32 Years Ago, Jurassic Park’s Triumph Totally Overshadowed This Dino Flick That Still Spawned Two Sequels!

In 1993, the entire world fell in love with dinosaurs through Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” a box office tsunami and cultural phenomenon. With earnings exceeding one billion dollars worldwide and a lasting impact on pop culture, the film remains a pivotal reference over 30 years after its release, with the saga continuing through the new installments of the “Jurassic World” franchise.

However, a few weeks before its premiere, another dinosaur movie took its shot: “Carnosaur.” Produced on a shoestring budget compared to its Hollywood giant – roughly 75 times less than that of “Jurassic Park” – this film by Darren Moloney and Adam Simon quickly fell into Spielberg’s shadow, despite a somewhat similar plot. Like “Jurassic Park,” it tells the story of scientists bringing dinosaurs back to life, and is based on a novel published several years earlier.

Two Films, Two Approaches

While “Jurassic Park” blends awe with suspense, “Carnosaur” opts for a decidedly horrific tone. Rated R upon its release, the film focuses on blood and madness, featuring an eccentric scientist – Dr. Tiptree, played by Diane Ladd – who attempts to resurrect dinosaurs through a virus that causes dinosaur-like pregnancies. When a genetically modified creature escapes, it’s up to the unlikely duo of a cynical night watchman and an idealistic environmentalist to save humanity.

Despite its modest budget ($850,000), “Carnosaur” earned $1.7 million and spawned two sequels, released in 1995 and 1996. The film has become, according to some fans, a classic of “awfulness”: primitive special effects, unlikely actors, and a ludicrous plot make it irresistibly funny.

A Clever Strategic Revenge

“Carnosaur” did not hesitate to capitalize on the popularity of its rival to gain recognition. Released intentionally a few weeks before “Jurassic Park,” the film presented itself as a darker alternative: “Sixty-five million years ago, they ruled the Earth. They’re back, and it’s not an amusement park!” proclaimed its tagline. Producer Roger Corman designed it almost as a direct counterpoint to its competitor, even casting Diane Ladd, mother of Laura Dern, star of “Jurassic Park.”

The original novel of “Carnosaur,” published six years before Michael Crichton’s, had already laid its groundwork in the 1980s. Author John Brosnan (under the pseudonym Harry Adam Knight) was inspired by a prediction that Hollywood would soon take an interest in dinosaur films.

“In 1983, a fellow film journalist, Alan Jones, returned from a trip to Hollywood with the news that the next big Hollywood trend would be dinosaur movies. He told me there was a whole series of dinosaur pictures on the drawing boards,” he wrote (via The Week). “I immediately concocted a clever plan. I quickly devised a plan about creating genetically modified dinosaurs in a private zoo owned by a deranged aristocrat in the depths of Cambridgeshire.”

Although the exact timing wasn’t followed, the release of the film in 1993 allowed “Carnosaur” to ride the wave created by “Jurassic Park.”

A Cult Film Despite Itself

For many viewers, the charm of “Carnosaur” lies in its exaggerated badness. The absurd scenes, outdated special effects, and caricatured acting turn the film into a hilarious and fascinating experience for lovers of so-bad-it’s-good cinema. According to a viewer’s comment available on our site – where the film is rated 1.4 out of 5 – it’s the “first installment of a trilogy exceptional in many ways, the awfulness of this film makes it essential. Everything in this film is ridiculous and hilarious… The actors are incredibly bad, the special effects are fit for a 16th-century film, and the plot is to die laughing.”

This internet user also pays tribute to its opening scene against a green screen which remains “unique in its kind”: a memorable moment, worthy of the archives of kitschy cinema.

Ultimately, if “Jurassic Park” remains the titan of dinosaur cinema, “Carnosaur” earns its place in history… for its madness, deliberate awfulness, and bold attempt to steal the spotlight from Spielberg, all on a fraction of the budget.

If you want to form your own opinion, keep an eye out for potential DVD editions of Carnosaur. As for Jurassic Park (1993), it is available on VOD.

Check out the trailer for Carnosaur below: