around a family in peril, using their wits to evade deadly creatures. The monsters hunt by sound, similar to the T-Rex sensing movement. This leads to nail-biting scenes of characters trying to remain silent and still. Both also have a theme of parents trying to protect their children.
A Quiet Place is a masterful exercise in tension and suspense. Director John Krasinski wrings every ounce of fear out of the simple but effective premise. The creatures are terrifying in their swift brutality. But the heart of the film is the family’s love and resilience, communicated through sign language and facial expressions. It’s a lean, mean horror film with emotional depth.
20. The Relic (1997)
When a museum receives crates from a mysterious Amazon expedition, a deadly ancient creature awakens and begins stalking the halls. A detective and an evolutionary biologist must work together to stop the monster’s rampage.
The Relic, like Jurassic Park, features a creature that’s a relic of an ancient time, wreaking havoc in a modern setting. The museum, with its winding corridors and dark exhibit halls, evokes the claustrophobic kitchen scene with the raptors. There’s also an element of scientific curiosity and hubris unleashing the creature.
The Relic is an underrated creature feature with a cool monster and a spooky atmosphere. The practical effects used for the creature hold up well, and its design is memorably grotesque. The museum setting is used effectively for suspense and scares. Tom Sizemore and Penelope Ann Miller have good chemistry as the mismatched leads. It’s a solid B-movie that delivers on the monster mayhem.
21. The Cave (2005)
A group of divers exploring a vast cave system in Romania find themselves trapped and hunted by strange, vicious creatures. They must navigate the dark, claustrophobic tunnels and find a way out before they become prey.
The Cave, like Jurassic Park, is a survival story about experts in over their heads, hunted by deadly creatures in an isolated location. The cave divers, like the InGen scientists, are too curious for their own good. The creatures use echolocation, similar to the T-Rex sensing movement.
The Cave is a decent monster movie with a unique setting. The underwater cave scenes are appropriately claustrophobic and murky, adding to the sense of disorientation and dread. The creature designs, while not fully memorable, are effectively creepy in the shadowy environment. The characters are a bit thin but serve their purpose in the survival plot. It’s not a classic but it’s a fun, scary time for creature feature fans.
22. Primeval (2007)
A news team travels to war-torn Burundi to capture a legendary 25-foot crocodile named Gustave. They soon find themselves in a life-and-death struggle not only against the giant reptile, but also against corrupt warlords and armed rebels.
Primeval, like Jurassic Park, centers around a giant reptilian predator pursued by humans who underestimate its capabilities. Gustave, like the T-Rex and raptors, is a cunning and formidable hunter, outsmarting the team at every turn. The African setting also evokes the jungles of Isla Nublar and Sorna.
Primeval is a flawed but entertaining creature feature with a real-world basis (Gustave was an actual crocodile in Burundi). The croc attacks are brutally staged and there’s a palpable sense of danger in the environment, both from the animal and the human threats. It’s at its best when focused on the simple man vs. nature conflict. Not a must-see but worth a look for giant croc enthusiasts.
23. Rogue (2007)
In the Australian outback, a giant crocodile capsizes a boat full of tourists, stranding them on a small island in a remote river. As the tide rises, they must attempt to reach the shore without falling prey to the croc.
Rogue, like Jurassic Park, is a creature feature about tourists attacked by a giant reptile in an isolated natural setting. The characters are trapped and hunted, forced to rely on their wits to survive, similar to the Jurassic Park cast. The river and island create a confined, inescapable environment like the park itself.
Rogue is a well-crafted, suspenseful “natural horror” film in the vein of Jaws or The Shallows. Director Greg McLean (Wolf Creek) brings a sense of gritty realism to the survival scenario. The Australian landscape is both beautiful and menacing. The crocodile is a terrifying, believable threat, and the attacks are staged for maximum tension.
24. Sweetheart (2019)
A shipwrecked woman washes ashore on a small tropical island. As she explores the island and attempts to survive, she discovers that a malevolent creature emerges from the water each night to hunt.
Sweetheart, like Jurassic Park, features a protagonist stranded on an island with a deadly creature. The nightly attacks create a rhythm of suspense similar to the T-Rex or raptor scenes. It’s a minimalist survival story about human ingenuity vs. animal instinct.
Sweetheart is a clever, stripped-down creature feature anchored by Kiersey Clemons’ compelling solo performance. It’s essentially a one-woman show for most of the runtime, as Clemons’ character uses her wits and resourcefulness to survive. The creature design is simple but effective, a shadowy shark-like monster that’s relentless in its pursuit. Director J.D. Dillard creates an atmosphere of isolation and dread. It’s a small-scale but gripping thriller that does a lot with a little.
Conclusion
From giant apes to subterranean worms, rampaging kaiju to Lovecraftian entities, the 24 films on this list showcase the breadth and variety of the creature feature genre that Jurassic Park so perfectly exemplifies. Whether it’s the adrenaline rush of a monster attack, the thrill of an impossible environment, or the primal fear of being hunted, these movies tap into the same vein of excitement and terror that makes Jurassic Park an enduring classic.
