When the late Michael Crichton began planning his latest novel at the start of the 1990's, it didn't take long for the subject matter to pique the interest of film companies.
Several major film companies had made Crichton bids for the movie rights to the as yet unpublished book, which was reported to be about recreating dinosaurs. In the end, it was Universal who won the bid, with the backing of Steven Spielberg and as Crichton was putting his finishing touches to the book, named Jurassic Park, he was then paid $500,000 to develop and adapt his story for the big screen.
The result of this saw the first film in the franchise released in 1993 and nobody was prepared for just how quickly the franchise would take off.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Noted for its incredible special effects, which at the time were groundbreaking, the Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park was undoubtedly one of the biggest movie hits of the 1990s. Starring Richard Attenborough as park owner John Hammond who invites four guests, along with his two grandchildren, to witness the opening of his new creation, Jurassic Park.
Featuring many standout moments, Jurassic Park was a huge success and set new levels for special effects in how the dinosaur inhabitants of the park were realised. Of course, the tension begins when things at the park start to go wrong and the dinosaurs which were purportedly safely enclosed around the island, now enjoy total freedom to roam, and kill as they please.
Given the huge success of the original film, it was no surprise that clamour for a second film in the series had reached fever pitch before the first film was even out of cinemas. Fans of the series didn't have too long to wait as Crichton already had plans for the second installment.
This time, this would feature a separate island, a secretly hidden base where the original dinosaur inhabitants of Jurassic Park were conceived and grown. In a nod to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel of the same name, this book and the subsequent film was to be known as The Lost World.
The Lost World (1997)
Although perhaps not as warmly received as the original film, Steven Spielberg once again hopped into the Director's chair to oversee production on The Lost World. Released in 1997, the sequel told the story of a secret island, where genetic engineers had developed and grew the first batch of dinosaurs for the ill-fated Jurassic Park island from the first film.
Jeff Goldblum returned in the sequel as Ian Malcolm, with Richard Attenborough also reprising his role as John Hammond. This time, after being devastated by a hurricane, the dinosaurs at Site B had been left to roam wild in an environment free from human interference. Although now a scientific team is being put together to investigate what is happening on the island.
The second film followed a similar theme to the first, with the added twist at the end of seeing a T-Rex setting foot on American soil (albeit somewhat briefly).
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Four years after the Spielberg directed sequel, the next Jurassic Park film was set for release. This was the first film in the series that hadn't been based on a book written by Crichton, although several characters from the first two films do make a reappearance in the third installment.
The film was directed by Joe Johnston, who had originally wanted to direct the second film in the series but who had been given permission by Steven Spielberg instead to direct the third.
The film sees the main characters return to Site B of the second film, where a wealthy couple have brought a group of experts, under false pretences, to try and launch a rescue mission for their son, who had disappeared close to the island several months previously.
The third film in the series didn't perform as well at the box office, or with the critics as either of the first two films and it seemed for a long time that Crichton's dinosaur legacy had ended with something of a damp squib. However, fourteen years later, the dinosaurs found their roar once again.
Jurassic World (2015)
Fourteen years after the third Jurassic Park film, a brand new reboot of the franchise. This time we revisit the site of the original Jurassic Park, where a new park, Jurassic World, has been built and is currently in operation.
However, after a decade of dinosaurs, the public's love affair with the huge reptiles is growing thin and in order to maintain profits and ensure visitors keep coming to the island, a new dinosaur is designed genetically. This new dinosaur, named Indominus Rex, has the traits and strengths of many different predatory animals.
After developing the animal and despite warnings about it being unsafe, the dinosaur is showcased at the island with disastrous consequences and this time dinosaurs and man must combine in order to try and defeat this genetically modified beast.
Starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in the lead roles, Jurassic World has been one of the biggest film successes of 2015 and indeed of all time. It is now the third biggest grossing film of all time in North America and the world and is the highest grossing film of 2015 thus far.
Unsurprisingly, a sequel has been planned for 2018, with Pratt and Howard returning to reprise their roles.
Ever since the days of Ray Harryhausen stop-motion dinosaurs and monsters of the 1950s and 60's, these fearsome beasts have always held an attraction for cinema-goers and this time around, you only have three years to wait for the next batch of dinosaurs to hatch.
Jurassic Park casino game
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