Watching Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill see a dinosaur for the first time in Jurassic World: Dominion just around the corner, filmgoers everywhere are eager to see them reunited in a man versus dinosaur movie once more.
But dinosaurs have been gracing the silver screen and inspiring audiences since movies started being produced. From the serious to the downright ridiculous, there are some great dinosaur movies to watch. (That aren’t Jurassic Park related.)
The Lost World (1925)
The 1925 silent film The Lost World is a stop motion animation triumph that went on to launch the career of special effects pioneer Willis O’Brien and influenced filmmakers for decades. The story follows Paula White (Bessie Love), the daughter of a former explorer and dinosaur enthusiast, who enlists the help of Professor Challenger (Wallace Beery) to help her find the location of her missing father.
The journey they set out on is a memorable one that lures them deeper into a secret, isolated world full of prehistoric creatures. Considered one of the most historically influential films, it’s since gone on to inspire countless films such as King Kong, Land of the Lost, and even The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
A film about a dead man’s brain being removed and put into an animatronic dinosaur probably isn’t the first film someone thinks of when the word “romance” comes to mind, but it is the plot of the now infamous cult classic than a classic, this science fiction horror comedy has gone on to grow an increasingly dedicated and ever-expanding fan base.
The film follows Tammy (Denise Richards), whose new boyfriend Michael (Paul Walker) is brutalized and left for dead by her ex-boyfriend Billy (George Pilgrim). A normal film might end there—but not Tammy. Instead, the evil and subtly named Dr. Wachenstein (Terry Kisser) uses Michael’s brain as part of an experiment, implanting it into a robotic T-Rex. Obviously, things don’t go as planned.
The VelociPastor (2017)
Much like Tammy and the T-Rex, The VelociPastor isn’t conventionally “good”, but it has gained a huge cult following. The film follows the story of Doug Jones (Gregory James), a Catholic priest who goes to China after the untimely death of his parents. (In a very believable CGI explosion.) While there, he’s cut by an artifact that gives him the ability to transform into a dinosaur.
The film is extremely campy, the special graphics are virtually nonexistent, and parts of the dialogue are hilariously over the top. But that just adds to the overall fun of the film. Still, some of the artistic choices give the movie a sort of 70s grindhouse flair that’s enjoyable, and there’s nothing quite like seeing Doug turn full VelociPastor.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
Based on the Jules Verne novel by the same name, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a fantastic example of a science fiction/fantasy adventure film. Much like The Lost World, Journey revolves around some scientists making attempting to make a discovery and traversing into the unknown. In this case, Sir Oliver Lindenbrook (James Mason) discovers a age to the center of the Earth via volcano.
While the film doesn’t revolve specifically around dinosaurs, the trip to the center of the Earth proves perilous: a variety of dinosaurs and other creatures thought to no longer exist plague the scientists throughout their journey. Full of romance, adventure, and even Atlantis – this ‘50s science fiction classic has a lot to offer.
The Land Before Time (1988)
Often touted as one of the saddest animated movies of all time, The Land Before Time is a dinosaur movie that makes the viewer experience a myriad of emotions. Much like a modern-day Pixar film, it transcends its medium and deals with some heady topics like loss, grief, displacement, growing up, and finding your family. The story follows Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon), a “longneck” who, along with his friends, searches for the mystical Great Valley after his mother dies.
It's beautifully animated, the voice acting is superb, and the storyline is thoughtful and compelling. While large the plot of the film revolves around tragedy – death and famine – the characters stick together and remain hopeful.
King Kong (1933)
There have been few scenes in movies more re-enacted, satirized, and referenced than Fay Wray being held in the massive hands of King Kong. 1933’s King Kong follows Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) on a disastrous trip to the fabled Skull Island, where most of his crew is decimated. A classic tale of man versus nature, King Kong was also a cinematic masterpiece, with incredible special effects and wonderful performances.
While the titular Kong is the headliner of the film, he’s not the only giant creature the explorers find on the island. They’re constantly besieged by dinosaurs, but the big show-stopping moment is when Kong has to battle a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
Another science fiction classic, but this one is inspired by a short story from famous writer Ray Bradbury. It’s a classic tale of man playing God, messing with forces he doesn’t understand, and inadvertently unleashing destruction. In this case, it’s physicist Tom Nesbitt (Paul Christian) whose experiment with a nuclear bomb unfreezes a prehistoric dinosaur preserved in ice. Once freed, it begins to tear apart parts of the Northeast.
Per narrowly beat out 1954’s Godzilla as the first movie to feature a creature tied to nuclear fears.
The Good Dinosaur (2015)
If there’s one thing Pixar excels at, it’s creating incredible films for children that inevitably make adults cry. At its core, The Good Dinosaur is a film about looking past differences and finding commonality. Apatosaurus Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) does not like humans. More so after his father’s death, which he blames on a human boy, Spot (Jack Bright). It isn’t until they are forced to rely on one another that Arlo is able to realize that not all humans are bad.
The film is beautifully animated, going on to be nominated for and win a series of animation awards including an Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in an Animated Production and a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature.
The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
Willis O’Brien didn’t stop with The Lost World – he went on to write and help create effects for a number of movies, many of which were dinosaur-themed. But instead of leaning into a science fiction or mystical land, O’Brien and his co-writers took The Valley of Gwangi in a new stylistic direction: fantasy western. That’s right, this movie is about some rodeo cowboys who stumble on a cursed valley full of dinosaurs, the biggest of which is Allosaurus Gwangi. And, yes, they do lasso some dinosaurs.
While the premise itself is somewhat silly, the film is wonderfully made. Per IMDb, it was filmed entirely in Spain. With amazing animation work, incredible special effects, a fun script, and gorgeous locations – there’s a lot to love.
Carnosaur (1993)
Carnosaur and Jurassic Park actually have quite a bit in common. Both films are based on popular science fiction novels, both were made in the early ‘90s, and both have plots that include dinosaur embryos. But that’s where the similarities more or less end. Where Jurassic Park leaned more towards fictionalized hard sciences to back up its premise, Carnosaur… does not.
Instead, it relies on mad scientist Dr. Jane Tiptree (Diane Ladd) who is using genetically modified food to implant dinosaur embryos into human women. It’s a completely wacky premise, and the film can’t be called anything other than camp. Still, the camp provides a lot to love: cheesy effects, corny lines, and an absurd plot that are all fun to revel in.
