Category: Jurassic World

Jurassic becomes first major live-action film franchise to average $1 billion per film

Posted on by Josh Evans

Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter and Fast and Furious are all major live-action Hollywood franchises that not only entertain and shape generations of moviegoers, but also dominate at the global box office. But despite all those franchises’ success, there is only one live-action film franchise (with 2+ films) that averages $1 billion worldwide per film and it might shock the average person of which franchise that is: Jurassic Park.

That is right, the Jurassic Park franchise, which currently stands at 5 films (with the 6th film, Jurassic World: Dominion currently in production for a June 11, 2021 release), is the only live-action movie franchise to reach this amazing feat. With the Covid-19 re-release of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom this Summer in multiple countries and some theatrical showings of Jurassic World, the franchise global total has finally crossed the $5 billion mark ($5,069,589,335 to be exact as of this writing).

One might argue that the re-release of those films to push it over the top is unfair, but most major film franchise’s see re-releases from time to time, including other big ones like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So how does this all break down for the Jurassic films compared to the others? Well lets start with Jurassic Park.

Before 2015, the Jurassic franchise consisted of only three films, Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001). The worldwide grosses of those three films are $1,033,756,460, $618,638,999 and $368,780,809 which totals $2.02 billion, or about $673.7 million per film. So how did the franchise go from averaging $673.7 million to $1 billion? In 2015 the release of the fourth film in the series, Jurassic World demolished box office records at the time on the way to a massive global haul of $1,670,400,637. Three years later the fifth film, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, while not as massive as it’s predecessor, was still one of the biggest film’s of all-time with $1,378,012,430. Add those all up and you have a franchise that makes it to the $1 billion per film average.

So if you are still surprised or asking “Well what about Star Wars or Marvel, they have to be at or close to an average of $1 billion also”. Those are indeed massive franchises with at least one film in each that has made over $2 billion individually, but overall still behind Jurassic in terms of averages. Star Wars has 11 theatrical films that average $937.4 million per film and if you include 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars as the 12th film, the average drops to $859.8 million. The Marvel Cinematic Universe currently has 23 films that average $982 million. Some other major franchises that are near the top of the list include the Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts films ($923.8 million average), Pirates of the Caribbean ($904.9 million), The Hunger Games ($742.0 million) and (Fast and Furious ($654.9 million).

But there has to be a catch right, is Jurassic REALLY the highest grossing franchise in Hollywood on average? Yes, and well, also no. It is the highest grossing live-action film series per film, but it is not the highest grossing film series per film overall. There is one other franchise that can claim that title: Disney’s animated Frozen films. Currently sitting at two films, the series is averaging a very impressive $1.37 billion per film.

While Jurassic might be the only current $1 billion per film live-action franchise it will be interesting to see if a series like Star Wars or Marvel can ever reach those heights too since they are not that far off. It will also be something to watch if Jurassic can maintain that level with the series adding Jurassic World: Dominion next Summer. If Dominion can earn at least $1 billion itself it will obviously stay in the exclusive $1 billion per film club. Based on past results, the movie going audiences love for new films in the series it is a no-brainer that the new film would reach those heights. However, the wrench in the whole thing is the current world climate with the Covid-19 pandemic and the complete uncertainty of the film landscape going forward. Will the virus be gone, or at least contained enough that normalcy resumes? Will theaters be open at 100% capacity? Will some theaters even fail to re-open after their financial losses, especially in a very big box office market in China? There are a lot of rough waters that a blockbuster like Dominion will have to navigate.

The other thing Jurassic has proven and earned is the right to exist as a franchise. Not everyone loves all the films, and people will always question certain choices by the filmmakers and not everyone will always agree with with the direction the movies take. Like any other film series though, some absolutely love every aspect of it, and there are people that hate everything too. You can’t please everyone and every series will have its positives and negatives. But you can’t deny that there is a global thirst and want for these films. It is a franchise that if a new film is released, people will flock to see it. You might see people on social media or even national movie critics ask things like “Why are they making another?”, “Jurassic is not a franchise”, “It is time to let the series die”, “No one asked for another Jurassic movie”, yet what they fail to realize is that how well these films do, people do want more films and they don’t want the series to end. If you don’t want to watch another Jurassic film, then don’t, no one is forcing you to, but it is still going to have a major turnout, excitement and box office haul.

So what do you think of the Jurassic franchise being the only live-action film franchise to average $1 billion per film globally? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Jake Johnson’s Lowery may not return in ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ due to scheduling conflicts

Posted on by Josh Evans

One of the biggest fan favorite characters of the Jurassic World trilogy may end up not making his return to the big screen after all. Originally it was announced that Jake Johnson would be reprising his role of Lowery Cruthers in Jurassic World: Dominion, but unfortunately due to the pandemic shutdown, it may not happen. Speaking exclusively with Collider, Jake talked about the conflict in schedule that has arisen due to Covid-19.

“I was getting ready to go out and then this pandemic hit and so everything got pushed and the schedule got rearranged, and now we’re trying to figure it out because obviously I’m in Stumptown and we’re going into Season 2 of that. So we’re figuring out the scheduling and how and if we can make it work. But Colin Trevorrow, the director, is a good friend, we’re old friends and we’ve been talking a lot and we’re trying to figure out how to do it.”

Though while it is now probably 50/50 at best that Lowery will be in Dominion, this does likely shed some light that the size of role the character might have appears to be very minor. Though if schedules do align and Jake is able to film his scenes as originally planned, could we potentially see a different looking Lowery?

“At one point I pitched that he has like a huge pony tail now and he’s got like an army jacket and he’s kind of going through some PTSD of what he lived through. I wanted the 70s glasses and he’s always smoking a cigarette, but luckily Colin said no so we’ll see what happens (laughs). I was like, ‘Man I think he should be tatted up from the ankles to the ears, he saw a dinosaur attack!’”

We discuss Jake Johnson’s possible return in Jurassic World: Dominion on the latest episode of our podcast, which you can listen to down below:

What are your thoughts on Lowery possibly not appearing in the 6th Jurassic film?  Let us know in the comments below!

Everything We Know About ‘Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous’

Posted on by Jack

With the release of Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous on the horizon, we have compiled everything we currently know about the animated Netflix series into the video down below!

In a recently discovered interview with Polish website FilmWeb, executive producer of the show Colin Trevorrow revealed more details about the series and what we can expect from both the animation and the tone of the show.

“The animation is amazing. Dinosaurs move like animals, the characters are persuasive and emotional. You can certainly feel an element of horror as well. I am sure that after the premiere of the series there will be comments that, contrary to all expectations, our animation is really scary. The stakes are high. As in the movies, some heroes will not survive.“

The show is aimed at children and young adults so it’s surprising to hear that some heroes will not survive. While we can safely say no children will succumb to the dinosaurs, that’s not to say the camp counselors or other park staff that we meet along the way may meet their demise at the claws of the dinosaurs, and that certainly means the show isn’t going to play everything safely.

Colin has been involved with the writing of the show and explained that he was able to join the writer’s room and be a part of that process, which not only ensures that Camp Cretaceous feels like the Jurassic World movies, but that the story itself fits within the canon of the franchise.

Between the release of the two Jurassic World movies many expected there to be content that expands that universe, be it a TV series, an animated show, a video game, but aside from the Lego tie-ins and The Evolution of Claire book, there hasn’t been a project that explored new ideas or pushed the wider story in any substantial way.

“Five years ago, I would have decided that we are not ready for this. I was very careful not to exploit this universe too much and go a step too far. The last two Jurassic World movies have captured the hearts of a new generation of dinosaur fans who expect more than one new movie every three years. They can, of course, play with toys and use their imaginations, but it’s worth giving them something to stimulate them to do so. I’m no longer a child myself, but I remember how it works.”

What are you most excited for in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, and will be binge watching the show on September 18?

