Did You Know These 10 Things About ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’?
When ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ premiered in 1997, it brought dinosaurs back to the big screen in an even bigger and darker sequel to the 1993 blockbuster. Directed once again by Steven Spielberg, the film was loosely based on Michael Crichton’s novel The Lost World and followed a new expedition to Isla Sorna—an island where InGen had secretly bred dinosaurs before the events of the first movie.
With more action, new prehistoric creatures, and a thrilling finale in the streets of San Diego, the movie became another box office hit, cementing Jurassic Park’s status as one of cinema’s most exciting franchises. Here are ten things you might not know about ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’.
It Was Loosely Based on Crichton’s Sequel Novel
Michael Crichton wrote The Lost World in 1995 after pressure from fans and Spielberg to continue the story.
While the film borrowed some characters and ideas, Spielberg made major changes, including the T. Rex rampage through San Diego.
Jeff Goldblum Returned as the Lead
Jeff Goldblum reprised his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm, taking the lead this time after surviving the events of the first film.
His blend of wit, cynicism, and heroism became one of the sequel’s biggest highlights.
Julianne Moore Joined as Sarah Harding
Julianne Moore played Dr. Sarah Harding, a behavioral paleontologist and Malcolm’s girlfriend.
Her character brought intelligence and compassion to the story while holding her own in the face of danger.
The Raptors Were Even Smarter
The velociraptors in the sequel were portrayed as more cunning and coordinated hunters.
Their nighttime attack sequence became one of the film’s most intense moments.
Two T. Rexes Took Center Stage
Instead of just one, the film featured a pair of adult Tyrannosaurus rexes and their infant.
The scenes with the Rex family added emotional depth and made for some of the most thrilling chases in the series.
The San Diego Finale Was Added Late
Spielberg added the entire third act, where a T. Rex escapes into San Diego, after production had already started.
He wanted to surprise audiences with a city-based sequence inspired by classic monster movies like ‘King Kong.’
It Featured Groundbreaking Special Effects
The film used advanced animatronics from Stan Winston’s team and cutting-edge CGI from Industrial Light & Magic.
These effects pushed technology even further than the original film and brought new dinosaurs to life with incredible realism.
The Stegosaurus Made Its First Appearance
The sequel introduced new species like Stegosaurus, Compies, and Pachycephalosaurus.
These additions expanded the franchise’s dinosaur roster and gave fans more prehistoric variety.
Spielberg’s Return Was His Last in the Series
Although Spielberg stayed on as an executive producer for later films, this was the last Jurassic movie he directed.
He later said he wanted to pass the franchise on to other filmmakers after this high-intensity sequel.
It Was Another Box Office Smash
‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ grossed over $600 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-earning films of 1997.
Despite mixed reviews, audiences flocked to see dinosaurs return in bigger numbers and on a larger scale.
What fact about ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’ did you find the most surprising? Share your thoughts in the comments!