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"Jurassic Park" turns 30 - and the game pieces are still bestsellers

2.9.2023

Translation: machine translated

Welcome to our retro news! Here you can find out all about an important event from the past. This time: "Jurassic Park"! The film was released in German cinemas on 2 September 1993.

"Jurassic Park" is one of the best films ever made, there are no two opinions. (And if you do: stand in the corner and be ashamed!) Based on a novel by author Michael Crichton, it tells the story of billionaire Hammond, who has bought an island where dinosaurs created with the help of genetic engineering live. Unfortunately, a careless employee has damaged the power fence that is supposed to keep the dinosaurs at bay. A fight to the death begins. The film, which was released in cinemas in the USA on 11 June 1993, is now regarded as Steven Spielberg's greatest work.

What do you think?

Is "Jurassic Park" Steven Spielberg's greatest masterpiece?

Yes!
67%
No!
17%
Absolutely!
17%

The competition has ended.

Realistic depiction: Animated dinosaurs delight the audience

The film was mainly shot in Hawaii and the Mojave Desert in California. Spielberg had animatronics made for the dinosaurs, i.e. mechanical puppets consisting of a metal skeleton, a wire mesh running over it, clay and a latex skin. The T-Rex, for example, was six metres high, twelve metres long and weighed 4,000 kilograms. It could move thanks to built-in motors. The animatronic models were combined with computer-generated images. The film shows the most realistic depiction of prehistoric animals to date and caused a storm of enthusiasm: "Jurassic Park" grossed almost a billion dollars, breaking the record set by "E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial". Within a year, the makers generated a further billion dollars with game figures, video games and books.

Figures, video games and books are top sellers

I would say: I'm not entirely innocent of the latter. I can still remember as a child - I was about six, my sister nine - watching this scary film on video cassette: Fascination and fear alternated. The evil fat man (Wayne Knight) who gets even with the dinosaurs. And the nice guy (Jeff Goldblum) who rescues Hammond's grandson Tim and Lex in the stuck jeep. And T-Rex, my goodness! We could watch the film over and over again, even though it gave us the odd nightmare. In fact, Steven Spielberg's masterpiece is only rated twelve and up. Nevertheless, we wanted to watch the film again and again and also wanted to have Jurassic Park play figures, stickers, bedding and cuddly toys.

By the way, toy giant Mattel is also celebrating its 30th anniversary with new "Jurassic Park" toys for dinosaur fans young and old. I won't be entirely innocent of the sales here either and will be giving my boys, who were already at least passively watching "Jurassic Park" with their parents at the age of two, a treat or two.

Toy figure

Jurassic World HAMMOND COLLECTION Metriacanthosaurus

Toy figure

Jurassic World Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus

Toy figure

Jurassic World HAMMOND COLLECTION Corythosaurus

Toy figure

Jurassic World HAMMOND COLLECTION Metriacanthosaurus

Toy figure

Jurassic World Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus

Toy figure

Jurassic World HAMMOND COLLECTION Corythosaurus

The toys are part of the "Hammond Collection". The Metriacanthosaurus probably has what it takes to become a collector's item: according to Mattel, it impresses with its "high-quality workmanship and luxurious manoeuvrability". The predator, which we know as a test tube embryo, has 17 movable joints, a wired tail, striped skin, sharp teeth and a jaw that can be opened wide. Brachiosaurus also has 16 joints and a movable, wired tail. The herbivore, which appeared on Isla Sorna, has a true-to-original design, a crowned head and a movable jaw with a duckbill.

Toy figure

Jurassic World HAMMOND COLLECTION Dennis Nedry

Toy figure

Jurassic World Hammond Collection John Hammond (JP1)

In addition, you can now also find figures of the evil would-be embryo smuggler Dennis Nedry and the park founder Dr John Hammond. John Hammond: The action figure has a true-to-original design and comes with his characteristic amber-tipped cane, two interchangeable heads (with or without hat), two interchangeable hands and an ice cream bucket with scoop, among other things.

If that's not a reason to celebrate!

Cover photo: Luuk de Kok/Shutterstock

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Anne Fischer

Editor

Anne.Fischer@galaxus.de

A true local journalist with a secret soft spot for German pop music. Mum of two boys, a dog and about 400 toy cars in all shapes and colours. I always enjoy travelling, reading and go to concerts, too.

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"Jurassic Park" turns 30 - and the game pieces are still bestsellers

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Realistic depiction: Animated dinosaurs delight the audience

Figures, video games and books are top sellers

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