The Definitive Jurassic Park Timeline: How To Watch All 10 Canon Films & Shows In Chronological Order (Plus The New 2025 Movie)
Are you ready to jump back into the world of cloned dinosaurs? As of December 19, 2025, the *Jurassic* saga is bigger and more complex than ever, stretching far beyond the original three films and now encompassing two full trilogies, multiple canonical animated series, and a crucial short film. For both new viewers and seasoned fans looking to catch up before the highly anticipated 2025 installment, understanding the full, chronological timeline is essential to grasp the intricate story of InGen, Biosyn, and the world's inevitable fall to prehistoric giants.
The correct viewing order is not simply the release order; the addition of the *Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous* animated series and the short film *Battle at Big Rock* has created an overlapping, detailed narrative that significantly enriches the experience. This definitive guide breaks down the entire canonical timeline, from the earliest prehistoric moments to the shocking future of the franchise, ensuring you don't miss a single roar.
The Complete Jurassic Park and Jurassic World Canonical Timeline
To achieve maximum topical authority and a full understanding of the *Jurassic* lore, you must integrate the animated series and short films with the main feature films. This list presents the entire saga in its true chronological order.
- The Big Bang: The *Jurassic World Dominion* Prologue (65 Million Years Ago)
- The Beginning: *Jurassic Park* (1993)
- The Second Island: *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997)
- The Rescue Mission: *Jurassic Park III* (2001)
- The Park Opens: *Jurassic World* (2015)
- The Overlap: *Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous* (Seasons 1-3)
- The Fall of the Park: *Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous* (Seasons 4-5)
- The Eruption: *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018)
- The First Encounter: *Battle at Big Rock* (Short Film, 2019)
- The Aftermath: *Jurassic World: Chaos Theory* (Animated Series, 2024)
- The New World: *Jurassic World Dominion* (2022)
- The Rebirth: *Jurassic World: Rebirth* (2025)
The Core Film Trilogies Explained in Chronological Order
While the full canonical timeline is complex, the main narrative thrust is carried by the two core trilogies: the original *Jurassic Park* era and the subsequent *Jurassic World* era. Watching them in this order provides the clearest progression of the global dinosaur crisis.
The Jurassic Park Trilogy (The InGen Years)
This trilogy, based on the novels by Michael Crichton, establishes the original vision and the disastrous consequences of genetic engineering on Isla Nublar and Site B (Isla Sorna). It focuses on the efforts of Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Dr. Ian Malcolm to survive the initial outbreaks.
1. Jurassic Park (1993)
The film that started it all. Set in 1993, billionaire John Hammond invites a team of scientists, including paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm, to his new theme park on Isla Nublar. The initial security failure and the terrifying escape of the dinosaurs—including the iconic T-Rex and Velociraptors—set the stage for the entire franchise.
2. The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
Four years after the events of the first film, this sequel introduces Isla Sorna, or "Site B," where InGen secretly bred the dinosaurs before transporting them to Isla Nublar. Dr. Ian Malcolm is reluctantly pulled back into the fray to document the creatures in their natural habitat, leading to a disastrous attempt to bring a T-Rex to the mainland.
3. Jurassic Park III (2001)
Dr. Alan Grant is tricked into returning to Isla Sorna to help a wealthy couple search for their missing son. This film is notable for introducing the massive, sail-backed Spinosaurus, which famously battles and defeats a T-Rex, creating one of the most debated moments in the franchise's history.
The Jurassic World Trilogy (The Global Crisis)
The second trilogy jumps forward over a decade to show a fully operational, successful dinosaur theme park, which inevitably suffers an even greater, more catastrophic failure. This era focuses on the characters Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, and the ultimate spread of dinosaurs across the globe.
4. Jurassic World (2015)
The park is finally open! *Jurassic World* is set 22 years after the original disaster. The park, now owned by the Masrani Global Corporation, features a new, genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, the Indominus Rex. Its escape triggers a massive security breach, leading to the second collapse of the park and the introduction of Velociraptor trainer Owen Grady and park operations manager Claire Dearing.
Chronological Note: The animated series *Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous* (Seasons 1-3) takes place concurrently with the events of this film, offering a ground-level perspective of the park's fall from the eyes of six stranded teenagers.
5. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Three years after the park's closure, a looming volcanic eruption threatens to wipe out all remaining dinosaurs on Isla Nublar. Owen and Claire return to the island on a rescue mission, only to uncover a conspiracy to sell the animals and a new, terrifying hybrid, the Indoraptor. The film concludes with the dinosaurs being released into the North American wilderness, fundamentally changing the world.
Chronological Note: The animated series *Camp Cretaceous* (Seasons 4-5) and the short film *Battle at Big Rock* (2019), which shows a family encounter with a Nasutoceratops and an Allosaurus, bridge the gap between *Fallen Kingdom* and *Dominion*.
6. Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Set four years after the dinosaurs were released, the world is struggling to coexist with prehistoric creatures. The film serves as a grand finale to both trilogies, bringing back the original *Jurassic Park* heroes (Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm) to team up with Owen and Claire to investigate a global threat posed by the nefarious Biosyn genetics company and its giant locusts.
The Future of the Franchise: Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)
The *Jurassic* saga is far from over. A new, standalone film is set to kick off a fresh era for the franchise, moving beyond the storylines of the first two trilogies. This is the most current and vital piece of information for any fan looking to stay updated.
Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)
Set to be released on July 2, 2025, *Jurassic World: Rebirth* is the seventh feature film in the series and is directed by Gareth Edwards (*Rogue One*, *Godzilla*). The film is confirmed to take place five years after the events of *Jurassic World Dominion*, suggesting the world has adapted—or failed to adapt—to the presence of dinosaurs.
The plot centers on a new expedition that travels to an isolated, former research facility to extract DNA samples from three specific, massive prehistoric creatures. This suggests a return to the tension of a contained island environment, but with the added danger of a global dinosaur population. The film is headlined by a new, high-profile cast, including:
- Scarlett Johansson as Zora Bennett, a covert operations expert.
- Jonathan Bailey as Dr. Henry Loomis, a palaeontologist.
- Mahershala Ali in an undisclosed role.
- Rupert Friend in an undisclosed role.
The title *Rebirth* hints at a new beginning, possibly involving the creation of a new kind of dinosaur or a new, more controlled era for the technology. Its placement at the very end of the chronological list makes it the most forward-looking entry in the entire *Jurassic World* timeline.
FAQ: Watching the Jurassic Franchise for Topical Authority
What is the absolute best way to watch the Jurassic Park movies for the first time?
For the first-time viewer, the simplest and most effective way to watch is in Release Order. This maintains the intended reveals and technological progression of the franchise: *Jurassic Park* (1993) -> *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* (1997) -> *Jurassic Park III* (2001) -> *Jurassic World* (2015) -> *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018) -> *Jurassic World Dominion* (2022). Once you've seen the films, you can then dive into the full Canonical Order to add depth with *Camp Cretaceous* and the short films.
Where does the Camp Cretaceous animated series fit into the timeline?
*Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous* is fully canonical and is not a spin-off. It begins concurrently with the events of *Jurassic World* (2015) and continues all the way through the immediate aftermath of *Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom* (2018). It is essential viewing for understanding the fate of Isla Nublar and the technology left behind.
Is the new movie, Jurassic World: Rebirth, a direct sequel to Dominion?
Yes, *Jurassic World: Rebirth* is set five years after *Jurassic World Dominion*. While it introduces a new cast and a fresh storyline, it is considered the next major chapter in the franchise's timeline, confirming that the story of dinosaurs on the mainland is continuing into the future.
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