Let us know in the comments section down below, and if you liked the above video please consider giving it a like and commenting on there too!

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous to Debut on Netflix September 18 – Watch the Trailer!

Posted on by Jack

The trailer for the upcoming animated Netflix show, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous is here! Released moments ago, the trailer also revealed the official release date for the show – September 18.

In just over a month’s time we will be able to dive into the much anticipated series and see what Camp Cretaceous has to offer.

Check out the trailer:

A new poster for the show has also landed, showing us the Indominus Rex and two of the main characters and giving us another look at the Camp Cretaceous gates that tower over the jungle.

As featured in the trailer, the show will focus on five main characters who are all part of a Summer Camp spent at Jurassic World.

The eight-episode CG animated series features a dynamic cast of campers, including Paul-Mikél Williams (Westworld) as resident dinosaur expert Darius; Jenna Ortega (You) as social media sensation Brooklynn; Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6: The Series) as self-appointed VIP Kenji; Raini Rodriguez (Bunk’d) as gregarious and enthusiastic Sammy; Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) as sensitive and bookish Ben; and Kausar Mohammed (Silicon Valley) as world-class athlete Yaz. Jameela Jamil (Legendary) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) recur as camp counselors Roxie and Dave.

The series is executive produced by Scott Kreamer (Cleopatra in Space) and Aaron Hammersley (Star vs. the Forces of Evil) who serve as showrunners. Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow, Frank Marshall and Lane Lueras (Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny) serve as executive producers. The series was developed by Zack Stentz, who also serves as consulting producer.

Season one of Camp Cretaceous takes place prior, during, and after the events of Jurassic World as the park is thrust into chaos when the Indominus Rex escapes. The show has been pitched as a canon continuation of the Jurassic films, and promises to expand the universe in exciting new ways, not dissimilar to the approach Star Wars has for its animated series.

Some of the exciting new additions can be seen in the trailer, and in the official images released alongside. One of those additions would be the bioluminescent Parasaurolophus seen in the image above, a trait first seen in Jurassic World Live Tour on the Stegosaurs. Other dinosaur species include Toro the Carnotaurus, Bumpy the baby Ankylosaurus, Sinoceratops, Stegosaurus (featuring new grey with dark stripe coloration), Brachiosaurus, Pteranodons, the ‘Raptor Squad’, Indominus Rex, Mosasaurus, and of course, the T. rex.

Check out the rest of the images below:

Be sure to check out our video breakdown and analysis of the teaser trailer:

Which is also available to listen to here:

What are you most looking forward to seeing in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous? Let us know in the comments section below!

Colin Trevorrow Talks ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ on Comic-Con@Home Panel

Posted on by Samantha Endres

The Directors on Directing panel released today as part of San Diego Comic Con’s Comic-Con@Home. Colin Trevorrow was one of the featured directors on the panel who discussed their past, present, and future projects.

In the panel, he touches on ‘Jurassic World’, ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’, ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’, and ‘Jurassic World: Battle at Big Rock’. Check out the video below!

Around the 5:00 mark he talks about making the emotional case for “Jurassic Park 4”.

At 11:50 he talks about meeting with Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum and discussing them reprising their roles for ‘Dominion’.

At 18:06 The announcement that ‘Dominion’ would resume filming (this panel was recorded in June) and the challenges they are facing. During the hiatus the script wasn’t changed much and they were able to “put several sequences through the visual effects pipeline”.

At 24:00 Each ‘Jurassic’ movie getting more practical and ‘Dominion’ will have more animatronics than they had in the previous two. The digital extensions for animatronics have been improving so they will be able to match the textures on the animatronics. All of the dinosaurs have lighting references so they can see how light reacts with the skin and the environment. (How cool would it be to see the room with all the dinosaur references?!)

At 29:10 ‘Battle at Big Rock’ was shot handheld in VR by Colin.

At 33:27 changing from ‘Jurassic Park‘ to ‘Jurassic World’ took some convincing.

At 56:50 Paul McCartney visited the studio while Colin and Michael Giacchino were recording the soundtrack for ‘Jurassic World’.

