Though extinct for millions of years, dinosaurs have remained incredibly popular with the public for decades, especially since they’re fascinating animals to enjoy during childhood. Perhaps it’s because of how intimidating they look or how mysterious they are. We honestly can’t seem to get enough of them these days as they’ve become an integral part of pop culture. They may be iconic and legendary, but more than anything, they’re an absolute blast to watch in the cinema.
There’s nothing quite as thrilling as watching dinosaurs on the biggest screen possible, and there are a plethora of compelling and memorable dinosaur movies out there, with some shining brighter than others. These dinosaur movies are essential to watch, even if dinos aren’t necessarily your thing. From cult classics to groundbreaking achievements, the following are nine must-watch movies about these massive reptiles that everyone should experience at least once. They thrill with their stories of creatures with big teeth and claws, and have become immortalized in cinema history.
‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ (1997)
Starting this list with a thunderous roar is Steven Spielberg‘s The Lost World: Jurassic Park, released in 1997. The thrilling sequel to Spielberg’s groundbreaking dinosaur epic from 1993 (more on that one later), The Lost World proved to be a pulse-pounding joyride that, while nowhere near as good as its predecessor, offered audiences a new and exciting journey back to the story of Jurassic Park. Starring Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm, it follows the famed chotician as he and a small group venture to InGen’s deserted second dinosaur island, Isla Sorna, on a research mission. Soon, they have to deal with InGen’s greedy new CEO, Peter Ludlow (Arliss Howard), who plans to plunder the island for its resources.
The Lost World was a monster hit when it came out, but was panned by critics and many audiences for its slower pace, weak characters, and overall inferior quality compared to the first one. In the years since, it’s slowly garnered more appreciation for its thrilling action and memorable scenes. It’s now often regarded as the most underrated film in the Jurassic franchise, and its popularity has been steadily growing in recent years, especially now that it’s nowhere near being the worst of the series, which is why you are definitely not going to see Jurassic World: Dominion on this list. Overall, it may not be the most perfect film, but The Lost World can satisfy even casual audiences and definitely amaze hardcore dinosaur fans.
‘The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms’ (1953)
One of the most fun and recognizable films of the 1950s’ atomic age, Eugène Lourié‘s The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a black-and-white monster classic with a thrilling legacy. It’s a unique sci-fi tale about nuclear testing in the northern Arctic Circle that awakens a colossal dinosaur from its suspended animation, causing it to rampage through the streets of New York.
While admittedly over-the-top and a bit silly, The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms honestly still feels quite thrilling and engaging despite its age and admittedly dated effects. It actually was groundbreaking for the atomic monster genre, laying the building blocks for many modern giant monsters, and even predating Japan’s Gojira by a year. The Creature from 20,000 Fathoms is overall a solid and unforgettable dinosaur classic that honestly deserves more attention.
‘The Good Dinosaur’ (2015)
Disney Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur offers audiences a heartwarming dinosaur adventure tale that feels so incredibly touching and inspiring. Set in an alternate world where dinosaurs never went extinct and became co-existent with humans, it follows a young Sauropod dinosaur named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) as he reluctantly helps a primitive human child find a family of his own.
While it may not have been a critical and financial success at the time, The Good Dinosaur has slowly garnered more appreciation from fans who’ve come to love its heartfelt story and incredible themes of family and self-discovery. Like most Pixar classics, The Good Dinosaur is perfectly animated and eye-catching to watch, and it has since become a fun, unique cult classic that every young dinosaur lover truly should watch.
‘Dinosaur’ (2000)
The Good Dinosaur wasn’t the only one in Disney’s pantheon. Released in 2000, Dinosaur is one of the Mouse House’s most underrated cult classics, one that’s steadily risen to better recognition in recent years. It’s a story that follows an Iguanodon named Aladar (D. B. Sweeney) as he and his adoptive lemur family embark on a dangerous trek through a hostile land to reach a new home after their island paradise is wiped out by a meteor shower.
