By Soumyabrata Gupta
Jurassic World: Rebirth roars into theatres this July 4, marking a thrilling new chapter in the iconic franchise—and introducing Scarlett Johansson to the dino-verse for the first time. Anticipation is at an all-time high among fans, as the Jurassic series continues its legacy of box office dominance across generations. However, one has to recall that it all began with one groundbreaking film—Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, a cinematic marvel that didn’t just bring dinosaurs back to life, but reshaped the way we experience blockbuster storytelling. When Jurassic Park released across theatres in 1993, it was not just another monster movie, but was a cinematic marvel, that shook theatres with monstrous roars. Based on Michael Crichton’s techno-thriller novel and directed by Spielberg, Jurassic Park would go on to redefine what a blockbuster cinema could be. The film not only fused cutting-edge tech with primal fears – creating an awe-striking wonder and an unforgettable ride, but also did something unexpected. Jurassic Park turned dinosaurs into superheroes. Also Read: Jurassic World Rebirth: Where To Watch Jurassic Park Franchise Movies, Shows On OTT Ahead Of Scarlett Johansson Film Unlike earlier iterations, the dinosaurs shows in Jurassic Park were not mindless beasts or science-gone-wrong clichés, but rather, were creatures of mystery, majesty and charisma. Spielberg did not just recreate dinosaurs for the big screen, but gave them personalities, character arcs and moments of triumphs. Looking back, the T-Rex was not a villain in the first movie. Rather, in its most iconic moment, Rex turned into the savior. The Dinosaurs Weren’t Villains – They Were Stars In most of the films that came before the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park, monsters were just vile, evil creatures that were devoid of feelings and not worthy of sympathy – somewhat akin to The King Kong, Godzilla or the aliens in The Thing (though future iterations of both The King Kong and Godzilla have tried giving the monsters story arcs). They were usually threats to humanity and were to be fought or feared. Spielberg, with Jurassic Park, flipped the switch. The dinosaurs in Jurassic Park were not products of evil, but rather, were victims of human arrogance (however noble it might have been) and corporate greed who were thrust into an artificial ecosystem that they never asked to be a part of). Take for instance, the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, for instance, her breakout scene in the rain-soaked paddock—roaring, crashing through fences, and chasing jeeps—was what cinematic moments are made of. But, look deeper, it was also layered. The dread she inspired quickly gives way to admiration. Later, in the final moments of the film, when she charges into the climax and saves the protagonists from velociraptors, she blurs the line between villainy and heroic, causing the crowd to cheer for her. Spielberg suddenly twisted the game. The T-Rex was not a monster, instead she was given a heroic entrance. The Spielberg Touch: Science Meets Spectacle What made this possible was Spielberg’s mastery in being able to merge science and the spectacle. He did not treated the dinosaurs as objects of fear, but rather wonder. Who can forget the first scene depicting the brachiosaurus. The introduction, accompanied by a masterful John Williams’ score is etched into pup culture and collective consciousness as one of the most awe-inspiring moments in movie history. For a generation of children (including yours truly), the moment changed everything – suddenly dinosaurs were not just dusty fossils meant for archaic museums, they were alive, majestic and extremely cool. Through that climactic moment, Spielberg gave the audience just enough time to feel the weight of it all. He knew when to instill terror – like the raptors in the kitchen – and also knew when to evoke wonder. The Role of Technology: CGI That Still Holds Up The triumph of Jurassic Park also lay in the fact that it was a landmark in visual effects. The use of pioneering CGI, coupled with practical animatronics by Stan Winston, gave the dinosaurs a presence that still feels real decades later. The film didn’t just show audiences what was possible with digital effects—it made them believe. Spielberg used the dinosaurs in a masterful way. They were not constantly on screen, but rather their use was sparing but impactful. Jurassic Park’s careful balance between practical and digital effects made the creatures feel tactile. Jurassic Park did not show off, but rather seduced. The Rise of Dinosaur Pop Culture After Jurassic Park hit the silver screen, dinosaurs exploded into pop culture. Toy aisles started stocking furry versions of dinos, while classroom interest in paleontology skyrocketed. And just like superheroes, each dinosaur in Jurassic Park had traits that felt iconic: the cunning of the raptors, the brute power of the T-Rex, the gentleness of the brachiosaurus, the menace of the dilophosaurus. Spielberg gave them not just form – but character. Ethics, Wonder, and the Human Flaw On a deeper lever, while Jurassic Park surely dazzled with its prehistoric superstars, it was also rooted in a profound ethical question – Because we can, does it mean we should? The chaos theory musings of Jeff Goldblum’s Dr Ian Malcolm, the corporate ambition of InGen and the hubris of playing God were woven seamlessly into the narrative. In many ways, the dinosaurs were not the villains in the narrative, but rather, collateral damage in a story about human overreach. Legacy: A Franchise, A Movement, A Mindset Today, Jurassic Park is more than just a movie – it’s a cultural landmark. It spawned multiple sequels, theme park rides, video games, and a whole generation of dinosaur-obsessed adults who remember the first time they heard that T-Rex roar in a darkened theatre. The 1993 film changed not just how we see dinosaurs—but how we feel about them. Jurassic park turned ancient fossils into modern day icons and in doing so they turned them into something more enduring than monsters. It turned them into superheroes. Now, it remains to be seen, whether Jurassic World Rebirth, the seventh instalment in the franchise, will be able to replicate the popularity of the first.