Jurassic Park: The 5 Worst Dinosaurs To Get Eaten By (And 5 You’d Want As Pets)

Dinosaurs have been extinct for over 65 million years, but they continue to live rent free in our minds thanks to our imaginations, playground obsessions, and of course, Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park movies. Released in 1993, Jurassic Park brought the prehistoric world to life like we’d never seen before by merging cutting-edge CGI with practical effects to create an immersive universe with dinosaurs so realistic that they continue to thrill and haunt ever since.

From the genetically modified Indominus rex that made the original king of the park, apex predator, T. rex, look like a baby to the towering but majestic Dreadnoughtus that remind us that dinosaurs aren’t all teeth and terror, the Jurassic Park movies didn’t just spark a franchise, they reignited global dino-mania. And now with the new addition of Jurassic World Rebirth, the franchise has once again expanded its prehistoric lineup, making this the perfect time to round up five dinos you’d want in your backyard and five that belong in your worst dreams.

Pet: Brachiosaurus

Jurassic Park (1993)

It’s only fitting to start this roundup with the first dinosaur sighting from the franchise. Tall, friendly, and mostly minding their own business, these grass-chomping gentle giants are the prehistoric equivalent of giraffes on stilts. Through the course of the films, Brachiosaurus have time and again proved that they can peacefully co-exist alongside humans, like in Jurassic Park where Dr Grant and the kids playfully pet and feed a Brachiosaurus leaves, or in Jurassic World Dominion where a group of workers respectfully guide a wandering Brachiosaurus back to safety using lights and sounds to signal the way. The calm and peaceful nature of Brachiosaurus make them the ideal pets, but their tall and towering demeanor make them somewhat of an irrational pick, unless your backyard is a literal forest. 

Predator: Pteranodons

Jurassic Park III (2001)

First seen in Jurassic Park III, Pteranodons are aerial predators that’ll make you feel like a baby rabbit running helter-skelter from the predatory claws of an eagle. These skyborne stalkers flaunted their reign of terror in the third film, flocking, trapping, and snatching humans away as they desperately try to avoid the ambush. While they’re technically flying reptiles and not dinosaurs, the Pteranodons’ aggressive and coordinated hunting style makes them top contenders for viewing humans as bite-sized delicacies.

Pet (Kind Of): Compsognathus 

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Compsognathus, or Compys, are the ultimate dino dilemma when it comes to pet potential. On the surface, these chicken-sized dinos look cute, harmless, and perfectly sized to replace your purse chihuahua. But let Dieter Stark’s brutal death in The Lost World: Jurassic Park serve as a cautionary tale to never underestimate these creatures. Though they appear sweet, Compys can be deadly and unforgiving in large packs. They lure you in with their cuteness, then spring on you in a swarm, making it almost impossible to escape. If you’re brave enough, you could adopt a lone Compy as a pet, since they’re only truly fatal in numbers, but given their carnivorous nature, they still make the list of dinos that might have you for lunch. It’s hard to classify them in just one category. They’re a bit like piranhas: small, fast, and deadly. In the end, keeping a Compy is really a 50-50 gamble.

Predator: Dilophosaurus

Jurassic Park (1993) 

The Dilophosaurus is small and cute, but it’s definitely not making the list for pet potential. Despite its size, this little creature is a vicious killer, just ask Dennis Nedry. Oh wait, you can’t... because he’s dead. The Dilophosaurus first appeared in Jurassic Park, where it killed Nedry not with brute force, but with deception, venom, and its signature frills. This tiny kill-machine made its long-awaited return in Jurassic World Dominion, ambushing characters in the forest with the same deadly energy. In real life, the Dilophosaurus was actually much larger than shown in the films, standing up to 20 feet long. But while Spielberg’s version is more compact, making it look like a pet, it’s also far more deadly and deceptive, with colourful neck frills and venom-spitting abilities that are pure Hollywood. Basically, it’s better suited to eating you than curling up next to you on the couch.

