Debates over whether Jurassic Park constitutes a horror movie have raged since the first film was released in 1993, with Steven Spielberg’s work balancing blockbuster traits with dark moments of eerie suspense. Subsequent instalments in the franchise have similarly straddled that line between blockbuster and horror, but is Jurassic Park sufficiently grounded in the genre to be classified as a true horror movie?
Spielberg’s direction gives audiences a variety of scenes that could send chills down spines. There are the scenery-chewing moments in which the T-Rex is let loose without inhibition, exposing viewers (and the film’s characters) to the gigantic beast in all its glory. There are moments in which the tension rises because the dinosaurs aren’t on screen, with the insatiable hunger of the velociraptors placing the protagonists in disconcerting situations.
Having raptors in the kitchen is an inherently scary concept, at the very least from a health-and-safety perspective. But whether these scenes can be classified as reasonable moments of suspense in a thriller movie or genuine examples of horror is largely dependent on the whims of the audience. Rated 8.1 on IMDb, there is no denying that Jurassic Park is a classic, but its status as a classic horror movie is far more debatable.
Unlikely to go walking with dinosaurs
The most affecting horror films are usually those that create an aura of realism and integrate it with terror. This manifests in real-world instances in which people are afraid to enter sinister hotels or dark woods because of a particular movie. While Jurassic Park manages to make the dinosaurs appear sufficiently realistic, it is still a contrived situation. It may be unsettling to watch a T-Rex attack Jeff Goldblum, but we can live in reasonable certainty that we are unlikely to be plunged into similar situations in real life.
However, there is no denying that Jurassic Park and its sequels ratchet up the level of horror with far more intensity than most of its contemporaries. There are moments of violence that come out of nowhere, while there is an underlying feeling of imminent threat. Yet, those moments of violence are bereft of the gore that characterizes many horror movies, with the focus of those violent moments either irrelevant or evil characters. The power of imminent threat is also diminished by the knowledge that the movie is unavoidably a blockbuster; what is the worst that can happen?
Perhaps it is the iconic John Williams theme that encourages many to lump Jurassic Park into a collection of 80s and 90s blockbusters including various Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies. Williams composed the soundtrack for all of those classic movies, with each franchise blessed with a legendary theme. "Jurassic Park Theme" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Classic Digital Songs in 2015 as a response to the popularity of Jurassic World. Selling 3000 copies in a week 22 years after its original release is impressive, but the graceful strings that permeate Williams' work hardly scream horror soundtrack.
Fun and games with Jurassic Park
The seamless transition of Jurassic Park themes into other media is an indication that the movie franchise is widely perceived as a series of thrilling but ultimately pleasant blockbusters. It is certainly not as scary as the similarly-named Jurassic Games, a 2018 movie that draws inspiration from Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games to deliver the visceral violence not found in blockbusters.
The LEGO Jurassic Park range, replete with games and animated episodes based on Jurassic World, takes the suspense of the franchise and turns it into something cuddlier. It is difficult to be threatening when you're made of LEGO. The Jurassic Park slot game from Betway similarly takes characters and concepts from the movie and uses them to drive the suspense in the hunt for the jackpot, but lacks outright terror. This adaptation of the Jurassic Park universe for games devoid of horror reinforces its status as a blockbuster.
However, the first example of the world of Jurassic Park being adapted to minimize elements of horror is in its initial movie adaptation. Michael Crichton’s 1990 book does not hold back on the horror elements, GamesRadar calling it a scarier and darker story with elements that wouldn't have worked with Spielberg's blockbuster. The 1993 movie, while a largely faithful adaptation of the book’s narrative, is more about spectacle than nuanced terror.
Therein lies the definitive answer to the question about Jurassic Park’s potential status as a horror film. While the movie does inspire more terror than most of its counterparts, Jurassic Park cannot escape the crowd-pleasing conventions of a blockbuster. A total domestic lifetime gross of over $400 million for the 1993 film certainly shows that the blockbuster angle paid off. That is not necessarily a criticism, with the stunning visuals and soaring soundtrack combining for a thrilling adventure.
However, it is an adventure that is far more thrilling than it is terrifying, so Jurassic Park should not be judged on the same standards as a horror movie. Unless, of course, you have a fear of dinosaurs, in which case Jurassic Park is as scary as it gets.
