Common Sense Media Review
Nastier beasts and mean people in intense sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
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The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say the film is an exciting but intense sequel, with mixed feelings about its violence and language compared to the original, making it better suited for older children. While some appreciate the character development and thrilling action, others find it lacks the depth and charm of its predecessor, leading to a polarized reception among viewers.
- intense sequel
- character development
- mixed reception
- violence concerns
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 82 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel offers a mix of impressive effects and intense violence that may not be suitable for younger viewers, with themes of survival and self-sacrifice interspersed with gruesome scenes, including several character deaths and bloodshed. While some praise it as a thrilling addition to the franchise, others find it disappointing compared to the original, citing inconsistent character decisions and a darker tone.
- too intense
- impressive effects
- character deaths
- darker tone
- inconsistent decisions
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, hunters come to poach a dinosaur and bring it to the mainland for a theme park. When Malcolm's (Jeff Goldblum) team rescues the injured baby T-Rex, the angry parents go on a rampage. The group becomes a moveable feast as it tries to escape from the island. The group is rescued, only to discover that the corporation planning the theme park has returned a live T-Rex to the mainland. Mayhem ensues when the dinosaur escapes into downtown Los Angeles, and Tyrannosaurus Rex is front and center. Its attacks on the armored trailer and on the city of Los Angeles are the action highlights of the movie; the enormous heads in the trailer window are especially thrilling.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel has better dinosaurs and chase sequences that are just as intense as they were in Jurassic Park. Older tweens and teenagers will more than likely love the thrills and the magnificent beasts.
But lack of character development, disjointed editing, and unnecessarily gruesome deaths somewhat lessen The Lost World's appeal. And, this is a much nastier movie than Jurassic Park. Dr. Hammond was simply naive and misguided in the original; here, the capitalist forces are utterly immoral. And if the first movie featured several upsetting deaths, nothing is as gruesome as the munching of kind-hearted Eddy -- the graphic deaths feel gratuitous.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sequels. In horror movies, the body count is higher the next time around. Why is The Lost World: Jurassic Park so much more gruesome than Jurassic Park?
What do you think of the movie's violence? Is it necessary to the story? Why or why not?
Is this the kind of movie that will stand the test of time, or does it already seem dated?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 23, 1997
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2018
- Cast : Jeff Goldblum , Julianne Moore , Vince Vaughn
- Director : Steven Spielberg
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs )
- Run time : 137 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sci-fi terror and violence
- Last updated : March 6, 2026
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