10 Third Movie Sequels Better Than Anyone Expected

6. Jurassic World

Mad max Fury Road Tom Hardy
Universal

The first Jurassic Park was a genuine blockbuster phenomenon, an iconic film which has sealed its place in film history. The second film is a great exercise in big-budget adventure film storytelling, widening the canvas of the Jurassic Park world but perhaps not achieving the storytelling power of the original.

The third film, however, is not much beloved by fans overall. It's a fun and serviceable film that would be appreciated enough on its own merits if it weren't following such juggernauts. There were plans (and even scripts) for further entries, but the disappointment of Jurassic Park III put those on indefinite hold in 2001.

Then, fourteen years later, the franchise was resuscitated from producer Steven Spielberg. There were big question marks around the film, starring Chris Pratt (known mostly for comedies until his breakout role in Guardians of the Galaxy) and directed by indie filmmaker Colin Trevorrow, who'd only made the indie romantic-comedy Safety Not Guaranteed.

The film ended up being an action blockbuster spectacle that even pokes fun at franchise filmmaking (and itself) with jabs at making dinosaurs 'bigger and better' to keep audiences pleased.

Contributor
Contributor

Chris Vander Kaay knows the hidden secrets of the world, but he frequently forgets them. He has them written on a piece of paper along with his passwords, but he seems to have misplaced that as well.