7 Iconic Movies that Flopped Without Jurassic Park’s Visual Effects Breakthrough

Welcome to Jurassic Park!” These words from Dr. John Hammond didn’t merely signal that Dr. Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler had stepped into a realm of endless possibilities. It also marked the beginning of an innovative era in cinematic experiences for viewers and filmmakers globally. Jurassic Park, in essence, was a marvelous motion picture and undeniably one of Steven Spielberg’s most transformative blockbusters. While 1975’s Jaws might have pioneered the summer blockbuster concept, few films after it dared to emulate its unstable visual effects (although they were eager to produce other movies featuring animal-inflicted terror).

The revolutionary computer-generated imagery (CG) in Jurassic Park served as a global wake-up call, signaling a new era where ideas previously thought impossible could now become realities. Furthermore, the film solidified the long-lasting impact of dinosaurs on popular culture. To illustrate the extensive cultural influence of this timeless classic, here are seven movies that likely wouldn’t have existed without the captivating vision of Jurassic Park.

1) The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

It’s not unexpected that the innovative visual effects techniques used in Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” influenced George Lucas’ ambitious plans for the “Star Wars” prequels, given their close friendship and the rise of both directors in the 1970s. The advanced visual effects seen in “Jurassic Park” demonstrated to Lucas that his elaborate concepts for the diverse worlds and narratives of the Prequel Trilogy could now be brought to life. Six years later, “The Phantom Menace,” which further pushed the limits of digital effects in filmmaking, was released in theaters.

2) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Peter Jackson, a renowned filmmaker from New Zealand who was primarily recognized for his horror films, became intensely intrigued by the marvelous creations displayed in Jurassic Park during the 90s. Fascinated by the possibilities of computer-generated effects, he took on more projects with a focus on visual effects (VFX), which eventually resulted in some of the highest-grossing films of the 2000s. His groundbreaking work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong were inspired by his excitement over digital dinosaurs interacting with real-life humans and settings.

3) A.I.: Artificial Intelligence

As a dedicated admirer, it’s challenging to envision Stanley Kubrick being spurred by a competing movie, given his iconic works such as “2001: A Space Odyssey.” However, the release of “Jurassic Park” stirred a dormant desire within him for his long-held dream project, “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” to become a reality. As visual effects technology had finally advanced enough to match Kubrick’s creative vision, he recognized the opportunity and ultimately entrusted Steven Spielberg with the task of bringing the film to life on the big screen. Remarkably, Spielberg released the movie in 2001, just two years after Kubrick’s passing, making a powerful connection between the two cinematic giants.

4) Carnosaur

Similar to Jurassic Park, the film Carnosaur was also based on a novel. Interestingly, the script for Carnosaur, penned by John Brosnan, was written seven years prior to Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park novel. However, according to “The Dinosaur Filmography Book” by Mark F. Berry, B-movie legend Roger Corman (who had long held the film rights) expedited the production of a Carnosaur feature once he learned that Jurassic Park was in development. This swift action led to the release of Carnosaur, a B-movie, a month before Jurassic Park hit theaters. Essentially, it was Jurassic Park’s concept that influenced major movies even before its premiere on the big screen.

5) Dinosaur

Since the 1980s, different iterations of Disney’s 2000 animated film “Dinosaur” were in development. However, it wasn’t until 1994, a year after the release of “Jurassic Park,” that the final version of the movie began to take clear form. The timing of this suggests that Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster had a significant impact on Disney deciding to invest more in this project. Furthermore, the unique blend of computer-generated dinosaurs with live-action environments in “Dinosaur” wouldn’t have been feasible without the groundbreaking visual effects demonstrated by “Jurassic Park.

6) We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story

Five months following the release of “Jurassic Park”, Steven Spielberg was linked as a producer for another Universal Pictures dinosaur film. The movie, titled “We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story“, debuted in theaters during Thanksgiving of 1993. Its marketing strategy was heavily influenced by “Jurassic Park”, with the main goal being to offer a less scary dinosaur movie for family audiences.

7) Godzilla (1998)

Similar to the dinosaur, the 1998 remake of Godzilla experienced multiple iterations prior to Jurassic Park’s release in theaters. However, this Steven Spielberg blockbuster emphasized the necessity of producing visually striking movies with a focus on massive reptiles, following the success of VFX-driven films. Notably, the final designs of Godzilla and her brood bore a stronger resemblance to dinosaurs than any of the original Toho creatures. Godzilla’s offspring, in particular, seemed like clones of the Velociraptors that frightened audiences in Jurassic Park. While this box office phenomenon demonstrated the boundless potential of visual effects, films such as Godzilla chose to present imagery that was reminiscent of what had already been seen.

Jurassic Park is now streaming on Peacock.