Dinosaurs are always a fun subject for movies, books, video games, and just about any form of entertainment. There’s something both mysterious and whimsical about them.
When it comes to movies specifically, it goes without saying that Jurassic Park and its sequels are the biggest and best. That being said, there are still a lot of options out there for dinosaur movies. Let’s take a look at some of the most entertaining ones in no particular order.
Dinosaur
Disney’s Dinosaur may have underperformed when it was released in 2000, but it’s an underrated gem. The visuals are pretty unique, using computer generated dinosaurs in a live action environment, making it one of the first movies to do something like this. The characters are worth being invested in, and it’s an overall fun experience. People probably remember the puppet toys from McDonald’s more than they remember the movie, which means it’s definitely time for a revisit.
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story is a 1993 dinosaur movie produced by Steven Spielberg and distributed by Universal Pictures… which sounds very familiar but it’s totally not Jurassic Park, I swear. It’s a 2D animated film that follows a group of dinosaurs who become intelligent and travel to 1993 New York City with the help of a time-traveling alien. It sounds bonkers, but it’s actually quite charming and fun. The animation is also rather impressive given that it’s not Disney at a time Disney was ruling the box office.
Dinotopia
Dinotopia is technically a TV miniseries, but so is 1990’s It and people think of that as a movie so we’ll count it. Starring Wentworth Miller, Dinotopia follows the adventure of two brothers who search for their father after a shipwreck leaves them in a world where talking dinosaurs live side-by-side with humans. It’s fantastical, epic, and offers plenty of fantastic worldbuilding. This is easily one of the more whimsical entries on the list.
The VelociPastor
A priest gains the ability to transform into a dinosaur and uses the power to fight crime. The VelociPastor is everything it sounds like and then some. It’s worth mentioning that this and the next couple of entries on this list are better suited for bad movie nights. They may not be fantastic by any means, but they’re wildly entertaining. Watch for the ridiculous premise, but stay for the hilarious special effects and crazy dialogue.
Tammy and the T-Rex
A teen girl finds out a mad scientist implanted her dead boyfriend’s brain into an animatronic dinosaur. Now, the two of them navigate this new hurdle in their relationship while taking revenge on those responsible by sending them to their demise one by one. Tammy and the T-Rex is another absolutely ridiculous story, but it knows exactly what it is and leans into it. If you ever get the chance, see this one with a crowd.
Theodore Rex
Theodore Rex is a buddy cop movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and a talking t-rex. It’s so silly it’s entertaining to laugh at and laugh with. The costume and robotics used for the movie are legitimately impressive even if the story and humor are more on the dumb side. At least it’s a fun kind of dumb. It’s hard to beat Whoopi Goldberg and a t-rex working together to fight crime.
Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost was originally a TV series in the 70s, and then a rebooted TV series in the 90s. In 2009, there was a movie adaptation starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride. It’s not the best version of Land of the Lost or the best Will Ferrell movie, but it’s still a decent comedy. It has a scientist and his crew sucked into a time vortex and forced into a world roamed by dinosaurs and lizard creatures known as Sleestaks. Together, they have to find a way home. It’s funny, thrilling, and a fun take on a classic TV show.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is the third installment in the Ice Age film franchise, and the movie that introduced dinosaurs to the series. Manny, Sid, Diego, and their other prehistoric friends find themselves in a mysterious underground world. Their adventure has them meet a number of dinosaurs and other creatures. It’s a cute movie with some excellent animation.
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is known for being an iconic classic animated series, and the show’s characters are famous for being mascots of breakfast cereal. In 1994, Fred, Barney, Wilma, and the rest made their way to the big screen in live action. That Flintstones movie, starring John Goodman and Rick Moranis, is hilarious and has some extremely impressive production design. The wacky adventures of these cave people who use dinosaurs as everyday tools is endlessly entertaining.
The Land Before Time
It’s safe to say that The Land Before Time is easily the best dinosaur movie that’s not related to the Jurassic Park films. It’s so good that it spawned over a dozen sequels. A fun and charming animated coming of age story that follows the lives and adventures of a diverse group of young dinosaurs is pretty hard to beat. As the colorful cast of characters learned life lessons, so did the audience. All of The Land Before Time movies are excellent, with the original being a true emotional masterpiece.
Nonstop Nerd 