Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? This seems to be the driving force behind the entire Jurassic franchise nowadays, expanding with each new movie. Originating from Michael Crichton’s original “Jurassic Park” novel, the first film, directed by Steven Spielberg, still amazes audiences by bringing large prehistoric creatures to life using a mix of animatronics and digital effects. Currently, there are seven films in the ever-expanding Jurassic series, consisting of two trilogies and a standalone sequel for fans to explore. But in what order should you watch the “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” films? It’s straightforward—just follow the chronological order.

The Jurassic journey began in 1993, introducing audiences to John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) dinosaur-themed park. “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” followed, loosely adapting Crichton’s sequel novel “The Lost World,” and “Jurassic Park III” came along in 2001. The franchise then took a break until it was revitalized with “Jurassic World” in 2015, a legacy sequel that revived fan interest. “Jurassic World” led to two more sequels before 2025 brought “Jurassic World Rebirth,” a standalone sequel. As each sequel builds upon either “Jurassic Park” or “Jurassic World,” sticking to a chronological viewing order is advisable. Here’s the order you should watch them in.

• “Jurassic Park” (1993)
• “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)
• “Jurassic Park III” (2001)
• “Jurassic World” (2015)
• “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018)
• “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022)
• “Jurassic World Rebirth” (2025)

With this in mind, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of the “Jurassic Park” franchise.

Unlike movie series such as “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” or “Fast & Furious,” where films are not always released chronologically, the Jurassic series follows a straightforward timeline. The ideal way to enjoy this dinosaur saga is to start with “Jurassic Park” and progress from there. However, considering there are two distinct Jurassic trilogies, you might choose to focus on just one of them. Enjoying the first three “Jurassic Park” films as a standalone trilogy is completely feasible if you prefer the originals. However, if you lean towards the “Jurassic World” trilogy, the viewing sequence differs slightly.

If you decide to watch “Jurassic World,” “Fallen Kingdom,” and “Dominion” in that order, note that the “World” trilogy isn’t as independent as the “Park” films are. For example, “Jurassic World” relies on the viewer having prior knowledge of the original “Jurassic Park” to fully appreciate its narrative, and “Jurassic World Dominion” is a culmination of not just the “World” series, but the “Park” films too. That’s why watching all the films in the order they were released is recommended unless you plan to stop after “Jurassic Park III.” This approach helps grasp the full impact of every installment and better appreciate what “Dominion” accomplishes as a finale to the initial six movies.

Among all Jurassic franchise films, none quite match the brilliance of the original “Jurassic Park.” Directed by Steven Spielberg, from a script by Michael Crichton and David Koepp, the film stands as a filmmaking benchmark. With its breathtaking visual effects, well-crafted storyline, and an inspired cast, “Jurassic Park” was a cinema milestone—without exaggeration. As scientists Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) arrive on Isla Nublar to evaluate Hammond’s dinosaur-themed park, chaos ensues, showcasing the unpredictability of reviving extinct species. Thrilling, bold, and enchanting, “Jurassic Park” remains rewatchable due to its enduring effects and engaging narrative.

It’s no surprise that “Jurassic Park” garnered three Academy Awards, as it is heralded as one of the finest science fiction blockbusters in film history. A key part of the movie’s triumph lies in its outstanding cast, many of whom returned in later entries. Although the film’s events diverge somewhat from the book, “Jurassic Park” exemplifies an adaptation done right, elevating the source material further. Even though not all the scientific premises are completely accurate (while some are), the film has enthralled audiences for over three decades, inspiring an interest in deeper exploration of dinosaurs.

The first sequel to “Jurassic Park” and the only other film to be adapted from Michael Crichton’s original works, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (no, it’s not called “Jurassic Park: The Lost World”) was the only other film in the franchise to be directed by Steven Spielberg. Here, Ian Malcolm returns four years after the events of the original film when Hammond asks for his help. It turns out that Malcolm’s girlfriend, Sarah Hardin (Julianne Moore), is already on Hammond’s test island, Isla Sorna, prompting the scientist to go after her. Unbeknownst to Malcolm, his daughter, Kelly Curtis (Vanessa Lee Chester), sneaks on board with him, and the group soon finds themselves in more danger than they can handle before InGen brings that very danger back to the mainland with them.

While not as well-received as the original, “The Lost World” is a worthy follow-up to “Jurassic Park” that takes the franchise in a bold new direction that would set the course for several sequels ahead. While there are things about “The Lost World” that work quite well, such as the visual effects and John Williams’ rousing score, Spielberg considered it an “inferior” picture (via The New York Times). Still, it has its moments. In fact, one thing you probably didn’t know about “The Lost World” is that the intro scene with the young girl who is attacked by several Compsognathus comes directly from the opening of Crichton’s first book.

