Jurassic Saga Viewing Order Revealed for Optimal Chronological Experience

The Jurassic Park saga, born from Michael Crichton's imaginative novel and Steven Spielberg's cinematic genius, captivated audiences in the 1990s. Decades later, the Jurassic World trilogy reignited the franchise, generating an additional $4 billion at the box office across three films.

With Jurassic World: Rebirth hitting theaters in July, this guide helps you navigate the series' sprawling narrative. Explore viewing options: chronological order or release date.

Jurassic Park Film Order

(Note: There are 10 images total, only 6 shown here. The remaining images are in the original input.)

How Many Jurassic Park Films Exist?

Six feature-length films comprise the core Jurassic franchise: three Jurassic Park installments and three Jurassic World entries. Jurassic World: Rebirth will be the seventh. The expanded canon includes two short films and a Netflix animated series, detailed below.

Chronological Viewing Order

(Minor spoilers regarding characters, settings, and plot points are included below.)

1. Jurassic Park (1993)

The main film chronology follows the release order, with exceptions for the shorts and series. Jurassic Park adapts Crichton's novel, introducing cloned dinosaurs on Isla Nublar, a theme park owned by a reckless entrepreneur (Richard Attenborough). Paleontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill), paleobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) assess the park's safety alongside John Hammond's grandchildren. A storm and sabotage unleash the dinosaurs, leading to a thrilling escape.

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Jurassic Park, Universal Pictures, June 11, 1993, PG-13 [DVD Icon] [Theater Icon] [Blu-ray Icon]

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2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Four years later, Ian Malcolm and John Hammond return, joined by paleontologist Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore). The action shifts to Isla Sorna, an abandoned island teeming with dinosaurs. A corporate power struggle leads to attempts to capture dinosaurs for profit, countered by efforts to create a sanctuary. A T-Rex escapes to San Diego, culminating in a city-wide chase.

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The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Universal Pictures, May 23, 1997, PG-13 [DVD Icon] [Theater Icon] [Blu-ray Icon]

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3. Jurassic Park III (2001)

Alan Grant returns, with a smaller Ellie Sattler role. Four years later, on Isla Sorna, Grant leads a rescue mission for a missing boy, encountering hostile velociraptors. The film concludes with a fourteen-year gap before the next installment.

IGN's Jurassic Park III Review

Jurassic Park III, Amblin, July 18, 2001, PG-13 [DVD Icon] [Theater Icon] [Blu-ray Icon]

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4. Jurassic World (2015)

Twenty-two years after the original, Isla Nublar hosts a new dinosaur theme park. Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) must save Claire's nephews from the escaped Indominus rex, culminating in a T-Rex showdown.

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Jurassic World, Amblin, June 12, 2015 [Blu-ray Icon] [DVD Icon] [Theater Icon]

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4a. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (TV Series - 2020)

This family-friendly animated Netflix series runs concurrently with the Jurassic World trilogy, following six kids at Camp Cretaceous on Isla Nublar as dinosaurs break loose. It offers alternative perspectives on the trilogy's events.

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Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Netflix, September 18, 2020

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5. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Three years later, a volcanic eruption threatens Isla Nublar's dinosaurs. Ian Malcolm, Claire Dearing, and Owen Grady become involved in a rescue mission with hidden agendas, leading to dinosaurs being released into the mainland.

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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Legendary Pictures, June 22, 2018 [Blu-ray Icon] [DVD Icon] [Theater Icon]

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6. Battle at Big Rock (Short Film - 2019)

This ten-minute short, directed by Colin Trevorrow, depicts the first major human-dinosaur conflict after Fallen Kingdom. Available on YouTube.

7. Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (TV Series - 2024)

A sequel to Camp Cretaceous, this Netflix series reunites the "Nublar Six" six years later, just before Dominion.

IGN's Chaos Theory Review

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Netflix, May 24, 2024

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8. Jurassic World Dominion: The Prologue (Short Film - 2021)

Originally a Dominion opening scene, this five-minute short depicts a prehistoric battle and a modern-day T-Rex encounter. Available online.

9. Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Four years after Fallen Kingdom, humans and dinosaurs coexist. Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Ian Malcolm, Alan Grant, and Ellie Sattler confront the ethical and ecological consequences of dinosaur integration.

IGN's Dominion Review

Jurassic World Dominion, Universal Pictures, June 10, 2022 [Theater Icon]

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Release Date Viewing Order

Jurassic Park (1993) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Jurassic Park III (2001) Jurassic World (2015) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Battle at Big Rock (2019 - short film) Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020 - TV series) Jurassic World Dominion: The Prologue (2021 - short film) Jurassic World Dominion (2022) Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (2024 - TV series)

Future Jurassic Park Films

Jurassic World: Rebirth, releasing July 2nd, is set five years after Dominion, focusing on a team securing dinosaur DNA samples. Directed by Gareth Edwards, it stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, and Jonathan Bailey.

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