Jurassic Park (franchise)

Jurassic Park, later called Jurassic World, is an American science fiction franchise created by Michael Crichton. It tells the story of a theme park that tries to create cloned dinosaurs, but things go wrong. The franchise began in 1990 when Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment bought the rights to Crichton's novel Jurassic Park before it was published. The book became very popular, and Steven Spielberg made a famous film in 1993.

The first film was so successful that it was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2018. A sequel novel, The Lost World, came out in 1995, and Spielberg made a film version in 1997. More films followed, including Jurassic Park III in 2001.

In 2015, a new trilogy began with Jurassic World, which was very popular. This was followed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018 and Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. A new film, Jurassic World Rebirth, came out in 2025.

The franchise has also inspired many video games, comic books, and theme park rides at Universal Studios theme parks. There have been animated series, like Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous and Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, and even Lego animated projects. Overall, Jurassic Park is one of the top-grossing media franchises ever, earning more than $6 billion worldwide.

Background

Premise and dinosaurs

See also: Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park

The Jurassic Park franchise is about dinosaurs that were brought back to life and run loose on an island theme park near Costa Rica. Scientists made the dinosaurs by taking tiny bits of DNA from mosquitoes trapped in amber, then filling in the missing pieces with frog DNA. The stories mostly happen on fake islands off the coast of Central America, but later films show dinosaurs all over the world, including the United States. The newest movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, takes place on an island near South America.

The movies are famous for how they show the dinosaurs, using both robots and computer tricks. The first film was very well liked and made many people more interested in learning about real dinosaurs.

InGen

"InGen" redirects here. For other uses, see Ingen (disambiguation).

International Genetic Technologies, Inc. (InGen) is the fake company that made the dinosaurs. In the stories, the company is based in Palo Alto, California, but most of the dinosaur work happened on fake islands near Costa Rica. At first, InGen was just one of many small science companies, but they found a way to bring dinosaurs back to life and planned to put them in a theme park. In the movies, InGen’s name appears on screens and helicopters but is not said out loud. By the time Jurassic World happens, another big company owns InGen. In a later movie, a drug company gets InGen’s dinosaur files for its own plans.

Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction calls InGen a sneaky company. Some people think the company is like others shown in old movies or books.

Biosyn

Not to be confused with Bio-Synthesis, Inc..

In the books, Biosyn Corporation (or Biosyn) is InGen’s rival company, based in Cupertino, California. Biosyn is known for taking secrets from other science companies. An employee named Lewis Dodgson helps steal InGen’s dinosaur DNA, thinking the dinosaurs could be used for hunting or science tests.

Dodgson is only briefly in the first movie, but Biosyn shows up in some video games. In Jurassic World Dominion (2022), Biosyn becomes important. Dodgson is now the boss, and the company has scientists like Dr. Henry Wu and Dr. Ian Malcolm. Biosyn agrees to keep dinosaurs in a valley in the Dolomites mountains in Italy. They also take a girl named Maisie Lockwood and use huge bugs to ruin other companies’ crops. By the end, their plan is stopped and exposed. The movie’s director says Biosyn isn’t totally bad — many workers there just want to help, but they are tricked by Dodgson.

Isla Nublar

Isla Nublar (English: Cloud Island) is a fake island in Central America that is where the first Jurassic Park movie and book take place. The island has an old volcano and is 120 miles west of Costa Rica. In the stories, Jurassic Park was supposed to be a dinosaur theme park on this island, but it failed when the dinosaurs escaped. In the books, the island is made unsafe, but in the movies, it stays around for a while. Later, a new park called Jurassic World opens there, but dinosaurs take over again.

In Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the island is destroyed when its volcano erupts.

In the movies, real islands in Hawaii like Oahu and Kauai stood in for Isla Nublar. Some scenes were also filmed in California and Louisiana.

