The gates of Jurassic World are finally open. The Universal Pictures film made $204.6 million at the domestic box office this weekend, making it the top grossing film to open in June – a title previously given to Man of Steel, which made $116.6 million in 2013 – and the first to make an estimated $500 million-plus worldwide in just one weekend.
But even as its earnings reach the size of the Indominus rex, Jurassic World has big footprints to fill — given that Jurassic Park is one of the most celebrated sci-fi movies of both film and pop culture. Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton that Steven Spielberg brought to the big screen in 1993, Jurassic Park gave us a taste at what happens when man meddles with creation.
Ask anyone — chances are they've seen Jurassic Park (and even the two dopey sequels). The blockbuster set the precedent for dinosaur films, and even though its special effects are now dated, they're still pretty impressive. The film is known for its amazing visual effects, animatronic dinosaurs and use of CGI. Bringing these extinct creatures to life breathed new life into our fascination with them.
Today Hollywood is all about the reboots. With films like Mad Max and the upcoming Terminator, these movies draw both old fans and a generation of new ones into theaters.
That said, it was refreshing to know that Jurassic World wouldn't take the reboot route. Instead, director Colin Trevorrow – with Spielberg onboard as executive producer – picked up 22 years after the events of Jurassic Park.
The main difference between the two films is that in Jurassic Park, the dinosaurs go wild before the park even opens. This time around, the park is open — and has been open for 10 years.
Even though the vision of Dr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) had been brought to life, the number of park attendees started to decline, so Dr. Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) creates a bigger and badder dinosaur – the Indominus rex – that wrecks havoc on the theme park.
There's no denying that both films are action-packed. In the battle between Jurassic World vs. Jurassic Park, which one out-chomps and stomps the other? Let's take a look at which film had the best action.
**Caution: Spoilers ahead!**
Attractions Gone Wrong
Jurassic Park
During the jeep attack scene, the group runs into some trouble on their way back from their tour of Jurassic Park, after Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) kills the power. The jeeps stops in front of the T. rex exhibit, and the monster rips through the 10,000-volt electric fence.
Siblings Lex and Tim Murphy are left inside the car, as the Tyrannosaurus rex ravenously rips into it, flipping it over for a snack. The dinosaur gets his taste of human blood after finding the guy in the bathroom stall in one of the most jaw-dropping scenes in film.
Jurassic World
While taking in one of the attractions, siblings Gray (Ty Simpkins) and Zack (Nick Robinson) drive through a restricted area in the "hamster ball." They discover four Ankylosauruses with the Indominus rex lurking behind — and the battle begins.
The boys are right in the middle of the action — tossed around to their fright and our delight. After the I. rex defeats the other dinosaurs, he focuses his energy on smashing that hamster ball into pieces.
While this Jurassic World scene is full of action, the T. rex scene in Jurassic Park is one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. For that, we name it the winner of this round.
Car Chases
Jurassic Park
Although the car chase scene in Jurassic Park is short, it's still a nail biter. Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) hears the booming echo of the T. rex's steps and looks down to see a puddle start to vibrate. Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) and the remaining crew jump in the car just in time to speed off — with the dinosaur in hot pursuit.
Jurassic World
Despite the fact that she's running in heels throughout the entire movie, Claire Dearing's (Bryce Dallas Howard) survival skills are pretty on point. In one scene, she's behind the wheel of a truck with her nephews in the back as they attempt to escape from the approaching dinosaur. They make it by the skin of their teeth — but we were on the edge of our seats for the entire ride.
For the fact that we got to see more of this car chase (plus Chris Pratt riding his motorcycle through the forest with raptors), Jurassic World is the winner of this round.
Man vs. Beast
Jurassic Park
On the way out after stealing dinosaur embryos, Nedry has an encounter with a Dilophosaurus. The dinosaur squirts him with venom, causing Nedry to seek refuge in his car. However, the swift dino (with a top speed of about 30 mph) is much faster and ends up devouring the villain in his jeep.
