Jurassic Park III (2001)
★★★½ — Jurassic Park III (2001)
The third Jurassic Park film arrived in 2001, six years after The Lost World and eight after Steven Spielberg's original, this time with Joe Johnston in the director's chair rather than Spielberg himself (Johnston had previously directed Jumanji and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and would later helm Captain America: The First Avenger). Notably, the film entered production without a completed script, something the cast and crew have spoken about fairly openly in the years since, with rewrites continuing through the shoot. Sam Neill returns as Dr. Alan Grant, his first appearance in the series since the 1993 original, alongside William H. Macy and Téa Leoni as the Kirbys. At a budget of $93 million it was a modest studio commitment by blockbuster standards, and its brisk 92-minute runtime reflects a conscious decision to keep things lean rather than match the scale of its predecessors.
I know it gets a lot of stick, but honestly? I quite enjoyed it. The idea of a second island and a family crash-landing there gives it a different kind of urgency. It’s leaner, tighter, and doesn’t try to be more than it is. Just a solid dinosaur survival flick. The Spinosaurus was a great addition, and it’s fun seeing new dino species in the mix. It’s not groundbreaking, but I’d argue it’s the second-best in the series. Sometimes less ambition makes for a more enjoyable ride and this one delivers.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2001 | Watched: 2025-04-14
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Related on Movies With Macca
More with Sam Neill: Jurassic Park (1993)
More from the 2000s: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Daredevil (2003) · Apocalypto (2006)
More adventure: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · The Eagle (1925) · Louisiana Story (1948) · The General (1926)
More thriller: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Angst (1983) · The Long Walk (2025) · Punishment Park (1971)
