Jurassic Park is one of the biggest science-fiction franchises in media. Between the books and the films, movie buffs can’t get enough of the terrifying dinosaurs that walk the island of Isla Nublar. But where was Jurassic Park filmed?
The iconic film features beautiful scenery that keeps cropping back each film as more and more companies try their hand at creating a dinosaur park. These are a few of the most popular locations where Jurassic Park was filmed.
What Are the Jurassic Parks About?
Jurassic Park focuses on a dinosaur theme park where cloned dinosaurs walk the earth. The franchise began with the novel, which then led into movies, and then shortly after also became children’s books. The original book was written by Michael Crichton in 1990 with the movies created by Steven Spielberg beginning in 1993.
In each installment, the theme park ends up becoming an island of terror when dinosaurs end up escaping their containments. The horror that unleashes upon the island and its guests creates a thrilling watch.
How Many Films Are in the Franchise?
As of 2024, there are 6 total films in the Jurassic Park franchise, with another one confirmed is being worked on and hopefully be released in 2025. Three of the movies are considered Jurassic Park films while the other are the Jurassic World films. The canon story also includes two short films and an animated Netflix series.
The next film, referred to as Jurassic World 4, will bring in a new era, with Gareth Edwards taking the reins as director.
Where to Watch All Jurassic Park Films?
All six movies are currently available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video. To stream, you’ll have to access several platforms.
All three of the first Jurassic Park films are available on Peacock for streaming. However, Jurassic World (2015) is available on Max, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) is available on Hulu, and Jurassic World Dominion is available on Starz.
Where Was Jurassic Park Filmed?
The movie is set on the fictional island of Isla Nublar which is set somewhere in Central America off the west coast of Costa Rica. The island is owned by John Hammond, the man who brought the dinosaurs back from the dead. Movie fans witness breathtaking views on the big screen with lush sceneries, foreboding jungles, and astonishing panoramas of the island.
Actual filming of the island takes place in a number of locations to capture the scenes. Most of the filming took place in the islands of Hawaii with their overgrown landscapes and vibrant topography. More filming took place in a number of different California studios, including the Universal Studios and the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios. Here are some examples and where you might have seen the locations throughout the franchise.
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Oahu, Hawaii
One island of Hawaii that was the primary candidate for capturing the scenic views was Oahu, the third largest island. The Kualoa Ranch in Oahu is one of the locations that you might remember, where Dr. Grant and the two kids are being chased by a horde of dinosaurs.
The Research Pier in Makai is another spot that played a key role in filming. The pier has scientific undertones and complements the technological themes of the film, as well as still providing a beautiful backdrop to the environment. But Jurassic Park isn’t the only film that utilizes Hawaii’s beautiful scenery, as it was also the home for Kong: Skull Island, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Kauai, Hawaii
“The Garden Isle” of Kauai also brought several beautiful backdrops into the franchise, with one being the Manawaiopuna Falls, which are the very small waterfalls depicted early on in the movie where the helicopter lands at the base.
But the Manawaiopuna Falls isn’t the only place that showed off Hawaii’s water. Hoopii Falls is another interesting point that provided cascading waters, although much calmer than the dramatic locations that were shown in the film.
The Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park is another spectacular place for the movie, showing off its razor-sharp cliffs and emerald valleys. This was one of the many destinations for Jurassic Park‘s awe-inspiring aerial shots. The state park is full of hiking trails and boat tours for visitors to explore the land that the dinosaurs roamed.
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Maui, Hawaii
Maui is home to one interesting location that is used in the Jurassic Park film called the Garden of Eden. It’s located on Maui’s famous Hana Highway and is a botanical garden, a haven of exotic plants and installations. This was one of the many picturesque settings from Hawaii that made it into the films.
California Studios
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios in California is another prime spot for filming, as it was also home to other great movies like Inception and The Goonies.
Another California studio, Universal Studios, helped film Jurassic Park using several stages, like Stage 12, Stage 24, and Stage 28.
Can You Visit Jurassic Park?
Even though Jurassic Park is a fictional place, there are some areas where they filmed that you can tour. Kuloa even has a Jurassic Adventure that lasts 2 and a half hours and will take you to the iconic film sites within the island. Universal Orlando Resort also has a Jurassic World section where you can go on exciting rides that fit the amazing, and terrifying themes of the franchise.