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Jurassic Park III

Critics Consensus

Jurassic Park III is darker and faster than its predecessors, but that doesn't quite compensate for the franchise's continuing creative decline.

49%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 181

36%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 526,551
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Movie Info

Director Joe Johnston takes over the creative reins from Steven Spielberg for this third installment in the thriller franchise. Sam Neill returns as Dr. Alan Grant, a scientist who's tricked by wealthy couple Paul and Amanda Kirby (William H. Macy and Tea Leoni) into a fly-over of Isla Sorna. The object of their sightseeing tour is one of the Costa Rican islands populated by ferocious, genetically bred dinosaurs and the "site B" setting of Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World (1997). After their plane crash-lands, it's revealed that the Kirbys are actually seeking their teenage son, lost on the island after a paragliding accident. Trapped on Isla Sorna, Grant and his companions discover some painful truths the hard way. Among their discoveries: some of the scaly monsters possess more advanced communicative abilities than previously believed, the dreaded Tyrannosaurus Rex has a larger and more lethal competitor, and flying Pteranodons pose an even graver threat than some of their land-locked brethren. Jurassic Park III is the first in the series not to be based upon a novel by original author Michael Crichton. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast

Sam Neill
as Dr. Alan Grant
William H. Macy
as Paul Kirby
Téa Leoni
as Amanda Kirby
Alessandro Nivola
as Billy Brennan
Trevor Morgan
as Erik
Michael Jeter
as Udesky
John Diehl
as Cooper
Bruce A. Young
as Nash
Laura Dern
as Dr. Ellie Sattler
Taylor Nichols
as Mark
Mark Harelik
as Ben
Julio Oscar Mechoso
as Enrique
Blake Michael Bryan
as Charlie
Sarah Danielle Madison
as Cheryl
Linda Park
as Hannah
Sonia Jackson
as Symposium Leader
Bruce French
as Science Reporter
Bernard Zilinskas
as Male Student
Rona Benson
as Female Student
Frank Clem
as Man in Suit
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Critic Reviews for Jurassic Park III

All Critics (181) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (88) | Rotten (93)

  • Jurassic Park III exemplifies Hollywood's standard practice of stomping a brilliant concept beyond recognition.

    Jun 26, 2019 | Full Review…

    Edward Jay Epstein

    Wall Street Journal
    Top Critic

  • The latest sequel to Steven Spielberg's clever, scary 1993 original is even less necessary than Spielberg's borderline nonsensical (but still pretty entertaining) 1997 follow-up, The Lost World.

    Jun 26, 2019 | Full Review…

    Keith Phipps

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • [This] sequel isn't terribly frightening or gory, and at times it's even atmospheric. It also has a sense of humor: Tea Leoni's moony reaction shots intentionally send up the glossy idealism of the original.

    Jun 24, 2019 | Full Review…

    Lisa Alspector

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • An all-action, helter-skelter, don't-forget-to-buy-the-computer-game ride that makes the two previous installments look like models of classic filmmaking.

    Nov 5, 2008 | Full Review…

    Derek Elley

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • True, the film offers little new, but it's still stirring family entertainment.

    Feb 9, 2006 | Full Review…

    Wally Hammond

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • If there's one thing certain in this new instalment of Jurassic Park, it's that the critters are a whole lot smarter, faster and interesting than the Homo sapiens dropping in on them.

    Mar 19, 2002 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Kevin Courrier

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (181)

Audience Reviews for Jurassic Park III

  • Jun 09, 2016
    Another throwaway Jurassic Park film. Nowhere near the original masterpiece.
    Peter B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 06, 2016
    Disappointing film. Very inconsistent, the CGI looks subpar compared to the previous installments however it does bring back Alan Grant, some entertaining scenes and some nice visuals. Other than that this film is a mixed bag.
    Mr N Super Reviewer
  • Dec 15, 2015
    The definition of "Jurassic Park III" is "Jaws: The Revenge" mixed with "Jurassic Park". "Jurassic Park III" is another disappointing "Jurassic Park" movie. The plot to the movie is that two parents loose their child during a parachuting accident and the boy is on an island and they get "Alan Grant" portrayed by "Sam Neill" to help find this boy. The plot to the movie is okay, but this takes up only takes up 20 minutes of the movie, the rest is just people walking around the island. Also referred to as filler. The first scene in the movie makes no sense and is never explained in the movie. The most of the movie is boring. The end scene is horrible, it's supposed to look like a happy ending but it doesn't make sense. The acting in this movie is okay; it's nothing too special. "Tèa Leoni" is unlikeable. For example there is a scene where a dead body is found "Tèa Leoni's" character just won't stop screaming after she's sees the body. In fact there is really no character except for "Sam Neill" who is enjoyable to watch. The music in this movie is okay; there were only one or two scenes that the music was used well. The special effects in this movie are bad the C.G.I. is extremely noticeable. The action scenes in this movie are neither thrilling nor entertaining in any way at all. Some action scenes are laughably bad. The way the movie is filmed is bad. The scene where the dinosaur attacks the plane the editing is so bad it's hard to tell what's happening at all. If you are a person who enjoyed the first "Jurassic Park" then I recommend you don't watch "Jurassic Park III". "Jurassic Park III" has many problems green screen being noticeable, bad C.G.I., boring characters and some dumb action scenes. I give "Jurassic Park III" a 4/10.
    Steve G Super Reviewer
  • Aug 13, 2015
    Just as pointless to make as the last film. At least the raptor effects were back up to specs.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
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