Jurassic Park was filmed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Kualoa Ranch, and Kauai. It's safe to assume that Steven Spielberg knew he had a box office hit on his hands when the first Jurassic Park movie was released almost 30 years ago, in 1993. Some of the more optimistic studio executives may have predicted a future with a reasonably large franchise, merchandising, spin-offs, and theme park tie-in.
Jurassic Park romped its way to the top of the box office charts, earning over $914 million globally to become the highest-grossing movie at the time. It dazzled audiences with its brilliant visual effects, original and expansive storyline, and heart-pounding moments of thrilling action.
The plot of "Jurassic Park" follows paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, who is invited to a theme park on Isla Nublar by multi-billionaire businessman John Hammond (Sam Neill). A perfectly preserved mosquito from millions of years ago contained the DNA of long-lost dinosaurs, which Hammond's bioengineering company was able to extract and use to create clones to display at his theme park. When a storm and power outage allows many of the dinosaurs to escape their enclosures, things on the island start to get worse, forcing Dr. Grant to figure out a way to keep himself and the other people stranded on the island alive.
The following is a list of the locations where Jurassic Park was filmed.
Kualoa Ranch, Oahu
Kualoa Ranch, also known as the "backlot of Hawaii" in Hollywood, has been used as a filming location for a number of films and TV shows, including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Kong: Skull Island, LOST, and Hawaii Five-0. The first Jurassic Park is among the notable films shot here, and a number of scenes from Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom were also shot there.
Grant and the children hid behind a downed log as they were being pursued by dinosaurs; this scene almost didn't make it into the movie. Due to Hurricane Iniki in 1992, production had to relocate from Kauai to Oahu for a few closing scenes. The well-known fallen log would never have made its big-screen debut if the storm hadn't forced the change in location. On the Kualoa Ranch movie tours, the log is a popular photo opportunity.
Kauai, Hawaiian Island
The "Garden Isle" of Kauai also serves as the scenery for several of the scenes in the film. Manawaiopuna Falls is one of the more notable filming locations in this area. The Jurassic Kahili Ranch, Lawai, and Olokele Valley are additional Kauai filming locations, among others.
Manawaiopuna Falls
A helicopter lands at the base of a stunning waterfall in an early scene from the first Jurassic Park movie. This location is on Kauai; in fact, Manawaiopuna Falls is now referred to as "Jurassic Park Falls" in popular culture.
You must organize a tour with one of the helicopter companies that are allowed landing access, such as Island Helicopters Kauai, as the location is on private property and is only accessible by helicopter.
Kipu Kai Beach
Kipu Kai, one of Kauai's beaches, can be seen when the Bowmans are having lunch on the sand in Lost World. The beach, which is difficult to get to and is only accessible by boat, is situated on Kauai's southeast coast close to Moleuhu. It can be seen by taking a Kipu Kai Ranch tour of the area.
Pilaa Beach
Kauai's Pilaa Beach is featured in Jurassic Park III's final rescue scene. This inaccessible beach receives little traffic and is unsuitable for swimming. However, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views and solitude at Pilaa Beach.
Kahili Ranch
The Jurassic Kahili Ranch, though privately-owned, served as the backdrop for additional Jurassic Park III scenes. There are no tours available, and trespassing laws are strictly followed.
Makai Research Pier, Waimanalo
The Nublar ferry also makes an appearance in Jurassic World, and it docks at the public Makai Research Pier. Although the Navatek Boat that served as the movie's ferry has since been retired, you can still go whale watching or on a dinner cruise on one of the company's more recent boats.
Halona Beach, Honolulu
In Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, when Owen, Claire, and Franklin wash ashore after fleeing a volcanic eruption and dinosaur stampede, that area is Halona Beach. The entrance fee is a rough, steep trek, but the lovely cove is well worth it. While they used the name "Whitecap Bay," scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides were also filmed here.
Warner Bros. Studios, California
In Burbank, California, USA, at the renowned Stage 16 of the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios, some of the on-set filming for "Jurassic Park" was completed. The studio has served as the backdrop for a number of well-known films, including "Inception," "The Goonies," "Batman Forever," and many others. At Universal Studios in Universal City, California, USA, Stages 12, 24, 27, and 28 were also used for a substantial portion of the sequences.
Other Locations
Other locations where scenes were filmed include Rio Chavon, La Romana in the Dominican Republic, and Isla del Coco in Costa Rica. They also shot at Red Rock Canyon State Park in Cantil, California; Tehachapi Pass in California; and the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.
FAQs
Q. What is Jurassic Park?
A. Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction action film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the first installment in the Jurassic Park franchise. The film is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton.
Q. What was the original idea for Jurassic Park?
A. A graduate student who recreates a dinosaur is the subject of Michael Crichton's original screenplay. Before beginning to write the book Jurassic Park, he struggled with his interest in cloning and dinosaurs.
Q. What was the size of the T-Rex in the movie?
A. The Animatronic T. rex stood 6.1 meters (20 ft), weighed 17,500 pounds (7,900 kg) and was 12 meters (40 ft) long. Jack Horner called it "the closest I've ever been to a live dinosaur".
