Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, diverse tween dino adventure has some scary moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 53 parent reviews
Parents say the show presents an exciting and emotional adventure for kids with strong themes of friendship and teamwork while featuring dinosaurs, but there is growing concern about the introduction of romantic and LGBTQ+ themes in later seasons, specifically Season 5, which some parents feel are inappropriate for the show's intended younger audience. While many appreciate the diverse representation and the overall quality of storytelling, a significant number of reviews reflect disappointment with the departure from the original dinosaur-centric premise towards a focus on relationships that some deem unsuitable for children.
- friendship themes
- romantic content
- age appropriateness
- diverse representation
- parental disappointment
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 73 kid reviews
Kids say the show is exciting and engaging, especially for fans of the franchise, with remarkable character development and thrilling plots, although some viewers express concern over the inclusion of romantic relationships and violence. Overall, while it's enjoyed by many as a fun and educational series for slightly older children, it may not be suitable for younger audiences due to its darker themes and moments of suspense.
- engaging storylines
- character diversity
- age-appropriate
- mild violence
- romantic content
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Dino-obsessed tween Darius (voiced by Paul-Mikel Williams) gets his lifelong wish when he wins a contest to be one of the first campers to visit JURASSIC WORLD: CAMP CRETACEOUS, which is located within the infamous dinosaur theme park. On Isla Nublar, he meets his fellow campers: rich kid Kenji (Ryan Potter), social media star Brooklynn (Jenna Ortega), boisterous Texas ranch kid Sammy (Raini Rodriguez), sensitive and cautious Ben (Sean Giambrone), and quiet, focused Yasmina (Kausar Mohammed). With two counselors (Roxie and Dave, played by Jameela Jamil and Glen Powell) to keep the kids in check, camp activities include lab visits, island exploration, and, of course, lots and lots of up-close dino action. Adventures ensue as the campers encounter more than they bargained for on this island filled with intrigue, danger, classified experiments, and possible traitors within their midst.
Is It Any Good?
This fun, well-written, and beautifully animated series is a great addition to the franchise canon, serving an audience that might not be quite ready for the movies. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous's plot clips along at a perfect pace for tweens, and they'll love getting to know the characters and listen to seamless uses of kid slang ("bruh" makes early appearances, and Darius states that "dinosaur migration patterns are my jam"). As for the drama, Camp Cretaceous is a lot like the movies: People are put into peril that seems wildly unnecessary, but, heck, that's the Jurassic way. Isla Nublar's theme park remains as dangerous and poorly thought out as ever, and adding mostly unsupervised kids into the mix? Not to mention a second, secret island that pits dinos against each other for the sadistic enjoyment of the uber-rich? Sure -- but this is all easily overlooked as part of the fantasy of this world.
Just like at real camp, the characters bond, show each other their vulnerabilities, and learn to communicate by sharing their own stories. Also, kudos to the series for casting its diverse characters with an equally diverse group of voice actors, as well as including more body diversity than many shows (teen and adult characters look realistic and have a range of body types). Families should note that each episode ends with a cliffhanger, so while it's tempting to binge, it could be fun to parcel this show out slowly for maximum impact and excitement.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dinosaurs. Which ones did you recognize in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous? How did scientists in real life put this knowledge together over many years? Do you think humans could ever re-create dinosaurs in the future?
All the campers are very different from one another. How do they end up getting along? What do they have in common?
Why do you think Jurassic Park and its many sequels are so popular? Would you ever want to be face-to-face with a dinosaur? Why, or why not?
How do the campers show perseverance, teamwork, and empathy during their adventures in Camp Cretaceous? How about courage and strong communication skills? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 18, 2020
- Cast : Paul-Mikel Williams , Ryan Potter , Jenna Ortega
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Animals ( Dinosaurs ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : January 12, 2026
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