As the latest installment of the Jurassic World franchise announces its release date, fans are revisiting one of the series’ lesser-appreciated films, Jurassic Park 3, and advocating for its overdue recognition.
A passionate fan recently took to Reddit to challenge the prevailing narrative: “Jurassic Park 3 isn’t nearly as dreadful as it’s made out to be. While it may not reach the heights of the original Jurassic Park, it surpasses any of the Jurassic World trilogy by miles.”
Released in 2001, Jurassic Park 3 follows the adventures of Alan Grant (Sam Neil) and Ellie Sattler as they become stranded on an island teeming with dinosaurs. The story unfolds as they are lured by a wealthy yet dubious businessman to explore InGen’s ill-fated second attempt at creating a Jurassic Park.
Despite the earlier successes of Jurassic Park and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the third installment received a lukewarm reception, currently holding a modest 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Undeterred by the criticism, the devoted fan continued, “Sure, it has its flaws, but let’s not forget the epic showdown between the Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex less than an hour into the movie,” drawing comparisons to the Jurassic World trilogy. “It’s striking to realize how much superior Jurassic Park 3 is compared to any of the World movies, yet it’s unfairly rated around 5/10, while the World films typically garner 6.5-7/10. It’s baffling.”
Other Reddit users joined the discussion, sharing their favorite moments from the film. Many appreciated the scene where Grant dreams of a talking raptor calling his name, a sequence that received mixed reactions initially. “That scene is the highlight of the movie,” remarked one user, while another added, “I don’t understand the criticism. Haven’t you ever had bizarre dreams? They can be much weirder than a talking dinosaur.”
Jurassic Park 3 marked the conclusion of that particular chapter in the saga, but the love for dinosaurs continues unabated. The franchise was revitalized in 2015 with Jurassic World, followed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion. Jurassic World 4, currently untitled, is slated for release on July 2, 2025.
For those eager to revisit Jurassic Park 3, the film is currently streaming on Netflix. Explore more ’90s classics or stay updated on the latest releases coming your way in 2024 and beyond.