With the third installment, “Jurassic Park III,” Spielberg handed over directorial duties to Joe Johnston, who made a solid sequel that ought to be reconsidered given how uneven future installments would be. Set some time after “The Lost World,” the third film reintroduces Alan Grant years after the first Jurassic Park incident. Having gone back to his work as a paleontologist, studying the bones of dead dinosaurs rather than living ones, he has no interest in returning to Isla Nublar. However, he does find his way to Isla Sorna when a wealthy couple offers him a large sum to fund his dig in exchange for a private tour of the dinosaur island — from the air. But as it turns out, the Kirbys have tricked Alan into taking them to the island to rescue their son, Eric (Trevor Morgan), who has disappeared there while on a trip. As usual, chaos ensues.

Receiving mixed views from critics and audiences alike, “Jurassic Park III” effectively killed the franchise. While some (including this author) remember this movie fondly — all the Pteranodon stuff is terrifyingly cool — both the second and third installments largely failed to live up to the original. Even Sam Neill agreed that “Jurassic Park III” needed a better ending, one that could’ve closed out the trilogy with something a bit more satisfying than an echo of the original’s finale. Still, it was fun to see Alan Grant back for another Jurassic film, even if his solo adventure wasn’t as memorable as before.

Over 20 years after the original “Jurassic Park,” the franchise was revived with 2015’s “Jurassic World.” Directed by Colin Trevorrow, the soft reboot aimed to bring back the wonder, excitement, and terrifying reality of dinosaurs in modern day, and it largely succeeded. After the Masrani Global Corporation bought the decaying corporate corpse that was InGen, the company brought back InGen scientist Henry Wu (BD Wong) to spearhead a new dinosaur initiative on Isla Nublar, one that became the Disney-esque theme park Jurassic World. But when Wu’s “Indominus rex” gets loose and begins a reign of terror on the island, siblings Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zach Mitchell (Nick Robinson) are lost in the chaos. Frantically, their aunt (and the park’s manager) Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) sets off with Velociraptor expert Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) on a high-stakes chase to find them.

Compared to the last two installments, “Jurassic World” was a major success. Not only did the film receive largely positive reviews from audiences and critics, but it also kick-started a whole new era for the once-dormant franchise. With Pratt and Howard as the new faces of the Jurassic series (and Trevorrow’s vision for the series apparent), “Jurassic World” played as a commentary on consumerism as much as it honored the franchise’s past. 

While technically the fourth film in the overall series, “Jurassic World” serves as a reboot of sorts, sparking new interest in the dinosaur opera that began two decades prior. On our list of every Jurassic film ranked worst to best, it’s no surprise that “Jurassic World” was second only to the original.

Set only six months after the end of the previous film, “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” takes Owen and Claire back to Isla Nublar just as a volcanic eruption threatens to wipe out all the dinosaurs on the island. But instead of letting them go extinct again, Claire and her Dinosaur Protection Group plan to save them. What could go wrong? While many dinosaurs are saved, it comes at a great cost. Hammond’s former partner, Sir Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell), is revealed to be bankrolling the operation, and though his intentions are adorable, the intentions of those around him are not. With the help of Lockwood’s granddaughter, Maisie (Isabella Sermon), Owen and Claire uncover a black market dinosaur trafficking operation and eventually set all the captive creatures free, truly living up to the franchise’s new name: Jurassic World.

“Fallen Kingdom” had a lot of potential. The film aimed to introduce the ethical concepts of human cloning on top of dinosaur cloning, the environmental impact of dinosaurs, and how the world would truly respond to the return of these creatures. But ultimately, what went wrong with “Fallen Kingdom” was that the story was a bit too much, and it didn’t help that Colin Trevorrow didn’t return to the director’s chair either, replaced instead by J. A. Bayona. 

Compared to “Jurassic World,” the sequel felt somewhat akin to the other “Jurassic Park” sequels. It has its interesting (and even exciting) moments, but mostly it falls apart under scrutiny. Still, the events of this film profoundly impact the franchise’s future, and so it cannot be ignored.

The final installment of the “Jurassic World” trilogy, “Jurassic World Dominion” is more than a culmination of the new franchise, but of the old one as well. As Owen, Claire, and Maisie make a life for themselves off the grid in this new Jurassic World, Biosyn Genetics — via its leader, Lewis Dodgson (Campbell Scott) from the original film — threatens to use InGen’s old technology to hold the world’s food supply hostage, with Biosyn the key to their salvation. As Owen and Claire investigate on their own, returning heroes Alan Grant, Ian Malcolm, and Ellie Sattler do their own covert operation to infiltrate BioSyn and save the day. Think of “Dominion” as the sort of “Avengers: Endgame” of the Jurassic franchise, with every character arc coming to a close in this climactic final chapter.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, “Jurassic World Dominion” — which saw Colin Trevorrow return to the director’s chair — was largely panned by critics upon its release, though audiences gave it better reviews. While it was fun to see the old cast interact with the new, there were lots of things about “Dominion” that just didn’t make sense. However, it does feel like a proper conclusion, and if the human characters rather than the dinosaurs are your draw with this franchise, “Dominion” is probably the best note to end on. It’s also worth noting that the extended edition of the film was better received than the theatrical, so it may be worth giving it a shot if you’re craving some additional dino content.