Those are all the ‘Jurassic’ related clips, but I recommend watching the whole panel as Colin, Robert Rodriguez, and Joseph Kosinski give some interesting insights into the world of directing. There’s even a cool moment for Star Wars fans towards the end.

Comic-Con@Home Panel with Colin Trevorrow To Drop This Afternoon

Posted on by Josh Evans

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic this year’s San Diego Comic-Con has gone virtual with Comic-Con@Home. Today is Day 2 of the events and at 2PM PT (5PM ET), Collider will be hosting a panel titled “Directors on Directing” and will include Jurassic World: Dominion director Colin Trevorrow.

The panel will be hosted by Collider’s Steven Weintraub and will also feature director’s Robert Rodriguez and Joseph Kosinski.

It is also our understanding that this panel was recorded sometime prior to Jurassic World: Dominion resuming filming on July 6th.

Trevorrow is expected to share behind-the-scenes stories from the making of his films and will indeed be discussing Jurassic World: Dominion, but at what length remains to be seen.

Make sure to keep checking Jurassic Outpost later this afternoon and our social feeds for a link to the panel.

Are you excited for the Comic-Con@Home panel with Colin Trevorrow today? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Universal Beijing Reveals Construction on Jurassic World Section

Posted on by Corey Anderson

Construction continues on the new Jurassic World section of the upcoming Universal Studios in Beijing, China. Plans for the new section promise many new welcome additions to the park, including the Innovation Center (seen below being built), several Jurassic themed restaurants, a “Velociraptor Training Experience,” and the “Jurassic World Dark Ride.”

Eagle-eyed viewers might notice another familiar structure from Jurassic World. That’s right…the Aviary is making an appearance. You can see this massive dome being built behind the Innovation Center. We are not certain what will be inside, but our guess is something similar to the Pteranodon Flyers ride at Universal. Makes sense, right?

We know that the “Dark Ride” will include some sort of roller coaster aspect to it based upon the carts and tracks that have already been posted to the internet. The coaster will feature carts with the blue Jurassic World color scheme. Check out some of the pictures from the upcoming ride below.

We have yet to uncover any pictures of animatronic dinosaurs that will be used for the ride, but it is highly likely that Universal Beijing will utilize a mix of animatronic and CGI dinosaurs, similar to the River Adventure ride in Universal Studios Hollywood. Check out some of the prop vehicles that will be stationed throughout the ride.

Take a look at the plans yourself. Do you spot anything that really excites you? There seems to be a few different food venues, so we will likely see multiple Jurassic branded menu items across the section.

Universal Studios Beijing began construction on October 31, 2016 and is set to open in May of 2021. Are you excited for the Jurassic World section there? Do you plan on visiting once the park opens? Let us know in the comments below!

Google and Ludia Collaborate To Bring ‘Jurassic World’ AR Dinosaurs to Google Search

Posted on by Jack

Universal Brand Development, Amblin Entertainment, Ludia, and Google have partnered together to bring 10 dinosaurs from the Jurassic World franchise into your Google Search.

Searching for a dinosaur on Google while using a mobile device will now allow you hit ‘View in 3D’ which shows you a 3D model of the dinosaur, allowing you to rotate it and zoom in to see it close up.

From there you can add the dinosaur into the space around you, using AR technology to position the dinosaur in scale. If you’re on an Android device you can turn up the volume to hear footsteps and roars.

Ten dinosaurs are viewable in AR, including the T. rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Spinosaurus, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Pternodon, and Parasaurolophus.

According to Google, the technology from Ludia’s ‘Jurassic World Alive’ game has been used to ensure that these dinosaurs have the most realistic models possible.

“To create the 3D dinosaurs, our concept artists first did preliminary research to discover information about each creature,” says Camilo Sanin, Ludia’s Lead on Character Creations. “Not only did we draw research from various forms of literature, our artists also worked with paleontologists and the ‘Jurassic World’ team to make the assets as accurate and realistic as possible. Even the smallest of details, such as irregularities of skin color and patterns, are important.” 

