The Best Dinosaur Movies For Every Kids' Age Group

Dinosaur movies are great fun, and the best thing is, they come in all different shapes and sizes. But knowing which one is appropriate for your child is another matter.

There are plenty of brilliant dinosaur movies for kids. If, like my children, your little ones are crazy about the cretaceous period, you’ll always be on the hunt for the next dino adventure. But, how soon is too soon to show them classics like Jurassic Park? When will they have outgrown the animated flicks?

I’m coming at this from an expert angle, having raised three kids through their own dinosaur obsessions, so listen up and you’ll never have to worry about frightening (or boring) the little ones with your next Jurassic journey.

Toddlers and Little Kids Will Love The Good Dinosaur

You’re best off starting them off with something like Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie, which is exactly what I’ve done with my three-year-old for his first trip to the cinema. The dinosaurs in this film are mostly friendly, the animation style is cute and colourful, and the runtime is under 90 minutes so you won’t have to worry about their attention straying.

When the kids are a little older and you think they’re ready for a tiny slice of emotional turmoil, it’s time to show them The Good Dinosaur. They’ll have to deal with the tragic moment the main dinosaur, Arlo, sees his dad die (a valuable lesson on mortality, if you think about it), but they’ll also get a visually stunning, heartwarming Disney movie about found family. Catch it on Disney Plus now.

Age group: 3 to 7 years

Wait Until They Can Appreciate Jurassic Park

Once the kids are ready to graduate from simple animation, you can show them another Disney flick, simply titled Dinosaur. It’s actually a fairly similar story to The Good Dinosaur, with an orphaned dinosaur finding unexpected new friends for a cathartic adventure. It’s short and sweet, but with CGI bringing it closer to live-action, I’d recommend it for anyone aged 8 and over.

Now, we come to the big one: Jurassic Park. The breathtaking and groundbreaking animatronics involved in this Steven Spielberg masterpiece, plus the sheer ferocity and volume of the dinosaurs on-screen can make it a daunting experience for younger viewers. And, given it’s such an incredible film, you’re really going to want to wait until your children are properly ready to appreciate Jurassic Park, but when they’re ready, you’ll find it on NOW Cinema.

Age group: 8 to 13 years

Teenagers Will Enjoy 65

You could spend a lifetime watching and rewatching Jurassic Park and never get tired, but if you’re looking for newer films to show your teens, one route you could take is to dive into the Adam Driver flick, 65. It comes with a healthy dose of sci-fi as Driver’s character attempts to survive on an unknown planet, and you can watch it as part of a Prime Video subscription.

Another new movie that’ll be perfect for teenagers is The End of Oak Street, the latest from It Follows director David Robert Mitchell. With the star power of Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway as the leads and a mysterious cosmic event at the heart of the story, this is a perfect popcorn flick for more mature viewers.

Age group: 13 years to 16 years

The VelociPastor Is Only For Hardcore Dino Fans

One day, your kids will hit the age where getting them to watch a film with you is pretty difficult, but at least that might save you from having to sit through The VelociPastor. But look, if you’re into schlocky B-movies that don’t take themselves too seriously, you might just love this totally ludicrous comedy horror.

For something slightly less silly but slightly more violent, Carnosaur could be a terrific pick for anyone craving some madcap dinosaur action. Think Jurassic Park, but what if the dinosaurs actively wanted to come back so they could feast on mankind, and that’s what you get with this wild ‘90s movie.

Age group: 18 years and over