It speaks – roars, rather – to the enduring power of Jurassic Park that even 22 years after Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking special effects safari, Jurassic World easily and decisively returned the series to apex blockbuster status this weekend. That it was such an overwhelming success despite the franchise’s legacy of lesser-loved sequels makes Jurassic World’s +$500 million global box office take all the more impressive. All that remains to be seen is just how much money Jurassic World will end up hauling in with those stubby dinosaur arms.
Now that there’s an entire trilogy of sequels to one of the most beloved films of the ‘90s, debate is bound to breakout about how Jurassic World stacks up against the competition. It’s hard to imagine any Jurassic Park fan arguing that World is better than the original film (though everyone is allowed to be wrong), but the latest entry has many features you could argue make it the best amongst the sequels. In the same breath, you can also make a case that Jurassic World is continuing the franchise’s downward trajectory.
Consider the following..