In 2003, Steven Spielberg changed the future of science fiction action films with the cult classic, Jurassic Park. Adapted from the 1990 novel of the same name, it sees a wealthy businessman and a team of scientists create a wildlife park of previously extinct dinosaurs. Read on to discover more movies like Jurassic Park and where to stream them!
From close encounters with raptors to high adrenaline chases with a T-Rex, it’s an action-packed adventure that has earned a prestigious place in film history and became a touchstone in a thriving genre of prehistoric stories.
Similar films include Spielberg’s own, Jaws, as well as King Kong, The Meg, Godzilla and The Land That Time Forgot. Though Jaws, like The Meg, offers an alternative thrill to a dinosaur, this threat to humankind is similar to the nail biting action found in Jurassic Park.
On a shoestring budget of $9 million, Jaws grossed over $476 million at the box office and became the highest grossing film of all time and won several accolades for music and editing.
Similarly, another cult classic science-fiction film is Planet of the Apes, which revived the historic franchise in this 2001 reboot. It follows Mark Wahlberg as an astronaut Leo who crashes to a planet that is inhabited by intelligent apes, who run the planet and have humans as slaves. Directed by Tim Burton, the cast includes Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Clarke Duncan. It received praise from critics and went onto gross over $350 million at the box office. The franchise went on to release four additional films following Burton’s entry.
The most successful of these was Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes from 2014, led by Andy Serkis, this instalment went onto gross over $710 million at the box office.
Another epic adventure is the King Kong reboot starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. The 2005 instalment soared at the box office, taking over $556 million and wide-spread praise for the performances and special effects. The fascination with this giant creature has led to a full franchise of projects including Kong: Skull Island, fronted by Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman and Brie Larson.
Kong is often seen now with his other MonsterVerse frenemy Godzilla, who has appeared in his own film, Godzilla: King of the Monsters as well as Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong The New Empire. This latest instalment from 2024 grossed over $568 million at the box office as Kong and Godzilla got used to their place on earth and in the Hollow Earth, as they learn to co-exist with each other, the monsters in hollow earth and humankind. It has similar themes to Jurassic World: Dominion, the most recent instalment in the Jurassic World franchise.
Alongside this, there’s been entries into the dinosaur genre such as 65, Raptor Island and Dinosaur.
Where to watch movies like Jurassic Park online
Check out our list of movies to watch like Jurassic Park below and find out where to stream them in the United Kingdom!
