Photo Credit: Universal Pictures 

Dinosaurs on the silver screen have captivated audiences since the beginning of cinema. Their huge size and fearsome demeanor have made them a staple of the adventure genre. In Dinosaurland, you can get up close and personal with real dinosaur remains at places like Dinosaur National Monument and Red Fleet State Park. Check out this list of our favorite movies to watch to get your dinosaur fix before your next trip to Dinosaurland. 

The Land Before Time

The Land Before Time is a childhood classic that has stood the test of time. The movie follows Littlefoot the Apatosaurus and his group of friends as they journey through the pre-historic landscape to find the Great Valley. The movie provides beautiful animation, exciting action sequences and a lesson about friendship that will captivate viewers of all ages. The Land Before Time was released to critical acclaim in 1988 and has spawned 13 sequels and a TV series. Now that's a movie series of epic proportions! 

King Kong 

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures 

King Kong may not be the first thing to come to most people's heads when they think of dinosaur movies, but that doesn't make it any less fit for this list. The thrilling fight between King Kong and a fearsome T. rex on Skull Island captivated audiences of the 1933 original film and the 2005 remake. While the original scene used stop-motion animation to bring these fearsome beasts to life, the remake used computer-generated imagery to create the iconic fight. Both versions showcase the scale and suspense of an exciting encounter with a fearsome T. rex 

Prehistoric Planet 

Photo Credit: BBC Studios 

While not a movie, Prehistoric Planet is a must-watch for any dinosaur enthusiast. The documentary series takes you back 66 million years into the Late Cretaceous Period, where you follow dozens of species of dinosaurs through their daily lives. This series was in development for over ten years, as the series producers worked with a variety of paleontologists and evolutionary biologists to ensure the series conveyed the most accurate information possible. With cutting-edge, photo-realistic animation and narration by David Attenborough, this is one of the most engaging dinosaur documentaries ever made. 

Jurassic Park 

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures 

Of course, no dinosaur movie marathon is complete without the most iconic dinosaur film of them all. Jurassic Park was a landmark film that took the world by storm when it debuted in theaters in 1993. When a cutting-edge dinosaur theme park's power goes offline and security measures are breached, a small group of scientists and children must find their way to safety while escaping menacing dinosaurs. The film is a favorite of moviegoers everywhere, spawning two direct sequels and a reboot series in Jurassic World. If you're looking for a thrilling classic that will instill a love (or fear) of dinosaurs in anyone, look no further than Jurassic Park.