- 01
Indiana Jones Reference
Dr. Alan Grant's attire, including his signature fedora, is a direct nod to Indiana Jones, another iconic Spielberg character. This subtle call-back helps establish Grant's credentials as a leading character from the outset.
- 02
Tyrannosaurus Roars
The T. Rex's roars were created by combining sounds from dogs, penguins, tigers, alligators, and elephants, showcasing the creativity involved in bringing the dinosaur to life.
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- 03
The Goonies Wardrobe
Nedry's wardrobe, including his Hawaiian shirt, Members Only jacket, and yellow rain jacket, mirrors the outfits worn by characters in "The Goonies," another film produced by Spielberg.
- 04
Ironic Sign in the Trailer
In the background of Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant's trailer, there's a sign on the wall that says, "No animal released without paperwork completely filled out." The sign is ironic considering that they're paleontologists who study extinct animals and serves as clever foreshadowing that perhaps the dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park" will soon get out of hand.
- 05
Seatbelt Foreshadowing
Dr. Alan Grant's helicopter seatbelt scene foreshadows a major plot point. When Grant gets two "female" seat belt ends that don't connect, he ties them together. This mirrors the reveal that, although all the dinosaurs in the park are female, they find a way to reproduce, echoing Dr. Ian Malcolm's line, "Life, uhhh… finds a way."
- 06
Velociraptor Size Prediction
Steven Spielberg wanted the Velociraptors to be about 10 feet tall, taller than known at the time. During filming, paleontologists uncovered 10-foot-tall raptor specimens called Utahraptors, validating Spielberg's creative decision.
- 07
Hammond’s Ambitious Prediction
One of the slides projected during the dining room scene shows that founder John Hammond believes Jurassic Park will be more popular than sports and zoos by 1993 and 1995. This rather optimistic prediction highlights Hammond's grand vision for the park.
- 08
Jurassic Park Europe
In the same scene, another slide advertises Jurassic Park Europe, indicating that Hammond had plans for expanding the park globally.
- 09
Scream Audition
Ariana Richards won the role of Lex by recording a scream that was loud enough to awaken a sleeping Kate Capshaw, Spielberg's wife. This powerful scream secured her the part, showing her natural talent for the role.
- 10
Raptor Model Gifts
All cast members received a raptor model signed by Steven Spielberg as a gift once filming wrapped. Ariana Richards keeps hers in her house to shock visitors, describing it as being about five feet long and two feet high in a glass case.
- 11
Malcolm’s Heroic Change
In the shooting script, Dr. Ian Malcolm was supposed to run away during the T. Rex escape, similar to Donald Gennaro. Jeff Goldblum suggested making his escape more heroic by distracting the T. Rex to save the children.
- 12
T. Rex Safety Meetings
The crew had to have safety meetings about the T. Rex animatronic, which weighed 12,000 pounds. Flashing lights were used to alert the crew when the T. Rex was active, as its head moving at speed felt like a bus passing by.
- 13
Tim’s Book References
When Hammond's dinosaur fanatic grandson, Tim, meets Grant, he mentions a book by "a guy named Bakker," referring to real-life paleontologist Robert T. Bakker. Tim is also carrying Grant's fictional book, "Dinosaur Detectives," which includes contributions from real people involved in the movie's production.
- 14
Richard Kiley’s Cameo
Celebrated actor Richard Kiley lent his voice to "Jurassic Park" as the virtual tour guide. Hammond proudly introduces his voice, saying, "We spared no expense." Kiley was also the voice of the tour guide in Michael Crichton's original novel.
- 15
Jaws Reference
In an early scene, scheming computer programmer Dennis Nedry is watching "Jaws" on one of his computer screens. This is a nod to another Spielberg classic that's often referred to as the first "summer blockbuster."
- 16
Sick Triceratops Explanation
The movie leaves the Triceratops' illness unexplained, but the book and screenplay reveal it was due to the dinosaur swallowing and regurgitating West Indian Lilac berries while searching for gizzard stones to aid digestion.
- 17
Logo Transformation
At the end of "Jurassic Park," when the remaining crew is about to get into the helicopter, the park's logo is covered with mud, humorously transforming it to read "Your Ass Park." This clever touch serves as a condemnation of the park in a hilariously brilliant move.
- 18
Jurassic World Jeep
In "Jurassic World," the Jeep used to escape is the same one that brought people to Jurassic Park, providing a nostalgic link between the two films.
- 19
Jurassic Homage
Also in "Jurassic World," Bryce Dallas Howard's character ties her shirt and rolls up her sleeves, mimicking Laura Dern's look in the original "Jurassic Park," adding a subtle nod to the iconic character.
- 20
Oppenheimer Photo
A photo of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist who helped design the atomic bomb, is taped to one of Nedry's computers. This parallels the scientific advancements with deadly consequences in Jurassic Park.
- 21
T-Rex’s Missing Tooth
During the T-Rex attack scene, the dinosaur is missing a tooth. Actor Joseph Mazzello, who played Tim, revealed that the electronic creature occasionally shuddered and moved on its own, causing it to chip a Plexiglas and break a tooth.
- 22
Making of Jurassic Park Book
The book "The Making of Jurassic Park" appears among the park's merchandise in the film. It was a real book published at the time of the movie's release and is still available online.
- 23
Disneyland Reference
Hammond insists that "when Disneyland opened in 1956, nothing worked." Though Disneyland actually opened in 1955, Hammond's statement hints that Jurassic Park might face similar initial problems.
- 24
Misspelled Dinosaurs
Despite their skills as geneticists, the scientists in "Jurassic Park" (1993) misspelled Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus on the cryogenic storage containers, adding a humorous oversight to their character.
- 25
The Shining References
The scene where Lex and Tim escape raptors in the kitchen contains two references to Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining." Tim locks a raptor in the freezer, and Lex hides in a metal cupboard, mirroring escape tactics used in "The Shining."
- 26
DNA Base Sequence
During the ceiling duct escape scene, a slide from a projector is projected onto a raptor's skin, depicting a DNA base sequence. This detail emphasizes the scientific basis for reviving dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.
- 27
Elephant Mosquito
The insect trapped in amber is an elephant mosquito, the only mosquito that doesn't suck blood. Therefore, it couldn't contain any dinosaur DNA, adding a layer of irony to the film's premise.
- 28
Unexpected Glass Break
During the T. Rex attack scene, the glass roof of the van was not supposed to break. The genuine terror of the kids' screams is a result of this unexpected accident, adding to the realism of the scene.
- 29
Water Ripples Effect
To create the iconic shot of water rippling in plastic cups, the crew fed a guitar string through the car to the ground. A crew member laying under the car would pluck the string to create the ripple effect.
- 30
Record-Breaking Release
"Jurassic Park" broke box office records upon its release on June 11, 1993, bringing in $47 million its first weekend and eventually grossing over $900 million worldwide.
- 31
Close Encounters Music
In the end credits, when Spielberg's name appears, composer John Williams included a variation of the famous five tones from Spielberg's earlier film, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