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Debates over whether Jurassic Park constitutes a horror movie have raged since the first film was released in 1993, with Steven Spielberg’s work balancing blockbuster traits with dark moments of eerie suspense. Subsequent instalments in the franchise have similarly straddled that line between blockbuster and horror, but is Jurassic Park sufficiently grounded in the genre to be classified as a true horror movie?
Spielberg’s direction gives audiences a variety of scenes that could send chills down spines. There are the scenery-chewing moments in which the T-Rex is let loose without inhibition, exposing viewers (and the film’s characters) to the gigantic beast in all its glory. There are moments in which the tension rises because the dinosaurs aren’t on screen, with the insatiable hunger of the velociraptors placing the protagonists in disconcerting situations.
Having raptors in the kitchen is an inherently scary concept, at the very least from a health-and-safety perspective. But whether these scenes can be classified as reasonable moments of suspense in a thriller movie or genuine examples of horror is largely dependent on the whims of the audience. Rated 8.1 on IMDb, there is no denying that Jurassic Park is a classic, but its status as a classic horror movie is far more debatable.
Unlikely to go walking with dinosaurs
The most affecting horror films are usually those that create an aura of realism and integrate it with terror. This manifests in real-world instances in which people are afraid to enter sinister hotels or dark woods because of a particular movie. While Jurassic Park manages to make the dinosaurs appear sufficiently realistic, it is still a contrived situation. It may be unsettling to watch a T-Rex attack Jeff Goldblum, but we can live in reasonable certainty that we are unlikely to be plunged into similar situations in real life.
However, there is no denying that Jurassic Park and its sequels ratchet up the level of horror with far more intensity than most of its contemporaries. There are moments of violence that come out of nowhere, while there is an underlying feeling of imminent threat. Yet, those moments of violence are bereft of the gore that characterizes many horror movies, with the focus of those violent moments either irrelevant or evil characters. The power of imminent threat is also diminished by the knowledge that the movie is unavoidably a blockbuster; what is the worst that can happen?
Perhaps it is the iconic John Williams theme that encourages many to lump Jurassic Park into a collection of 80s and 90s blockbusters including various Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies. Williams composed the soundtrack for all of those classic movies, with each franchise blessed with a legendary theme. "Jurassic Park Theme" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Classic Digital Songs in 2015 as a response to the popularity of Jurassic World. Selling 3000 copies in a week 22 years after its original release is impressive, but the graceful strings that permeate Williams' work hardly scream horror soundtrack.
Fun and games with Jurassic Park
The seamless transition of Jurassic Park themes into other media is an indication that the movie franchise is widely perceived as a series of thrilling but ultimately pleasant blockbusters. It is certainly not as scary as the similarly-named Jurassic Games, a 2018 movie that draws inspiration from Jurassic Park and The Hunger Games to deliver the visceral violence not found in blockbusters.
The LEGO Jurassic Park range, replete with games and animated episodes based on Jurassic World, takes the suspense of the franchise and turns it into something cuddlier. It is difficult to be threatening when you're made of LEGO. The Jurassic Park slot game from Betway similarly takes characters and concepts from the movie and uses them to drive the suspense in the hunt for the jackpot, but lacks outright terror. This adaptation of the Jurassic Park universe for games devoid of horror reinforces its status as a blockbuster.
However, the first example of the world of Jurassic Park being adapted to minimize elements of horror is in its initial movie adaptation. Michael Crichton’s 1990 book does not hold back on the horror elements, GamesRadar calling it a scarier and darker story with elements that wouldn't have worked with Spielberg's blockbuster. The 1993 movie, while a largely faithful adaptation of the book’s narrative, is more about spectacle than nuanced terror.
Therein lies the definitive answer to the question about Jurassic Park’s potential status as a horror film. While the movie does inspire more terror than most of its counterparts, Jurassic Park cannot escape the crowd-pleasing conventions of a blockbuster. A total domestic lifetime gross of over $400 million for the 1993 film certainly shows that the blockbuster angle paid off. That is not necessarily a criticism, with the stunning visuals and soaring soundtrack combining for a thrilling adventure.
However, it is an adventure that is far more thrilling than it is terrifying, so Jurassic Park should not be judged on the same standards as a horror movie. Unless, of course, you have a fear of dinosaurs, in which case Jurassic Park is as scary as it gets.