Top 20 Dinosaur Movies, Ranked

For a hundred years, dinosaurs have been a popular subject in movies, appearing in everything from early silent films to today’s visually stunning CGI adventures. This list highlights twenty films where dinosaurs are key characters, including options for families and more thrilling monster movies. You’ll find a variety of animation styles – from classic stop motion and hand-drawn cartoons to modern digital effects. Each film entry includes details like the director, actors, studio, and release date to help you discover the prehistoric stories you’ll enjoy.

20. ‘Carnosaur’ (1993)

This low-budget film, produced by Concorde Pictures and Roger Corman, is based on the novel by John Brosnan, writing as Harry Adam Knight. Directed by Adam Simon and Darren Moloney, it stars Diane Ladd as a scientist who creates deadly dinosaur-like creatures. Filmed rapidly using physical sets and practical effects overseen by John Carl Buechler, it had a limited release in the US in May 1993 and was followed by two direct-to-video sequels.

19. ‘The Dinosaur Project’ (2012)

This British adventure movie, filmed in a ‘found footage’ style, centers on a documentary crew’s hunt for dinosaurs still living in the Congo. Sid Bennett directed the film, which stars Richard Dillane and Peter Brooke, and presents the story as if it were captured by the expedition’s own cameras. While filmed in South Africa, visual effects were created by Jellyfish Pictures. StudioCanal released the movie in the UK in theaters in August 2012.

18. ‘Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend’ (1985)

This family adventure film, directed by Bill L. Norton and released by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, follows researchers William Katt and Sean Young as they find a family of living sauropods in Central Africa. The movie famously used life-sized, robotic creatures created by Glen Robinson and Steven Yamamoto. Filming took place on location in the Ivory Coast, and the film was first released in North America in March 1985.

17. ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ (2013)

As a huge movie fan, I recently checked out this cool family film from BBC Earth and 20th Century Fox. What’s neat about it is how they combined real-life scenery with amazing computer-animated dinosaurs. It follows a Pachyrhinosaurus named Patchi as he journeys with his herd. John Leguizamo and Justin Long do the voices in the English version, which first came out in December 2013, and it was originally shown in IMAX 3D – a really immersive experience!

16. ‘When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth’ (1970)

This 1970 prehistoric adventure film, directed by Val Guest and produced by Hammer Films, showcases stop-motion animation by Jim Danforth. The story centers around a young woman, played by Victoria Vetri, who finds herself caught between fighting tribes and giant creatures from the Mesozoic era. Like many prehistoric films of the time, it features a made-up language for the characters’ dialogue. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for its visual effects and was distributed by Warner Bros.

15. ’65’ (2023)

Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, this sci-fi thriller features Adam Driver as a pilot who crash-lands on Earth during prehistoric times. The movie was filmed in Louisiana and Oregon and made possible by Columbia Pictures and Raimi Productions. The creatures you see are a blend of physical props and computer-generated effects. It premiered in theaters across North America in March 2023.

14. ‘Jurassic World Dominion’ (2022)

Okay, so the latest Jurassic Park film – the sixth one! – was directed by Colin Trevorrow, and it was really cool seeing the original cast – Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum – back alongside Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Amblin and Legendary Entertainment produced it, and Universal Pictures released it. They filmed all over the place – Canada, Malta, and the UK – and Industrial Light & Magic handled the awesome visual effects. It finally hit theaters in June 2022, though getting it made was a bit tricky with everything going on in the world, so the production schedule had to be adjusted.

13. ‘One Million Years B.C.’ (1966)

Directed by Don Chaffey and featuring Raquel Welch and John Richardson, this Hammer film brings prehistoric fantasy to life. Legendary effects artist Ray Harryhausen created the dinosaurs using stop-motion animation, including a particularly well-remembered Allosaurus and Pteranodon. Filmed on location in the Canary Islands and with studio work at Shepperton, the movie was released by 20th Century Fox and became a hit around the world.

12. ‘Jurassic Park III’ (2001)

Joe Johnston directed this sequel, bringing back Sam Neill as Alan Grant, this time on Isla Sorna. The film used a combination of practical effects – including impressive animatronic dinosaurs created by Stan Winston Studio – and digital effects from Industrial Light & Magic. Filming took place in Hawaii and at Universal Studios in California, and Universal Pictures released the movie globally in July 2001.

