5 greatest moments from the Jurassic franchise revisited, ahead of Jurassic World Rebirth

The Jurassic franchise has given audiences countless memorable moments since the release of its first film Jurassic Park in 1993. From the incredible displays of its prehistoric creatures to jump-scares, laughs, and everything in between, it has been a true crowd favorite over the years. With the announcement of its newest installment Jurassic World Rebirth set to release on July 2nd, (whose trailer broke the internet) fans are gearing up for the upcoming film, in hopes that it can surpass the previous two films that preceded it in a showcase of the franchise’s true return to form.

Jurassic World Rebirth Promises out of this World Visuals

The visual aspect of the Jurassic franchise has always been core to its success. Depicting the prehistoric creatures in the most palatable way has been a true challenge for its filmmakers, with the original Spielberg films remaining as the visual standouts in the series despite the advent of modern technological advances. The franchise has notably come under fire for the most recent installments focusing too heavily on the use of computer-generated images.

So, Gareth Edwards, who will be helming Rebirth, has decided to take a novel approach. For the first time in his career, Edwards shot the project using 35mm film, reminiscent of the look of the first film, with cameras and anamorphic lenses from Panavision.

The dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals were created through a mix of animatronics and computer-generated imagery. It is expected that it will signal a departure from the current norm and assuage the disconnect fans experienced while watching the more recent iterations.

In anticipation of the upcoming summer blockbuster, this seems as good a time as any to revisit the franchise's 32-year-old history through the lens of its most iconic moments.

First T-Rex Attack - Jurassic Park (1993)

This standout scene is arguably the most iconic of the entire franchise. In it, a Tyrannosaur stalks the film's protagonists in a chilling scene set at night in the pouring rain. Director Steven Spielberg’s use of framing and lighting in this scene is a true masterclass. What’s more, this is the first time the full T. rex was on display in the entire series, with the director also doing a masterful job at not giving too much away before its reveal.

Raptors in the kitchen - Jurassic Park (1993)

Here, a pair of the highly intelligent velociraptors stalk two children who are hiding in the theme park’s kitchen. It depicts the creatures as highly intelligent and relentless as they attempt to turn the children into their next meal. The scene is bonechilling and definitely deserves its spot on the list. It should also be of note that the raptors would later become the most widely used species of dinosaurs over the course of the franchise.

Bird cage scene - Jurassic Park III (2001)

In this segment of Jurassic Park III, the film’s central characters are stalked by the vicious pteranodons. Previously the series had depicted its flying dinosaurs, namely the pterodactyls, as a harmless and unobtrusive threat but flipped the script by introducing a more vicious type of aerial threat. This was the first time a threat from the skies became a concern for the central characters.

Final Battle - Jurassic World (2015)

Jurassic World was the first official reboot of the beloved franchise. In its most memorable sequence, the genetically enhanced Indominus Rex is pitted against a group of raptors before the original trilogy’s Tyrannosaurus Rex steps in to even the odds. The sequence culminates with the raptors and T. rex cooperating to take down the Indominus in a wildly devious and creative manner that also involves a Mosasaurus.

Volcano Eruption - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

This was arguably the most heartbreaking scene of the entire franchise. In it a volcano erupts on the island as the dinosaurs and people alike chaotically attempt to make an escape before it’s too late. Not only does the scene have considerable emotional stakes, but we see several species and how they may have behaved during their actual extinction millions of years ago.