The Jurassic Park movies treasure little details, while hilariously managing to leave in silly mistakes. This is all part of the Jurassic Park fun, which extends from 1993's Jurassic Park to 2022's Jurassic World Dominion. The Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies constitute the world's best-known dinosaur movie franchise, so millions of fans and critics have analyzed the movies in detail. This has revealed the abundance of Easter eggs and references scattered throughout. The movies constantly refer to other outings in the franchise, exhibiting surprising and progressive filmmaking techniques.
1993's Jurassic Park launched a story that would change the lives of many, turning millions into dinosaur fans and creating a surge in interest in ancient history, paleontology, and biology. As one of the highest-grossing movie franchises ever, Jurassic Park is not just hugely influential but maintains its own legend by dropping hidden franchise callbacks throughout its releases. The epic series will see a new release with 2025's Jurassic World Rebirth, which is sure to harbor enough Easter eggs to keep the tradition of previous movies alive.
10
Universal Debuting Its New Logo
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Universal Pictures launched its new logo during the opening of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, proving that the 1990s were changing fast. Many remembered the Universal logo that had been present since 1990, especially as it featured at the start of Jurassic Park. The iconic words crept into the front of the screen from behind the globe in both logos, but the new one appeared much more modern. The logo that first featured in The Lost World would be used from the sequel's release in 1997 all the way through to 2012.
Jurassic Park was based on Michael Crichton's 1990 novel of the same name.
This small change may be more obvious when rewatching the movies or to those approaching them for the first time in 2024, slipping past some viewers during the movies' original releases. Either way, the Universal logos are a strangely important part of the experience when watching Jurassic Park movies. They seemed made to fit Jurassic Park, with their science and nature-inspired atmosphere.
Jurassic Park
An intelligent Jurassic Park scene involving seat belts beautifully expressed the movie's take on genetics, which wasn't immediately obvious upon first watch. The script for Jurassic Park included Goldblum's classic wisdom on the relentless march of Mother Nature - “Life will not be contained.” Goldblum was referencing how female dinosaurs may have been able to procreate without males.
This ability has been observed in reptiles of the modern world, so it could have been possible in the context of Jurassic Park. Reflecting this scientific phenomenon, Grant found himself with two of the same connecting parts for his seat belt on the helicopter to Isla Nublar. Instead of giving up on a safe ride, he tied the two parts of the seat belt together, providing a visual metaphor for nature's way of adapting.
8
Misspelled Dinosaur Names
Jurassic Park
Humorously, there are multiple misspelled dinosaur names throughout Jurassic Park, which some viewers may have missed. Jurassic Park's first outing got so many things right that it was very easy to glance over the things it didn't. At this early point in the Jurassic Park timeline, the audience wasn't as likely to discuss the minutiae of big blockbusters online the way they are now.
Nonetheless, some misspelled dinosaur names in Jurassic Park include Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus. In the cold storage room, dinosaur embryos were being stored and labeled. Stegosaurus was spelled "Stegasaurus," while Tyrannosaurus was spelled "Tyranosaurus." This could signify a mistake on the Jurassic Park set, or might be a reference to the movie's source material - Dr. Wu mentioned that he couldn't keep track of all the complicated dinosaur names.
7
One Dinosaur's Cries Were Actually Baby Camel Noises
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The dinosaurs of the Jurassic Park movies are one of the marvels of modern cinema, created with a blend of animatronics and visual effects. Nevertheless, a dinosaur in The Lost World: Jurassic Park sounds suspiciously like an animal still in existence. Anyone who has ever spent time with baby camels may recognize the bleat of the baby T-rex in The Lost World: Jurassic Park.
The sound effects used to create the franchise's dinosaurs are no less impressive than the appearance of the beasts. From mewling cries to bellowing roars, the dinosaurs' vocalizations were often composed of multiple different animals. This was done to create familiar sounds that the audience could believe could come from a real animal that existed in the past. However, the animatronic baby T-rex in The Lost World: Jurassic Park used just one animal noise - that of a baby camel.
6
John Hammond’s Jeep 29
Jurassic World
Jurassic World referenced one of Jurassic Park's emblematic symbols. John Hammond famously drove Jeep 29 through Jurassic Park, getting Ellie Satler and Alan Grant to the Brachiosaurus Enclosure. This iconic '90s vehicle was left in the park after being attacked in the original trilogy. Jurassic World returned to it in a scene featuring Zach and Gray Mitchell, creating a level of continuity between the movies.
In bringing this jeep back to the franchise, Jurassic World embraced its past and suggested to audiences that dinosaur danger was always round the corner. No amount of human protection could ever offset the threat of out-of-control prehistoric beasts in human-made dinosaur-themed attractions. Jeep 29 cropping up multiple times in the franchise creates a constant reminder of that.
5
The U.S.S. Venture Referenced A Key Spielberg Influence
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park contains a Hollywood reference that has been pleasing movie buffs for years. This movie was the second in the franchise, so it had something to prove. The sophomore attempt in a movie franchise always carries with it some kind of pressure. However, this 1997 Steven Spielberg movie proved that it was happy being itself with a cheeky and subtle reference to the movies that made it.
