Can Jurassic Park and World Survive Another Ride?

With titles like Jurassic World: Dominion earning over a billion dollars globally, it seems clear that more films in the Jurassic franchise could be on the horizon. The success of this condition has not gone unnoticed:

Potential Sequels and TV Series

Clearly, a sequel to Jurassic World: Dominion is in the works, hinting at more adventures with dinosaurs in the near future. However, unlike the original storyline, these films might follow a different narrative trajectory:

“It’ll probably become some Walking Dead/Last of Us type thing with humans surviving against Dinosaurs.” This suggestion brings to mind potential zombie-like scenarios where dinosaurs act as the enemies, much like how players face off against the undead in popular survival games. While it’s a fascinating idea, it's also uncertain whether such a series would resonate with the fan base that has grown fatigued with the formulaic storytelling.

Continuity in the Franchise

Despite fan fatigue, Universal Studios appears committed to continuing the franchise. The anticipation is building for the third installment in the mainline Jurassic World series:

“The film will be released in 2021 in June if I’m not wrong. The main actors Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are confirmed, and there are important rumors saying that the original cast of Jurassic Park will return too.” The return of Samuel L. Jackson and the original trio—Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum—signals a departure from the new cast and a return to the roots of the franchise, directed by Colin Trevorrow.

Sustaining Interest in the Franchise

Regardless of whether the films improve in terms of originality and story, the studio is likely to continue making these films as long as they continue to draw audiences:

“Even though the movies themselves have not gotten better but worse in terms of originality and story, Universal Studios are already preparing the third Jurassic World that may be the end of the franchise started in 1999 with Jurassic Park.” The financial success of Dominion reaffirms the studio’s commitment to the franchise. However, enthusiast feature films, like Jurassic Park and World, have become increasingly formulaic, relying on simple concepts rather than complex narratives and deep character development.

Preferring Quality to Quantity

From an enthusiast’s perspective, the quality of these films is perhaps more important than the sheer number:

“Personally I would rather see a dozen well done dino movies than to see one more superhero film.” The prevalence of high-budget superhero films means that the dinosaur franchise is often looked at with less enthusiasm. Yet, a series of well-crafted films could breathe new life into the franchise, much like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which achieved critical and commercial success through its attention to detail and narrative depth.

Conclusion

Despite the formulaic nature of the films, the success of Jurassic Park and World indicates that there is still a market for these kinds of movies. The future of these franchises appears to be tied to the profitability and fan engagement. Whether these films will continue to thrive or disappear into obscurity will depend on the balance between maintaining interest and delivering quality content.

Keywords: Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Dinosaur Movies