Dinosaurs are unquestionably cool! Even before Steven Spielberg had them stomp and chomp their way into our hearts with his adaptation of the sci-fi classic novels by Michael Crichton, the world was enamored with the giants that lived long before humankind. Something about these behemoths that we have been digging up for decades seems to entice a specific part of our brain and stoke the imagination in new and interesting ways. So let’s count down the best dinosaur movies of all time.
7
‘Dinosaur’ (2000)
Directed by Eric Leighton & Ralph Zondag
Dinosaur is a children’s adventure film created by Walt Disney Feature Animation, directed by Ralph Zondag and Eric Leighton, and written by John Harrison, Robert NelsonJacobs, and Walon Green. The story follows D. B. Sweeney as the voice of a young Iguanodon raised by prehistoric lemurs as they leave their home to find a livable new nesting ground after a devastating meteor crashes to the ground.
Joining Sweeny is an all-star voice cast that includes Alfre Woodard, Ossie Davis, Hayden Panettiere, Samuel E. Wright, Julianna Margulies, and Della Reese. Though the film has received mixed reviews over its lifetime, the visuals and CGI techniques used to create this pseudo-live-action film are undeniably astonishing for the time.
6
‘Jurassic World’ (2015)
Directed by Colin Trevorrow
Jurassic World is a reboot of the iconic sci-fi action horror franchise that started with Jurassic Park. The film takes place 22 years after the first film, with a flourishing version of the failed theme park. But when visitor numbers start to decline, the company creates a new, dangerous hybrid dinosaur that terrorizes the new park.
Jurassic World is directed and co-written by Colin Trevorrow and stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jake Johnson, Lauren Lapkus, BD Wong, and Irrfan Khan. This film was a success critically and at the box office, and though there have been mixed reviews over the years, the movie is worth a watch just for the three-way dino fight at the end.
5
‘The Good Dinosaur’ (2015)
Directed by Peter Sohn
The Good Dinosaur is another kids’ adventure film created by Pixar Animation Studios, directed by Peter Sohn, and written by Meg LeFauve, Bob Peterson, Kelsey Mann, and Erik Benson. The story takes place on an Earth where non-avian dinosaurs live beside a budding humanity and follows Raymond Ochoa as an Apatosaurus, who meets a human that he’s determined to return to his own kind, meaning he has to traverse a dangerous, unknown region.
Though The Good Dinosaur was not a critical or financial success upon release, it has a certain charm about it. Part of that charm comes from the supporting cast, including heavy-hitters like Sam Elliott, Anna Paquin, A. J. Buckley, Steve Zahn, Jeffrey Wright, and Frances McDormand.
4
‘Kong: Skull Island’ (2017)
Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Kong: Skull Island is a mash-up of a monster flick and a Vietnam War film directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The film reboots King Kong to fold the iconic giant ape into the Monsterverse franchise that centers around Godzilla. The film takes place in the ’70s on a mysterious island with giant fauna that is so untouched by the outside world that dinosaurs still exist in its tropical forests.
Kong: Skull Island follows a team of scientists and Vietnam War soldiers played by a stunning cast including Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Shea Whigham, and Corey Hawkins. The film is a spectacular addition to the Kong mythos that also has a poignant message about the futility of war.
3
‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)
Directed by Don Bluth
The Land Before Time is an animated kids’ adventure film about a group of young dinosaurs traversing dangerous, carnivore-infested land to find a fabled place called the Great Valley. The film was directed by revolutionary animator Don Bluth and written by Stu Krieger. Lending their voices are delightful actors, including Pat Hingle, Helen Shaver, Bill Erwin, and Judith Barsi.
The Land Before Time is a film that launched a whole franchise that includes 14 movies and a musical television series, but nothing is as great as the original, which not only explores death, grief, and prejudice but also features some of the best animation in the industry.
2
‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ (1997)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
The Lost World: Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by David Koepp, is the second-best in the Jurassic Park franchise (argue with the wall!), so it is second on the list. The film takes place four years after the original and brings back Jeff Goldblum while adding big stars to the cast like Julianne Moore, Pete Postlethwaite, Vince Vaughn, and Peter Stormare.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park finds Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm traveling to a second dinosaur island to document the living species and encourage outsiders to leave them alone. Unfortunately, InGen’s new owner sends his own team to capture as many dinosaurs as they can so he can open a new park in San Diego. As you can imagine, it goes horribly.
1
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Jurassic Park is a sci-fi film with horror and action elements directed by Steven Spielberg that was co-written by the original novel author, Michael Crichton, and screenwriter David Koepp. This beloved film about a rich businessman using cutting-edge genetic technology to resurrect dinosaurs for a theme park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Richard Attenborough.
Jurassic Park revolutionized CGI technology and set a new standard for visual effects by melding it with practical effects to create an immersive experience for the audience. This Academy Award-winning film ascends beyond the usual creature feature by capturing a sense of wonder while smashing it against existential questions surrounding ethics, the responsibility of creation, and the disasters that could be avoided by paying workers a fair wage.