Where could the Jurassic franchise possibly go after “Jurassic World Dominion”? That’s exactly what “Jurassic World Rebirth” sets out to discover. Taking place five years after “Dominion,” the 2025 sequel stands alone as a one-and-done adventure that introduces new characters, new dinosaurs, and a new island. It turns out, between the two trilogies, InGen set up shop on the island of Île Saint-Hubert, where they developed the mutant Distortus rex. As if these guys never learn …

So, when pharmaceutical company ParkerGenix hires ex-military operative Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) to accompany Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) on a mission to the island to retrieve DNA samples that will advance modern medicine, well, you can guess where it goes. Zora, Henry, and Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali) soon find a shipwrecked family, and the chase resumes.

While “Jurassic World Rebirth” received lackluster critical scores, it was a general hit with audiences. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film featured the return of former “Jurassic Park” screenwriter David Koepp, who aimed to return the franchise to its roots. In fact, the entire T-rex escape raft sequence originated in Michael Crichton’s original “Jurassic Park” novel, though it never made it to the screen for the first movie. The nice thing about “Jurassic World Rebirth” is that, although context certainly helps, it’s a largely standalone film that can be enjoyed almost as a spin-off to the original series rather than as a proper “Jurassic World Dominion” sequel.

Speaking of spin-offs, at the height of the Jurassic franchise’s popularity, the film series expanded into various mediums. Lego productions, tie-in novels, video games, and more spawned from the “Jurassic World” trilogy, but that’s not all. The films also included two short films directed by Colin Trevorrow that were released online to tease the upcoming pictures and later on the home video release of “Jurassic World Dominion.” 

The first was “Battle at Big Rock.” The 2019 short film follows a blended family as they camp together in Northern California’s (fictional) Big Rock National Park. But after the release of the dinosaurs in “Fallen Kingdom,” the consequences are quite severe. The second short film, titled only “The Prologue,” is set just before “Dominion” and shows a T-rex attacking a drive-in theater, further cementing the horrors unleashed on our world.

If you wish to watch these short films along with the rest of the “Jurassic World” features, we highly recommend it. These small, condensed tales of suspense are quite thrilling and show the larger impact of dinosaurs in our modern world. “Battle at Big Rock” takes place only a year after “Fallen Kingdom,” so be sure to watch that one after the second “Jurassic World” film, while “The Prologue” is a direct precursor to “Dominion.” In fact, if you watch the extended cut of “Jurassic World Dominion,” this five-minute short film is what opens up the movie, so no need to watch it beforehand. Just be sure not to miss “Battle at Big Rock”; it’s 10 minutes of dino-terror at its finest.

If you have young kids who love dinosaurs, chances are you’ve heard about one of the two Jurassic animated spin-offs, either “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” or its sequel “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory.” But where do these installments fit in? Well, while neither Netflix animated series is required viewing to enjoy the “Jurassic World” trilogy, both shows fill in some plot gaps — such as how Dodgson gets that barbasol can from the original “Jurassic Park” before “Dominion” — that eagle-eyed viewers often wondered about. While one could watch the animated shows on their own, here’s what you need to know if you’re trying to follow the strict Jurassic chronology.

“Camp Cretaceous” Season 1 runs concurrently with the first “Jurassic World” as the six main cast members (called the “Nublar Six”) find themselves at the titular camp right before all hell breaks loose. Seasons 2 and 3 bridge the six-month gap between the first “World” film and “Fallen Kingdom.” Seasons 4 and 5, then, take place concurrently and immediately after “Fallen Kingdom.” When the cast returns for “Chaos Theory,” that entire series takes place prior to or during the early events of “Dominion.” So, if you want to watch the animated series alongside the films, the order would be as follows.

• “Jurassic Park” (1993)
• “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)
• “Jurassic Park III” (2001)
• “Jurassic World” (2015)
• “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” Season 1 (2020)
• “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” Season 2 (2021)
• “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” Season 3 (2021)
• “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018)
• “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” Season 4 (2021)
• “Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous” Season 5 (2022)
• “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 1 (2024)
• “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 2 (2024)
• “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 3 (2025)
• “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022)
• “Jurassic World Rebirth” (2025)

While fans await a fourth season of “Chaos Theory,” there is enough “Jurassic World” material to keep one busy in the meantime.