Isla Sorna

Isla Sorna (English: Sarcasm Island), also called Site B, is another fake island in Central America. It is 87 miles southwest of Isla Nublar. This is where InGen did most of its dinosaur research before moving them to Isla Nublar. Isla Sorna is bigger and has many different climates. After the first stories, InGen leaves Isla Sorna and the dinosaurs live there freely. Later stories show the island being used for dinosaur research again or as a safe place for the animals. In one movie, the island is shown briefly with old footage.

For the movies, real places in California and Hawaii were used to stand in for Isla Sorna, along with sets built at Universal Studios.

Novels

Jurassic Park (1990)

Main article: Jurassic Park (novel)

In 1983, Michael Crichton started thinking about a story involving cloning a pterosaur from fossil DNA. He worked on the book for several years and changed the story from having a young boy as the main character to an adult.

Steven Spielberg learned about the book in 1989. Universal Pictures bought the rights to the novel before it was published in 1990, with help from Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. The book and later movie became very popular.

The Lost World (1995)

Main article: The Lost World (Crichton novel)

After the first Jurassic Park movie came out, Crichton decided to write a sequel novel. He published The Lost World in 1995, and a movie version followed a few years later.

Jurassic Park Adventures (2001–2002)

Scott Ciencin wrote three books based on Jurassic Park III. The books are Jurassic Park Adventures: Survivor, Jurassic Park Adventures: Prey, and Jurassic Park Adventures: Flyers.

The Evolution of Claire (2018)

The Evolution of Claire (Jurassic World) is a book for young adults written by Tess Sharpe. It is set before the Jurassic World theme park opened and follows a character named Claire Dearing.

Maisie Lockwood Adventures (2022)

Maisie Lockwood Adventures (Jurassic World) is a series of children's books by Tess Sharpe. The stories follow Maisie Lockwood as she has adventures in a world with dinosaurs.

Films

Overview

The films begin as an adaptation of Michael Crichton's 1990 novel with the film Jurassic Park. After an incident with a velociraptor in Jurassic Park on Isla Nublar, theme park owner John Hammond brings in three specialists to sign off on the park to calm investors. The specialists are surprised to see that the island park's main attraction are living, breathing dinosaurs, created with a mixture of fossilized DNA and genetic cross-breeding/cloning. When the park's power turns off, the dinosaurs break free, and the survivors must find a way to turn the power back on and escape.

The Lost World is set on Isla Sorna, where the animals were bred before being transported to the park on Isla Nublar. When a family discovers the island's dinosaurs, a team is sent to document the island to turn it into a preserve. The team faces dangerous creatures and must work together to survive.

Jurassic Park III takes place on Isla Sorna. When a boy goes missing while parasailing, a group hires a guide to help them find him. They land on the island and are stalked by dangerous dinosaurs, including a Spinosaurus, as they search for the boy.

Jurassic World features a new park built on the remains of the original park on Isla Nublar. The park is run by a new owner and includes a return of a character from the first film. The park faces problems when a new, genetically-modified dinosaur escapes.

In Fallen Kingdom, a mission to relocate Isla Nublar's dinosaurs to a new sanctuary becomes part of a scheme to sell the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs escape and cause terror, while a subplot introduces the idea of human cloning.

Dominion is set four years after Fallen Kingdom, with dinosaurs now living alongside humans around the world. The film follows a rescue mission and exposes a conspiracy by a genomics corporation.

Rebirth is set five years after Dominion, when Earth's environment is no longer hospitable to dinosaurs. The surviving creatures now reside in remote areas. A covert operative is recruited for a top-secret mission to infiltrate a forbidden island.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Main article: Jurassic Park

Spielberg cited King Kong as the inspiration for the film. Jurassic Park was praised for its special effects and became the most successful film released up to that time, grossing more than $914 million worldwide. It was later selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Main article: The Lost World: Jurassic Park

The film was a commercial success and received mixed reviews. It made changes to the plot and characters from the book.