Pet: Baby Triceratops

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

The key to having a pet dinosaur is to adopt them young and start training before their kill-instincts kick in. Triceratops grow up to become domineering, tank-like creatures, but despite their size, their vegan diet ensures you’re never at risk of becoming food if you miss a feeding. Baby Triceratops are cute and cuddly, and Jurassic World Dominion proved that these creatures can live peacefully alongside humans in sanctuary spaces. They’d make great pets until they grow up, because let’s be honest, a full-sized Triceratops could accidentally knock down your house if playtime gets too intense.

Predator: T. Rex

Jurassic Park (1993)

The undisputed queen of the Jurassic Park franchise, the Tyrannosaurus rex is one species that doesn’t require an introduction. From the iconic escape scene in Jurassic Park, where Rexy escapes her paddock in the rain, attacks the tour vehicles, eats a goat, and battles Raptors in an epic showdown finale to a family of T. Rex’s spreading rampage across the city of San Diego in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the T. Rex has made sure to spread its terror in every Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movie till date. Over the course of the films, the Jurassic Park movies have introduced us to all sorts of genetically modified dinosaurs, but the T. Rex never fails to steal the spotlight. 

Pet: Microceratus

Jurassic World Dominion (2020)

One of the smallest and often most overlooked dinosaurs in the Jurassic franchise, the Microceratus are first spotted in Jurassic World Dominion scampering around in the background in a world where humans and dinosaurs exist chaotically alongside each other. These little guys don’t have much front facing screen time, but their cute pocket-sized stature and plant-based diet makes them one of the safest and most practical pets if you’re on the lookout for a scaly sidekick. Measuring at two feet long, these chompers are roughly the same size as a lap dog, making them ideal for city homes as well. 

Predator: Mosasaurus 

Jurassic World (2015)

The Mosasaurus is probably one of the last creatures you’d want as a pet, considering it will even hunt its own kind if hungry enough. The deep-sea showstopper of the Jurassic World era, this marine menace was introduced in a Mosasaurus feeding show, where it effortlessly took down a shark, the ocean’s apex predator, like it was fish bait, all in front of a cheering crowd. In the controlled environment of a dinosaur theme park, these creatures are fascinating. But after its escape into the wild, its sheer size, one-slash-kill tenacity, and unpredictable nature are enough to make you swear off swimming forever. If you’re not convinced, just rewatch the opening scene from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, where the Mosasaurus ambushes and devours a submarine, then leaps to kill a man hanging off a helicopter ladder. It’s the stuff of pure aquatic nightmares.

Pet: Aquilops

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

With a short parrot-like beak, big expressive eyes, and a rounded head, the Aquilops is the newest addition to the prehistoric pack. Sitting at just two feet, this pocket-sized dino is the most pet-friendly ceratopsian out there. This cute and curious creature makes her adorable debut in Jurassic World Rebirth as Dolores, a trustworthy companion to Isabella, Reuben Delgado’s youngest daughter. Comfortably perched in her backpack, Dolores reinstates the fact that not every dinosaur is a chompster. In fact, her domesticated nature makes the Aquilops a strong contender in the tiny pet category, giving house cats some tough competition.

Predator: Indominus Rex

Jurassic World (2015)

Trust humans to take the most vicious creatures that have walked this planet and make them scarier, smarter, and deadlier. First seen in Jurassic World, the Indominus Rex is a genetically modified nightmare that combines the best of the T. rex, velociraptor, cuttlefish, tree frog, and other species, giving her camouflage abilities, infrared invisibility, high intelligence, and pack manipulation skills. The Indominus Rex is singlehandedly responsible for the downfall of Jurassic World. She escapes and causes mass carnage, outsmarting humans, controlling raptors, tearing through security measures, and even battling Rexy, the original T. Rex from Jurassic Park. No other dinosaur combines the terror, intelligence, and chaos that the Indominus Rex puts up, earning her the top spot as the biggest, baddest dinosaur in the history of the franchise. 

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