There are certain moments in movie history that change the way films are made, and that’s especially true when it comes to visual effects. In fact, you can actually trace the revolutionary moments from 1933’s King Kong to 1968’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1977’s Star Wars and the true crowning achievement of Steven Spielberg‘s 1993 film triumph, Jurassic Park.
Jurassic Park didn’t just raise the bar for blockbuster filmmaking, it completely rewrote the rulebook and made the audience believe that dinosaurs had come back to life. But while T-Rex roars and raptor chases dominated the screen, the true magic was taking place behind the scenes, where innovation and talent brought it all to life.
These rare behind-the-scenes photos give us a front-row seat to that magic in action. We see the towering animatronic T-Rex being fine-tuned on set, the artistry of Stan Winston’s creature shop, where life-sized velociraptors were sculpted with uncanny precision; and witness Spielberg—sometimes sitting cross-legged on the floor, other times grinning mid-prank or looking like he’s about to be devoured by one of his cast—orchestrating it all with the calm intensity of a master storyteller.
We also get a look at the human side of the dino saga that spawned a franchise, with the cast bonding between takes, the crew deep in technical discussions and the sheer joy of making something unprecedented. Whether it’s Sam Neill and Laura Dern sharing a laugh or Jeff Goldblum gesturing animatedly while Spielberg listens, the spirit of collaboration and creativity is on full display.
Welcome back to Jurassic Park!
1. Bringing the T-Rex to life
On set with the full-scale animatronic T-Rex, Hollywood’s biggest diva of 1993. Rain machines, roaring hydraulics and startled crew members brought the prehistoric terror and his environment to life—just try not to let it see you move.
2. Surviving dinosaurs was easy, but what about the press tour?
Laura Dern, Ariana Richards and Sam Neill take a break from raptors and running to flash smiles at a Jurassic Park promo event.
3. Just a little blush… and maybe a touch of terror
At Stan Winston Studio, a raptor gets a final makeover before hitting the set. To be fair, even cold-blooded killers deserve to look their best in close-ups.
4. When you’re the director, even the T-Rex listens… usually
Steven Spielberg gets cozy in the jaws of Jurassic Park’s most iconic star, proving once and for all that on this set, the biggest bite came with a sense of humor just as big.
5. Before the T. rex roared, it was just a wireframe wonder
A peek at the early CGI magic of Jurassic Park, as Softimage software brings a dinosaur to (digital) life—one pixel at a time. This was the future in 1993.
6. The DNA of Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton and director Steven Spielberg sit side by side, shaping science fiction into cinematic history. You can practically hear John Williams’ theme music playing behind them.
7. It’s all about the script
Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern, Sam Neill and others gather for a moment of rehearsal before the chaos of dino mayhem begins.
8. Collaborating in the wild
Jeff Goldblum, Steven Spielberg and Laura Dern share a candid moment between takes—possibly debating Chaos Theory… or just brunch
9. The triceratops and her director
Steven Spielberg relaxes with his ailing triceratops star, proving once again he’s got a soft spot for all cast members, big and small.
10. Dino sculpt squad
Before the dinosaurs roared to life on screen, they were carefully sculpted in clay by the legendary artists at Stan Winston Studio—one scale at a time.
11. Filming in the badlands
Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Steven Spielberg pose in the desert during early location scouting for Jurassic Park—prior to dinos (and dust storms) taking over.
12. The director and his young star connect
Director Steven Spielberg sits down for a quiet chat with young Joseph Mazzello (Tim) between dino-sized scenes on the Jurassic Park set.
13. Terminator vs. T-Rex?
Arnold Schwarzenegger pays a surprise visit to Stan Winston Studios with his daughter, coming face to snout with a not-so-terrifying maquette of Jurassic Park’s T-Rex.
14. Three Jurassic minds at work
Director Steven Spielberg chats with Sam Neill and producer Kathleen Kennedy on set, likely explaining how to survive a close encounter with a velociraptor.
15. Who’s a Good Girl?
Stan Winston shares a tender moment with the full-scale animatronic T-Rex—just your average day petting 9,000 pounds of hydraulic-powered movie magic.
16. T-Rex Gets Wired
An early digital model of the T-Rex attack scene, rendered in Softimage 3D, shows how groundbreaking CGI was just beginning to roar to life in 1993.
17. The Raptors, before and after
On the left, pure hydraulics and wiring. On the right, the wonder of cinema. The incredible animatronic raptors built by Stan Winston Studio were both terrifying and technological marvels.
18. Staging the hatchery scene
Director Steven Spielberg talks through the iconic hatchery scene with Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Sam Neill and B.D. Wong—plus a clutch of very convincing prop dinosaur eggs.
19. Setting up the Raptor showdown
Stan Winston and his team direct one of the film’s Velociraptors in the control room climax—proving once again that practical effects without CGI can still steal the scene.
20. Filming the triceratops scene
Laura Dern, Sam Neill and the crew gather around the full-scale triceratops, a Stan Winston creation so lifelike that it stole the scene—and a few hearts.