Jurassic Park III (2001)

Main article: Jurassic Park III

The film was the first Jurassic Park film not based on a novel. It had a troubled production and received mixed reviews from critics.

Jurassic World (2015)

Main article: Jurassic World

The film received generally positive reviews and grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide, becoming the third highest-grossing film at the time. It is the highest-grossing film in the franchise when adjusted for inflation.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Main article: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The film grossed over $1.3 billion and received mixed reviews from critics.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Main article: Jurassic World Dominion

The film grossed over $1 billion and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics.

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Main article: Jurassic World Rebirth

The film was a box office success, grossing over $869 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews from critics.

Short films

As of 2022, two short films have been released. Both take place between Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Jurassic World Dominion, and are considered part of the main story.

Battle at Big Rock (2019)

Main article: Battle at Big Rock

Battle at Big Rock is the first live-action short film in the franchise, and was released on September 15, 2019. The eight-minute film was directed by Colin Trevorrow, and was co-written by him and Emily Carmichael. The film stars André Holland, Natalie Martinez, Melody Hurd, and Pierson Salvador.

The film is set one year after the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. In the film, a family goes on a camping trip at the fictional Big Rock National Park in northern California, approximately 20 miles from where dinosaurs from Fallen Kingdom were let loose. The film shows the first major meeting between humans and the dinosaurs.

Jurassic World Dominion prologue (2021)

Main article: Jurassic World Dominion prologue

A five-minute Jurassic World Dominion prologue was released in 2021, serving as the franchise's second live-action short film. It was originally intended as the film's opening sequence before being removed from the final version. The prologue starts with a prehistoric scene showing dinosaurs in their natural homes, then moves to the present day as a T. rex causes trouble at a drive-in theater. The prologue is used as the opening part in the extended edition of Jurassic World Dominion.

Television

Lego animated projects

See also: Lego Jurassic World (theme)

Lego made several animated shows, including a two-part special called Lego Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit, which aired on NBC on November 29, 2018. Another show, a 13-episode miniseries named Lego Jurassic World: Legend of Isla Nublar, started in 2019. It was shown on the Family Channel in Canada and on Nickelodeon in the U.S.

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (2020–2022)

Main article: Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous is an animated show that began on Netflix on September 18, 2020. It had five seasons with 49 episodes and finished on July 21, 2022. This show was made by Netflix, Universal Studios, Amblin Entertainment, and DreamWorks Animation. It tells the story of six teenagers at a camp on Isla Nublar when the dinosaurs escape, and they must work together to survive. The show features voices from several actors, including Paul-Mikél Williams, Jenna Ortega, Ryan Potter, Raini Rodriguez, Sean Giambrone, Kausar Mohammed, Jameela Jamil, and Glen Powell. After the series ended, an interactive special called Hidden Adventure was released.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024–2025)

Main article: Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory is an animated sequel to Camp Cretaceous, released on Netflix on May 24, 2024. It had four seasons with 39 episodes and ended on November 20, 2025. This series takes place before and during the events of Jurassic World Dominion. Most of the original voice actors returned, except for two who were replaced.

Future series

Jurassic World: Explorers (TBA)

Jurassic World: Explorers is a new animated series for younger children based on the Jurassic World trilogy, planned for release in 2025.

Untitled live-action series

There were reports in March 2020 about a live-action TV series based on the Jurassic World trilogy, but by 2022, the creator said no such series was being made, and the focus was on the films.

Cancelled projects

Escape from Jurassic Park

In 1993, after the film Jurassic Park was released, there were plans for an animated series called Escape from Jurassic Park. It would have had 23 episodes and would continue the story right after the movie ended. The show would follow John Hammond trying to open the park while another company planned a dinosaur park in Brazil. However, Steven Spielberg decided not to move forward with the series, so it was never made.

Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect

In 1997, there were plans for another animated series tied to The Lost World: Jurassic Park, along with a line of dinosaur toy hybrids. But the animated series was never produced, though the toys were made.