One of the most famous lines of the film comes from the scene in which gamekeeper Robert Muldoon (Bob Peck) tries to kill a raptor in the jungle. The Velociraptor pounces on him after he mutters the phrase, "clever girl."
Jurassic World
Vincent D'Onofrio plays Vic Hoskins, head of security for InGen and bad guy on a mission to use Owen Grady's (Chris Pratt) raptors as military killing machines. Owens – on his motorcycle – and team follow the raptors to pick up the scent of I. rex. But they soon find that the Indominus rex has raptor DNA and Owen's loyal dinos turn on the team. Gunfire follows and missiles are thrown.
A few minutes later, Hoskins runs into the lab, revealing his master plan to Owen, Claire and the boys. His fate is sealed when one of the raptors approaches him. Hoskins tries to use the training tactics Owen employs, but the raptor takes a bite out of his outstretched arm and tears into him.
There is no way we can choose between these two scenarios. Between one of the most quotable lines in film history and raptors running wild, we call this round a tie.
Dinos Killing Dinos
Jurassic Park
In Jurassic Park, Dr. Grant and the kids encounter a flock of Gallimimus that are running for their lives from the T. rex. The trio take cover from the flock under a fallen tree, looking on as the T. rex jumps out of the forest and takes a bite out of a fleeing dino.
Jurassic World
In Jurassic World, the Indominus rex massacres all the Brontosaurses, but we only get to see the aftermath. Then a chain of effects occurs that just keeps getting better. The founder of the theme park – Simon Masrani (Irrfan Khan) – and three other men jump into a helicopter to follow Indominus, but they break through the Pterosaurs Aviary, releasing the beasts. The helicopter goes down, and the dinosaurs start attacking the park guests.
This is the moment we've all been waiting for. Things continue to escalate, and the action is nonstop. Guests are lifted into the sky, scrambling around to take cover, and Owen himself almost becomes dino dinner. The Mosasaurus gets in on the action, swallowing a Pterosaur — one of the greatest moments in the movie.
This is a hard round to call, but this supersized Shamu defiantly out-chomped his competition. Jurassic World is our winner.
Explosive Endings: Raptors vs. Raptors, T-Rex vs. Indominus Rex
Jurassic Park
We all sat at the edge of our seats the first time we watched the ending of Jurassic Park. The Velociraptors are on the tails of Dr. Grant, Dr. Sattler and the boys, as the tension continues to rise. Lex hangs from the ceiling as they try to escape, and Tim almost gets crushed by fossils falling from the skeletal exhibit of a T. rex. Just as two raptors close in, a very-much-alive T. rex breaks through the room, allowing them to escape into the jeep with Hammond and Malcolm. The Raptors attack the T. rex, but the scene ends with a ferocious rawr.
Jurassic World
By the end of the movie, Owen, Claire and the boys are in the same boat as Grant, Sattler and the kids. They, too, are running from the raptors, who are no longer trainable since they don't see him as the alpha of the pack. Then Indominus enters the scene, only adding to the chaos.
In both films, the leading ladies are running for their lives — the raptors on Sattler's tail, and Indominus at the heels of Claire. But just when you think it's over, Claire comes up with the solution to end it all. She unleashes T. rex into the arena. The battle between T. rex vs. I. rex is a close one — but with help of Blue the raptor (who finally comes around to Owen) and the remainder of the pack, Indominus finally meets his doom and Tyranosaurus regains his place at the top of the food chain.
For the simple fact that we get a Tyrannosaurus vs. Indominus battle, Jurassic World is the hands-down winner.
Results
Although Jurassic Park is such a classic movie – one that truly wowed our imagination – Jurassic World was everything we hoped it would be. It was the perfect combination of light comedy, special effects and fight scenes. Plus, it was loaded with Easter eggs that paid homage to its predecessor.
We suspect that after it blew up the box office over the weekend – and Pratt jokingly said he's signed on for 38 more sequels – we're bound to see more from the franchise.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