11. ‘We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story’ (1993)

This animated film, created by Amblimation and based on a book by Hudson Talbott, tells the story of smart dinosaurs who are brought to New York City by a kind inventor. John Goodman, Jay Leno, and Walter Cronkite are among the voice actors. Universal Pictures released the movie in the US in November 1993.

10. ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ (2018)

J.A. Bayona directed this film, which stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in a dangerous mission to save the dinosaurs of Isla Nublar from a volcanic eruption. Amblin Entertainment produced the movie, and Universal Pictures released it in theaters. Filming took place in Hawaii and the United Kingdom, and the filmmakers used a lot of real sets and animatronic dinosaurs. Released worldwide in June 2018, it quickly became one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

9. ‘The Valley of Gwangi’ (1969)

I recently watched this really cool movie – it’s a western, but with a fantasy twist! Jim O’Connolly directed it, and the special effects were done using stop motion by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. The story is about a group of cowboys who stumble upon a secret valley filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts, and it all happens down in Mexico. It was filmed in Spain, but the effects work was actually completed in London. Warner Bros Seven Arts put it out in 1969, and it really kept up the tradition of blending live action with those amazing stop motion visuals.

8. ‘Dinosaur’ (2000)

As a huge animation fan, I remember being really impressed with Disney’s Dinosaur when it came out. It was a fascinating mix of computer animation – the dinosaurs themselves were all CGI – blended with real, live-action backgrounds. Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag directed it, and the story follows Aladar, an Iguanodon, as he tries to guide a lost herd after a meteor hits. What really stood out to me at the time was how realistic the dinosaurs looked; Disney used some seriously advanced rendering techniques for their skin and lighting. It was a big summer hit for them back in 2000, and I remember seeing it in theaters – it was a pretty spectacular experience!

7. ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ (1997)

Steven Spielberg directed this follow-up film, which was inspired by parts of Michael Crichton’s book. Jeff Goldblum stars alongside Julianne Moore and Vince Vaughn as they venture to Isla Sorna. The movie featured impressive visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic and practical effects created by Stan Winston Studio. Universal Pictures released the film in May 1997 after a major promotional push.

6. ‘The Good Dinosaur’ (2015)

Directed by Peter Sohn, this Pixar film tells the story of Arlo, a young Apatosaurus, and his unlikely friendship with a human boy as they travel through the American West. The filmmakers used actual terrain data from the region to create the movie’s landscapes. Walt Disney Studios released the film in November 2015, offering it in both 2D and 3D versions.

5. ‘Jurassic World’ (2015)

Colin Trevorrow brought the Jurassic Park franchise back to life with this film, set in a functioning theme park on Isla Nublar. Starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and with a returning BD Wong, the movie used a mix of practical animatronics and digital effects created by Industrial Light & Magic and Legacy Effects. Universal Pictures released the film worldwide in June 2015, and it broke several box office records upon its debut.

4. ‘The Lost World’ (1925)

Directed by Harry O. Hoyt, this 1925 film is a silent movie version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel. It’s famous for its groundbreaking stop-motion animation, overseen by Willis O’Brien, which paved the way for special effects in later dinosaur movies. The story centers around a journey to a remote South American plateau where dinosaurs still roam. Thankfully, the film has been carefully preserved and restored, allowing it to be enjoyed by audiences today.

3. ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ (1959)

This 1959 film, directed by Henry Levin, is based on the Jules Verne novel and features James Mason, Pat Boone, and Arlene Dahl. Produced by 20th Century Fox, it was filmed both on studio sets and at the Carlsbad Caverns. The movie tells the story of a professor and his group as they venture underground and encounter prehistoric beasts. It received Academy Award nominations for its art direction and sound design.

2. ‘The Land Before Time’ (1988)

This animated film, created by Amblin Entertainment and with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg as presenters, was directed by Don Bluth. It tells the story of young dinosaurs—like Littlefoot and Cera—as they travel to the Great Valley. James Horner created the music, and the voice actors include Gabriel Damon and Candace Hutson. Universal Pictures released the film in November 1988, and it became the first in a successful series of home videos.

1. ‘Jurassic Park’ (1993)

Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel by Michael Crichton, this film stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. It featured revolutionary visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic and incredibly realistic animatronics, including the T. rex, created by Stan Winston Studio. Filmed in Hawaii and at Universal Studios, the movie’s score was composed by John Williams. Released by Universal Pictures in June 1993, it quickly became a worldwide success and continues to be a cultural touchstone.

Share your favorite dinosaur movie moments in the comments so others can discover them too.

2025-11-16 16:17