Motion comics and web series

Jurassic World (Motion Comics) (2019)

In 2019, a special Jurassic World motion comic series came out on YouTube. This four-part story happens after the movie Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and shows different dinosaur attacks around the world.

Employee Orientation Series: Presented by InGen (2023)

The Employee Orientation Series: Presented by InGen is a set of short training videos made to feel like real employee tapes. Right now, there are three episodes, each about one minute long. They were released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Jurassic Park movie.

Cast and crew

Main article: List of Jurassic Park characters

See also: Dinosaurs in Jurassic Park

This part of the article talks about the characters in the Jurassic Park movies and TV shows. It explains what different symbols mean next to the characters' names, like if they only appear briefly or if we hear their voice but not see them.

For more information about the people who helped make the movies, see § Films.

Reception

The Jurassic Park films have been very popular and well-liked by many people. Each movie has made a lot of money at the box office, showing that many families and fans enjoy watching them.

People have shared many different thoughts about the movies, and each film has its own special moments that fans remember. The movies have also received various awards and honors for their work.

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Music

Merchandise and other media

Toys

After the 1993 film, Kenner made many dinosaur toys and action figures. They had two years to make these toys, and they sold very well. Another company, Dakin, also made stuffed dinosaur toys from the film.

Kenner made more toys for the 1997 sequel film and also released a toy line called Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect. Their parent company, Hasbro, took over making toys for Jurassic Park III, which came out in 2001. Playskool made simpler toys for younger children. Toys were also made by Lego Studios. Later, Mattel made toys for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, including special dolls and toys that could connect to a mobile app. Many other companies like Lego and Funko also made Jurassic World toys.

Board games

Many board games based on Jurassic Park were made by Milton Bradley and Hasbro. In 2018, Ravensburger released Jurassic Park: Danger!, where players compete against dinosaurs. In 2021, Hasbro made a version of Monopoly with a Jurassic Park theme. In 2022, Funko’s design studio made Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar, a special board game.

Comics

Topps Comics

In 1993, Topps Comics got the rights to make comics based on Jurassic Park. They made several comic series tied to the films, including adaptations of the movies and original stories.

IDW Comics

Starting in 2010, IDW Publishing began making new Jurassic Park comics and also reprinted old comics from the 1990s. They later made comics based on Jurassic World as well.

Commercial

A commercial for Xfinity during a big sports event showed characters from the films, including Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, using better Wi‑Fi to avoid problems in a dinosaur park that became a resort.

Video games

Main article: Jurassic Park video games

Many video games based on Jurassic Park have been made since 1993. Early games were made for systems like the NES and Sega Genesis. Later games included action‑adventure titles, park‑building games, and even a virtual reality experience. In 2023, a new game called Jurassic Park: Survival was announced, set one day after the first film.

Attractions

Theme park rides

Several exciting theme park rides based on the Jurassic Park series have been created at Universal's theme parks around the world.

At Universal Studios Hollywood, a popular ride called Jurassic Park: The Ride opened in 1996. It was later renamed Jurassic World: The Ride in 2019, inspired by the 2015 movie Jurassic World.

In Orlando, Florida, at Universal Islands of Adventure, visitors can enjoy the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride and the thrilling VelociCoaster, which features a special spin over water.

Other parks, including Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Studios Singapore, and Universal Studios Beijing, also have their own unique dinosaur-themed rides and attractions.

Exhibitions

Museums and exhibitions around the world have showcased dinosaurs and items from the Jurassic Park films. For example, the American Museum of Natural History in New York had a special display when the first movie came out in 1993.

Traveling exhibitions have also toured many places, showing dinosaur models, movie sets, and props. These exhibitions let fans get an up-close look at the amazing creatures from the movies.

Others

There are also live shows and touring exhibitions featuring animatronic dinosaurs and famous locations from the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies. These shows travel to cities around the world, letting everyone experience the adventure.