You can see an example of how the Brachiosaurus was developed for ‘Jurassic World Alive’ below:

The dinosaurs available are a lot larger than your average dog or tiger which Google’s AR service also offers, so they have implemented an auto-scale feature that can calculate the distance between your phone and a surface in the area you’re in, and resize the dinosaur accordingly.

Using the Google app on both Android devices and iPhones, search ‘dinosaur’ or for the names of one of the ten dinosaurs listed above, and click ‘View in 3D’ to access.

The technology can also be used to create AR videos, recreating your favourite scenes from the Jurassic World franchise. Will you be checking out Google’s new feature? Let us know in the comments which dinosaur you’d like to see if not already featured.

And make sure you check out this important message from Jurassic World…

Celebrate National Dinosaur Day With The Jurassic World Watch Party – Hosted by Universal Studios on Twitter!

Posted on by Tom Jurassic

Universal Studios Hollywood have announced a fun opportunity for fans to join in on an exciting screening of the 2015 hit Jurassic World  – with a watch party taking place through the studio’s Twitter Account.

JW Twitter Watch Party. May 29th at 5pm PST. Universal Studios Hollywood. #JurassicWorldWatchParty

The watch along is taking place as part of a wider initiative which Universal Studios are undertaking to entertain fans of the parks whilst they are stuck at home. This initiative is known as #UniversalAtHome, and has been designed to bring fans together during this difficult period.

However, that isn’t all – as the Press Release from the Universal Studios team highlights an exciting addition to this watch along event:

“To help toast the celebration and, for the first time ever, Universal Studios Hollywood is sharing some favorite cocktail recipes from the popular Isla Nu-Bar, located adjacent to the ride. Fans can view the exclusive recipes for Tiki Tai, Bird of Paradise and a non-alcoholic Mai Tai on Universal Studios Hollywood’s website here.”

This is a fun opportunity for fans of all ages to come together and share in a great watch along. We’ve also seen other outlets within the Jurassic community host similar fantastic watch-along experiences for fans, so it is great to see so many people enjoying these films during this lockdown period.

Jurassic World Birds of Paradise Cocktail from Isla Nu-Bar at Universal Studios Hollywood

Will you be joining in on the watch-along this Friday, or have you taken part in any other fun watch-alongs during the lockdown period? Are you a fan of the cocktails from Isla Nu-Bar?

Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for the latest news on Jurassic World Dominion and all future Jurassic projects!

I Like His Spirit: Celebrating Irrfan Khan’s Legacy

Posted on by J. Malone

Many Jurassic fans and cinephiles alike woke up Wednesday with the sad news that prolific film actor Irrfan Khan had passed away.  It’s always hard when someone beloved leaves this world, and it only makes it all the more devastating when they are taken away too soon.

I wanted to take a moment to say goodbye, and thank this incredibly talented actor for his passion, and dedication.

I remember watching the moment Irrfan Khan is introduced as Simon Masrani for the first time on the big screen. You can’t help but smile. Filling the shoes of a John Hammond-like role is no easy task, but Khan did it with such ease in his first few moments on screen, that I was sold. Khan portrays Masrani as a kind-hearted, adventurous soul who wants people to appreciate life and the mystery, and grandness of it all.

Anybody who has watched interviews with Khan, or watched his other work, can see that was the kind of actor and creative person Irrfan Khan was. He valued every little moment and choice.  That spirit is forever captured in film.

For Jurassic fans specifically, we have been gifted with a memorable performance by Khan, that solidified his place in the world created, and also in our hearts. His excitement and love for the dinosaurs and the park that he owned was palpable, and made it all the more fun for us, as viewers, to finally experience a functioning park. His energy, and enthusiasm are infectious and leap off the screen.

Ultimately, that’s what we need right now.  In this time where so much is happening around us, and after loosing such a talented person, we can find strength and reassurance in the characters Khan left behind for us to treasure forever.