Best Order to Watch the Jurassic Park Movies (Updated: August 2025)

If you’re eager to find the optimal viewing sequence for Jurassic Park movies before watching Rebirth, here’s a helpful suggestion. Now could be an excellent moment to reexperience the whole series since Rebirth seems to wrap up the World saga. Therefore, check out the suggested order below and discover our recommended way to enjoy this famous dinosaur-themed franchise.

What’s the best order to watch the Jurassic Park movies in?

It’s most rewarding to experience the Jurassic Park saga in the sequence it was initially presented. Luckily, these movies follow a chronological timeline too, without complications. But, if you factor in the two animated series, the continuity can become slightly twisted.

If you chose to watch the films and animated series in chronological order, the list would be:

Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park 3
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (animated series)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Battle at Big Rock (short film)
Jurassic World: Dominion
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (animated series)
Jurassic World: Rebirth

Instead, these two animated series and short film are optional for the overall experience. If you’re just a casual fan of the franchise, you may choose not to watch them.

Jurassic Park (1993)

In simpler terms, Jurassic Park – a classic blockbuster movie from the ’90s – was directed by Steven Spielberg and marked a significant period in cinematic history. Interestingly, Spielberg beat Aliens director James Cameron in a bidding war to acquire the rights for its adaptation. The script was penned by Michael Crichton, who is known for writing science fiction, along with renowned screenwriter David Koepp, based on Crichton’s own novel.

Located off the coast of Costa Rica, the narrative unfolds around John Hammond, a wealthy businessman, who’s created a unique attraction – a dinosaur-themed park with genetically modified creatures. However, chaos ensues when a dissatisfied computer specialist, portrayed by Wayne Knight, decides to wreak havoc. As a result, the dinosaurs escape, leaving a group of tourists to navigate a terrifying prehistoric ordeal. Luckily for them, they have an intelligent paleontologist on their side, providing crucial guidance to survive.

The film turned out to be an immense triumph, largely due to Spielberg’s masterful direction and groundbreaking CGI that breathed life into dinosaurs in a previously unseen manner. The talented cast, featuring Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, Ariana Richards, Joseph Mazzello, and BD Wong, added considerable star power to the production. Alright then, let’s rewatch Jurassic Park together!

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Hey parents, I think there’s a dinosaur in our backyard! That memory from 1997 is still so vivid for me. And The Lost World was an amazing sequel with some incredible moments that I’ll never forget. While it might not have received the best ratings, I personally believe it’s one of the better Jurassic Park movies out there.

Instead of simply repeating the original with a change in setting or time period, this sequel manages to introduce fresh concepts and adopts a significantly darker mood compared to the first movie. Akin to the intense kitchen scene from Jurassic Park, The Lost World offers several high-tension moments. Moreover, it features an impressive array of raptors, many more than before. In addition to Steven Spielberg’s direction, the film boasts a talented ensemble cast comprising Julianne Moore, Vince Vaughn, the late Pete Postlethwaite, as well as returning stars Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough.

Jurassic Park 3 (2001)

I’m thrilled to share that in Jurassic Park 3, the remarkable duo Sam Neill and Laura Dern return to the screen. This time around, Joe Johnston takes on the director’s role. After the harrowing experiences from the first movie, my character, Dr. Alan Grant, finds myself reluctantly joining Paul and Amanda Kirby (portrayed by William H. Macy and Téa Leoni) for an airborne tour of Isla Sorna, commonly known as Site B. This seemingly harmless outing turns out to be a ruse, as the divorced couple are actually on a mission – they’re seeking their missing son who ventured into the island’s perilous wilderness.

In the story, Grant consents to the voyage unaware that the Kirbys aim to explore the island in search of their son. Disregarding his recommendations (and certainly his wishes), they pilot the aircraft, but due to some extremely unfortunate events, they’re unable to lift it back into the air. Consequently, the group winds up marooned on a prehistoric island, battling solely for survival.

This tale has a sense of urgency as if it’s the next installment where everyone manages to escape the island safely. It introduces new dinosaurs and delivers plenty of thrilling survival episodes. Even a Spinosaurus versus T-Rex confrontation is included!

