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Parents' Guide to

Jurassic Park

By Randy White, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Terrifyingly realistic dinos run amok in sci-fi landmark.

Movie PG-13 1993 127 minutes
Jurassic Park Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 84 parent reviews

FinnRichey
FinnRichey Adult
March 19, 2021
age 8+

A classic film...

This movie has become a classic. The dinosaurs aren't too scary, but if your child gets scared easily, then you might not want to show them this movie because it has death and violence. Steven Spielberg created a great film in 1993 that still holds up to todays standards. All in all, I think Jurassic Park is okay for ages 8+.
5 people found this helpful.
sybil
sybil Parent of 11-year-old
September 17, 2022
age 14+
It was a really good movie. i (11 years) liked it really much. bit of a horror trip though, not suitable for younger kids.

This title has:

Too much violence
2 people found this helpful.
See all 84 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Brought to a secluded island, three scientists discover a wondrous jungle paradise called JURASSIC PARK where dinosaurs again walk the Earth. Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) warns the creator of the preserve that nature won't be corralled into a theme park, and things go terribly wrong when a tropical storm strikes and a corrupt computer programmer shuts down crucial security systems. During a night of terror, Dr. Grant (Sam Neil), Dr. Ellie (Laura Dern), and two children (Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards) are pursued by an escaped Tyrannosaurus Rex and several other dinos (including vicious velociraptors). After many devourings and frightening chases, a showdown ensues.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (84 ):
Kids say (410 ):

This film boasts Academy Award-winning special effects, lots of frightful moments, and some good laughs. In Jurassic Park, director Steven Spielberg and his effects team deliver stunningly realistic dinosaurs. The movie also has a superb soundscape; hear it with a top-notch sound system to get all the thrills. Of course, actually seeing the monster isn't always the best thing. In Jaws, Spielberg's early masterpiece, viewers didn't get to see the shark until well into the movie -- and the suspense was excruciating. That kind of storytelling elegance is missing here. And for all of its technical achievements, Spielberg occasionally sacrifices three-dimensional characters and real human drama for the thrill of the effects.

Jurassic Park's terrifying realism is something to take seriously. Sensitive younger kids may want to avoid this one, and parents may want to watch ahead of time and gauge their children's likely response. It's worth noting that, amid all the thrills, the movie has some very funny moments, including a scene where a T. Rex runs toward a vehicle and you can read: "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear" in a side mirror. It's just one of many iconic moments that ensured this film's place in cinema history.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how movies like Jurassic Park blur the line between science and science fiction, sometimes giving out misinformation in the process. Since it's not really possible to clone dinosaurs, why use cloning as a plot device?

  • Does the use of headline-grabbing scientific concerns make a story more believable -- and thus more thrilling? How can you find out which parts of a story are really based on science and which are made up? How can children learn about media literacy?

  • What makes Jurassic Park scary? What's the difference between horror and suspense? Which has more impact on you, and why?

  • How do the characters in Jurassic Park demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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