10th Anniversary TLDR: Jurassic World (2015)
Don't turn your back to the cage.
Plot: Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond.
Direction & Screenplay: Colin Trevorrow made the best Jurassic Park sequel (this one) and the worst (Dominion), so you could say that the guy has range. I always wanted a Jurassic movie where the park was actually open and this delivers in that regard. There's a Margaritaville in the park!
Performances: I like action star Chris Pratt just fine, but funny fat guy Chris Pratt feels so much more authentic. No notes for Bryce Dallas Howard. Vincent D'Onofrio is in his very accessible bad-guy mode. BD Wong is really quite devilish here. And shoutout to the comedians Jake Johnson and Lauren Lapkus for only sticking out if you know who they are.
Cinematography: John Schwartzman, half-brother to Jason and Robert, gives this movie the polished, glossy, Universal Studios theme park look it should have. He's been the go-to guy for Treverrow, Michael Bay, John Lee Hancock, and Paul Feig, so you've seen his work a bunch without even realizing it.
Best Moment: Any of the theme park stuff. I would go to Jurassic World.
Fun Fact: One time I got a sunburn so bad I had to go to the emergency room, and while I was recovering, I watched this at my girlfriend’s mother’s boyfriend’s house. Instead of being good company or helping with dinner, I had to sit perfectly upright and still because of my insane and crippling sunburn. So I sat there watching a tv I couldn’t hear because they were having a great time, but Bryce Dallas Howard and Jake Johnson’s mustache don’t need sound.
Actual Accolade This Was Nominated For: Bryce Dallas Howard - Best Hissy Fit, Teen Choice Awards
Everything is too long! Is it too long? 129 minutes could almost always be 120 minutes.
Jurassic Ranking: Jurassic Park (1993), Jurassic World (2015), Jurassic World Rebirth (2025), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Jurassic Park III (2001), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Credit: Plot synopsis from Letterboxd via TMDb.