Spielberg loves kaiju movies like Godzilla. Reflecting his love of giant monsters, Spielberg named the ship that carried the T-rex to San-Diego the U.S.S. Venture. This was also the name of the ship that carried King Kong to New York in the original movie.
4
Malcolm's Book God Creates Dinosaurs
Jurassic World
Malcolm was referenced in Jurassic World with one subtle Easter egg. Jeff Goldblum plays the legendary Dr. Ian Malcolm across the franchise and the influence of his character was recognized in Jurassic World. Malcolm wrote a book called God Creates Dinosaurs, which can be glimpsed in the movie. This is a reference to one of the best quotes in the Jurassic Park franchise:
God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.
Jeff Goldblum's character was encapsulating the franchise's key message here. This Jurassic Park quote is the franchise's script-writing at its best. The movie pushed the theme of humanity warring against nature and playing God. Dinosaurs functioned as nature's revenge on humanity in Jurassic Park, which Goldblum's character foreshadowed with this pearl of wisdom.
3
Ellie Removing Her Sunglasses
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic World Dominion honored what may be Jurassic Park's most iconic scene. Jurassic Park's dinosaur debut was the Brachiosaurus. This long-necked herbivore lumbered into view triumphantly in 1993's picture, showing viewers what dinosaurs looked like onscreen in a high-budget movie for the first time ever. Viewers were as stunned to see the Brachiosaurus as Sam Neill's Dr. Alan Grant and Laura Dern's Ellie Satler, who took off their sunglasses in awe to get a closer look.
As the conclusion of the Jurassic Park franchise, it's only right that Jurassic World: Dominion has Easter eggs and callbacks to the original trilogy.
As classic a Steven Spielberg moment as can be, this smart piece of filmmaking saw the audience completely, offering them empathy and joy reflected in the faces of its own characters. Both the dinosaur park and the movie were the result of years of work, and the soaring and unforgettable soundtrack celebrated both victories. In Jurassic World Dominion, Ellie Sattler removes her sunglasses in awe of a cloud of locusts, directly referencing the foundational moment from the first movie.
2
The Brachiosaurus Ushers In A New Era
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
The Brachiosaurus was responsible for yet another Jurassic Park Easter egg that's intergral to the franchise. As one of the dinosaurs in the original Jurassic Park trilogy, the Brachiosaurus became one of the best-known and most-loved dinosaurs in the world. Giving herbivores a good name and making children love dinosaurs instead of fearing them, this gentle giant had a celebratory moment in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom too.
Dinosaurs are not villains in and of themselves, however dangerous they may be.
The heroes of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom return to the rundown park everyone knows and loves to see none other than Brachiosaurus slowly moving into their eyelines. Jurassic Park loves to have Brachiosaurus greet guests, marking the start of a crazy journey and keeping the franchise's core theme front and center. Dinosaurs are not villains, in and of themselves, however dangerous they may be. They are worthy of respect and awe.
1
A T-Rex Saves The Heroes
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic World Dominion referenced one of Jurassic Park's key Rexy moments. One of the most interesting and unique things about Jurassic Park was the application of Hollywood filmmaking to the concept of prehistoric existence. Needing to fit dinosaurs into a story with tension and a beginning, middle, and end required some narrative gymnastics. In Jurassic Park, raptors became the antagonists, while T-rex transitioned from an antagonist role to a protagonist role and eventually saved the protagonists from the raptors, intention notwithstanding.
Jurassic World Rebirth is scheduled for release in summer 2025.
Jurassic World Dominion celebrated this pioneering moment with the T-rex saving the protagonists from a Giganotosaurus. There is every chance that this classic moment will get referenced again in the upcoming Jurassic World 4 movie. That would actually be the perfect way for the franchise to reestablish itself after its last release three years previously - Jurassic World Dominion was released in 2022. Regardless, the surprise T-rex hero moments will likely always remain a key pillar of the Jurassic Park movies.
The Jurassic Park franchise is an action-adventure sci-fi series that began with Michael Crichton's original novel. The series explores the dramatic repercussions of resurrecting dinosaurs through advanced genetic science. Set primarily in a disastrous theme park, Jurassic Park explores the profound ethical dilemmas about tinkering with the DNA of long ago extinct creatures and the manipulation of the natural world through science.
Movie(s)
Jurassic Park (1993)
, The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
, Jurassic Park 3 (2001)
, Jurassic World (2015)
, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
, Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Character(s)
Dr. Alan Grant
, Dr. Ellie Sattler
, Dr. Ian Malcolm
, John Hammond
, Sarah Harding
, Roland Tembo
, Paul Kirby
, Amanda Kirby
, Owen Grady
, Claire Dearing
, Vic Hoskins
, Simon Masrani
, Eli Mills
Summary
The Jurassic Park franchise, later also referred to as Jurassic World, is an iconic science fiction series centered on the creation of a theme park populated by genetically engineered dinosaurs. The franchise explores themes of human hubris, the dangers of playing with nature, and the ethical implications of cloning. It began with the release of the original Jurassic Park film in 1993, directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Michael Crichton's 1990 novel of the same name. The success of the original film led to a series of sequels and spin-offs, making it one of the most successful media franchises in history.
Custom image by Yeider Chacon
English (US) ·