The best dinosaur movies that aren’t part of the Jurassic Park franchise

dinosaur have always fascinated people of all ages and sparked fantasies about what life was like when these colossal creatures ruled the earth. This fascination is the driving force behind the enormous popularity of Dinosaur-themed filmsin particular the Jurassic Park franchise that is one of the highest-grossing film series of all time. With stunning special effects that bring dinosaurs of all kinds to life, these films offer thrilling, rollercoaster-like stories that captivate audiences and keep them on the edge of their seats.

Related

10 dinosaur horror movies

There have been a lot of dinosaur movies released, many of them have been labeled horror movies, but these are some of the best.

While the Jurassic Park Movies are considered some of the best and most expensive productions that convincingly portray dinosaurs on screen, but there are many other films that deal with similar themes and often focus on characters trying to survive encounters with prehistoric predators. Here are some of the the most notable non-budgetedJurassic Park Films that are sure to satisfy audiences’ dinosaur cravings.

1 King Kong (2005)

An unforgettable and epic journey for dinosaur lovers

• Evaluation: PG-13
• Duration: 3 hrs 7 mins
• Estimated budget: 207 million US dollars
• Led by: Peter Jackson
• Stars: Adrien Brody, Naomi Watts, Jack Black

One of the best, most expensive and most impressive films to ever bring dinosaurs to the screen is Peter Jackson’s King KongEven today, the film is still convincing in all its splendor of the various dinosaur species. From several Tyrannosaurus Rex to a herd of Brontosaurus, King Kong features many thrilling scenes where the characters must act quickly to avoid being eaten or crushed by these colossal creatures. One of the film’s standout features is that these scenes often take place in broad daylight, allowing viewers to fully appreciate the size, scale and majesty of these fascinating animals.

Despite the abundance of dinosaur scenes, King Kong offers much more than just prehistoric action. With an emotional, eventful plot and several well-developed characters brought to life by an all-star cast, the film is captivating on multiple levels. Exotic locations, including a meticulously detailed recreation of New York City in 1933, add to the film’s appeal, while the impressive running time makes for an unforgettable movie night – especially when viewed on the biggest screen possible.

2 Kong: Skull Island

An action-packed survival ride

• Evaluation: PG-13
• Duration: 1 hour 58 minutes
• Estimated budget: 185 million US dollars
• Led by: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
• Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson

Kong: Skull Island continues the tradition of populating Skull Island with various prehistoric species, mixing real and fictional creatures in almost equal measure. Although the film is shorter and arguably less intense than Jackson’s 2005 version, it still packs plenty of on-screen thrills. The characters encounter dinosaurs such as pterodactyls and their remains, though the focus shifts to the entirely fictional dinosaur-like creature called the Skullcrawler. Young Kong must battle this fearsome predator while the human characters try to outsmart it in order to survive.

Related

The 9 strongest versions of King Kong, ranked

From the 1933 original to his recent battle with Godzilla, these are the most haunting portrayals of King Kong ever put to film.

With diverse threats ranging from giant insects to a giant octopus, a plot that never loses pace, and a strong cast of characters played by established stars such as Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, and John Goodman, Kong: Skull Island is action-packed and is considered one of the best entries in the modern MonsterVerse series.

3 Journey to the center of the earth

Unpredictable adventure for the whole family

• Evaluation: PG
• Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes
• Estimated budget: 60 million US dollars
• Led by: Eric Brevig
• Stars: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson

Journey to the center of the earth is a loose adaptation of Jules Verne’s 1864 novel that relies heavily on fantasy elements and light-hearted adventure. While exploring abandoned mines, the characters find themselves deep beneath the earth’s surface and discover an ecosystem filled with living descendants of long-extinct creatures. Among them are fearsome dinosaurs, including a menacing Tyrannosaurus Rex. Although the depiction of such iconic creatures is rather unrealistic, watching Brendan Fraser and Josh Hutcherson flee from a T. Rex is undeniably entertaining.

Packed with family-friendly adventures and spectacular 3D effects, Journey to the center of the earth is, above all, a thrilling ride full of danger, exotic landscapes, and fearless characters. However, due to the film’s relatively modest production budget, the visual effects may not fully impress modern audiences.

4 65

A great premise that doesn’t fully deliver on its promise

• Evaluation: PG-13
• Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes
• Estimated budget: 45 million US dollars
• Led by: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
• Stars: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt

65 (short for 65 million years) is the latest dinosaur survival adventure film and offers an unusual mix of science fiction elements and unexpected twists. In this film, an astronaut, played by Adam Driver, crash lands on an unknown planet teeming with huge and dangerous creatures. Amidst the dangers, he must outsmart a Tyrannosaurus Rex to protect a young girl and ensure her survival.

3:21

Related

The 6 best open-world games with dinosaurs

The theme of dinosaurs in games doesn’t often find its way into large open-world games, but there are a few popular entries that fit this exact theme.

Despite its fascinating premise 65 doesn’t quite live up to its potential, possibly due to its limited budget. While the visual effects are solid, there just aren’t enough intense dinosaur scenes to fully engage the audience. Even with a twist involving a cataclysmic event that leads to the extinction of the dinosaurs, 65 Ultimately seems forgettable, but is still worth seeing for die-hard dinosaur fans.

5 Land of the Lost

An atypical mix of dinosaur-centric comedy

• Evaluation: PG-13
• Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
• Estimated budget: 100 million US dollars
• Led by: Brad Silberling
• Stars: Will Ferrell, Danny McBride

Land of the Lost stands out as a dinosaur film due to its comedic nature. The story is about a group of modern, simple scientists who unexpectedly travel back in time during one of their field trips. The film combines a silly tone and offbeat humor with plenty of action-packed chases and offers an impressive depiction of tyrannosaurs, allosaurs and giant pteranodons, as well as other extinct creatures. This unusual mix of comedy and adventure might appeal to viewers precisely because of its unconventional approach.

Despite the lighthearted, often silly plot and simple characters, the film’s considerable $100 million budget ensures that every intense dinosaur scene looks impressive. Even if audiences don’t quite connect with the comedic duo of Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, Land of the Lost is worth seeing just for its action sequences.

More

Video game movies where the casting worked

Despite all other limitations, the video game movies have succeeded in one thing above all else: the right casting.