Though not a huge hit with critics at the time, Dinosaur was and is still beloved by dinosaur fans today for its remarkable visuals and thrilling story. It was quite innovative for its time, being a groundbreaking film that used a combination of photo-realistic CGI and live-action backgrounds to give it a unique and ultimately memorable feel that always feels so incredibly spectacular to rewatch. The variety of dinosaurs featured also makes it of interest for anyone interested in these massive, primitive reptiles.
‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)
One of the most iconic dinosaur kids movies of all time, the timeless animated classicThe Land Before Time is a film that turned many audiences into dinosaur fans growing up. It’s a touching tale of an orphaned brontosaurus named Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), as he forms a bond with several other misplaced young dinosaurs and embarks on a journey to reunite with their loved ones in a distant valley.
It was heartwarming and emotional, tragic at times, but also so incredibly inspiring. Above all, The Land Before Time amazed audiences with its exciting adventure. It boasted dinosaur popularity in the pre-Jurassic Park era, becoming a major box office success and creating a franchise that remained strong for decades. The protagonist, Littlefoot, remains an icon of family cinema and one of the most famous examples of an Apatosaurus in cinema.
‘King Kong’ (2005)
From the thrilling mind behind the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sir Peter Jackson, comes an adventure tale he was passionate about creating: King Kong, an action-packed retelling of the 1933 black-and-white masterpiece. With pulse-pound excitement and Oscar-winning visuals, this worthy remake updates the story of an ambitious film crew as they journey to a lost prehistoric island and encounter its apex predator, the mighty Kong (Andy Serkis).
King Kong is an absolute blast of entertainment, featuring thrilling chases, gun battles, and even some intense dinosaur action between Kong and some hungry T. rexes. Though it’s not as iconic as the original, and its unnecessarily long run-time might put off some viewers, Jackson’s King Kong is definitely a must-watch as it’s so gripping and visually spectacular from beginning to end.
‘Gojira’ (1954)
All hail the king of the monsters. Godzilla has become a pop culture icon for decades since making his glorious debut in the 1954 horror classic Gojira. It brought him to life in a fascinating and terrifying way, and he quickly established himself as a legend. The film sees this colossal dinosaur-like creature as it rises out of the sea to attack Tokyo after being awoken by atomic bomb testing.
Gojira is a masterpiece that only gets better with age. It was thought-provoking and deep, and as such, it’s become a constant rewatch for cinema buffs. It may not be a traditional dinosaur movie in a sense, but it still technically counts, and, of course, it’s essential for fans of these kinds of movies. Godzilla is now widely considered the King of the Monsters, and its reputation is well established through a collection of movies that only keeps expanding.
‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)
1993’s Jurassic Park is the quintessential dinosaur movie. Truly, this epic summer blockbuster is the greatest, most memorable dinosaur movie of all time, one that certainly hasn’t dwindled in popularity in the years since it stomped into theaters. Featuring an iconic and lovable cast, including Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, it follows a paleontologist as he leads a group of survivors to escape an island full of dangerous dinosaurs that were cloned by genetic technology.
With groundbreaking CGI visuals, epic suspense and action, and some of the most pulse-pounding excitement one can ever find when watching a movie, Jurassic Park isn’t just an essential dinosaur movie; it’s one of the most must-watch movies ever made, period. It only gets better with age and will likely continue to be watched just to relive its magic. Overall, Jurassic Park is the dinosaur masterpiece everyone should see.
‘King Kong’ (1933)
The original black-and-white version of King Kong still reigns supreme as the definitive version. This innovative and unforgettable masterpiece was and still is a landmark of cinema, a film that pushed the limits of effects and storytelling to the extreme, becoming legendary in the process. It’s the classic story of Kong as ripped from his island to cause a rampage through New York City, ending with a climactic battle on top of the Empire State Building.
The ’05 King Kong film is a classic in its own right now, but it doesn’t top the legacy and influence of the 1933 original. Though yes, the effects and cheesy lines show the film’s age, it’s still considered an incredible achievement, especially for the time, and still inspires movies today. 1933’s King Kong is a thrilling classic withintense action, an exciting adventure feel, and even a few cool dinosaur fight scenes here and there.