Jurassic World (2015)

In the time span of twenty years following Jurassic Park’s events, Isla Nublar has transformed into a high-end resort and dinosaur-themed park known as Jurassic World. As with any tourist destination, attracting visitors requires continuous innovation. Thus, a genetically engineered dinosaur was introduced – the Indominus rex, which is larger, swifter, more intelligent, and frightening. This oversized, cunning creature, embodying the “nature should not be tampered with” message, manages to break free from its enclosure. The park’s operations manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) and velociraptor trainer Owen (Chris Pratt), despite their different roles, subsequently join forces to prevent the Indominus rex from causing widespread destruction.

Compared to Jurassic Park, where dinosaurs were more like real, wild creatures, albeit dangerous ones with humans as potential prey, Jurassic World presents them as beastly hunters, which is why some critics have given it mixed reviews. However, the film explores themes of human hubris and the perils of exploiting animals for profit, making it thought-provoking. Despite this, it remains an entertaining movie that honors the original while introducing Jurassic Park to a new audience.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Following the destruction of Jurassic World, there were indications that the dormant volcano on the island could potentially erupt. Characters Claire and Owen, played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt respectively, reunite as they attempt to negotiate with former dinosaur trainer Owen and dino enthusiast Eli (Rafe Spall) for their rescue. The group soon uncovers a dire situation where the dinosaurs aren’t merely at risk of going extinct but being auctioned off on the black market to an elite group consisting of billionaires, arms dealers, and Texas oil tycoons. It’s surprising to find out how cheap these dinosaurs are being sold for – a mere ten million dollars. Compared to a racehorse that sold for 70 million, it seems almost absurd. In the movie, there are several small details that provoke thoughtful contemplation. However, let us move on.

The film may seem overly prolonged, with a storyline that tends to meander excessively, and it has some debatable scientific authenticity about particular dinosaurs. Nevertheless, the opening scene is notably captivating and stands out as one of the most chilling dinosaur-themed moments in the entire Jurassic Park series. In essence, it showcases a pinnacle of dinosaur terror.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

At long last, dinosaurs from each era of Jurassic Park are teaming up together. Four years after the events of Fallen Kingdom, these ancient creatures now wander freely across our world. I can’t say for sure how they feel about snow, but they certainly seem to be adapting well. As one might expect, given their origins millions of years apart, this unusual cohabitation doesn’t last without conflict.

Meanwhile, Claire Dearing and Owen Grady are living in seclusion, safeguarding Maisie Lockwood, a human clone, while a clandestine biotech organization, BioSyn, creates chaos on a global scale with genetically modified locusts. In response, the original trio from Jurassic Park – Dr. Ellie Sattler, Dr. Alan Grant, and Dr. Ian Malcolm – join forces to expose BioSyn’s wrongdoings. During their investigations, they encounter Claire, Owen, and the raptors.

Although Jurassic World: Dominion received a blend of positive and negative criticisms, it skillfully concludes three decades of filmmaking by merging the original trilogy and the Jurassic World timelines into a spectacular climax. Notably, it grossed over $1 billion globally, ensuring that Universal Pictures will likely produce another sequel titled Jurassic World: Rebirth.

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Three years post-Dominion, we find ourselves in a climate-driven dinosaur habitat near the equator. A pharmaceutical mogul named Martin Krebs enlists an ex-special forces operative Zora Bennett, along with paleontologist Henry Loomis, on a mission to break into an abandoned InGen lab. Their objective? To retrieve genetic material capable of developing a heart disease cure hidden within the lab. However, this facility conceals more than just medicinal secrets; some of these secrets have managed to escape and are now prowling the vicinity.

Do I need to watch the Netflix Jurassic Park series?

If you aim to fully immerse yourself in the Jurassic Park universe, consider checking out Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. While not crucial for following the chronology of events, this series enriches the narrative of Jurassic World significantly. The show focuses on a band of teenagers trapped on Isla Nublar amidst the first movie’s events. This kid-friendly animated series gets progressively darker and should appeal to fans who can’t resist dino-themed adventures or those determined to experience every facet of this saga.

2025-08-22 04:10