Every Jurassic Park Movie, Ranked From 'Lost World' to 'Fallen Kingdom'

Just because you have the money to create a blockbuster movie sequel doesn't mean you should. That's been the lesson with the Jurassic Park franchise over the years. The franchise may remain one of the biggest moneymakers in Hollywood, but it's also one that routinely struggles to recapture the magic of the original film. As we brace ourselves for the release of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," here's the definitive ranking of the Jurassic Park movies so far.

5. 'Jurassic World' (2015)

"Jurassic World" made enough money for Universal to actually build a theme park full of genetically engineered dinosaurs, should the mood ever strike, but that doesn't mean it's any good. The fourth film -- all about scratching that nostalgic itch of the first "JP" -- is just one more example of why it rarely pays to revisit a once-popular franchise years down the road. The special effects may have improved, but the movie is soulless and riddled with stupid plot holes and even dumber, more unlikable characters.  

4. 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' (2018)

Well, it starts off promising -- with an inspired prologue involving a submerged salvage team in the lagoon belonging to the beast from "JW" -- and then the story and script are infected with increasingly stupid narrative choices and even dumber (and one-dimensional characters) executing them. The most visually dynamic cinematography since the first film, no amount of pretty images can make up for or hide the inept and eventually numbing storyline on display here. Chris Pratt proves once again that he is not an actor of considerable talent, depth, or resonance -- outside of Andy on "Parks and Rec" or Star-Lord. And if you like movies that pinch from "Lost World's" least effective story elements and characters (another nimble young little girl to put in harm's way, yay!) then you will, sadly, love this. 

3. 'Jurassic Park III' (2001)

One of the reasons people love the original "Jurassic Park" so much is that it's a blockbuster movie with somewhat of a brain. It's a true cautionary sci-fi tale in the grand tradition of "Frankenstein." Strip out all the brainy parts, however, and you're left with "Jurassic Park III." This sequel delivers plenty of good, dumb, dinosaur-fueled carnage and the much-appreciated return of Sam Neill's Dr. Alan Grant, but the plot is about as barebones as it gets. It doesn't help that the film started shooting before the script (such as it is) was even completed. The result is a movie that plays more like a collection of unused set pieces from "The Lost World."    

2. 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park' (1997)

"The Lost World" is very much the "Jaws 2" of this particular franchise, in that it fails to recapture the magic of the original but holds up intermittently on its own merits. It doesn't hurt that both director Steven Spielberg and star Jeff Goldblum stuck around for this one, though Spielberg's heart is seemingly absent in this darker-in-tone sequel.  The plot is a little overly complicated, and the basic premise somewhat forced. So InGen just happened to have a second dinosaur-filled island they never bothered to tell anyone about? But on the plus side, it features some top-notch action scenes (T-Rexes vs. heroes' trailer dangling over a cliff is an all-timer) and a fun climax featuring a T-Rex tearing through San Diego.

1. 'Jurassic Park' (1993)

Whether or not "Jurassic Park" should ever have birthed a franchise, at least this film has lost none of its appeal over the past 25 years. It's about more than just the groundbreaking special effects and incredible action sequences. It's how those effects work in tandem with Steven Spielberg's skillful eye and John Williams' sweeping score to create a sense of wonder. Even after all these years, we can't help but be captivated whenever we watch Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler gape at the sight of real, live dinosaurs for the first time.