How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?

Summary

Summary of NPR's "Short Wave" Episode: "How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?"

In the episode titled "How Realistic Are Movie Dinosaurs?" from NPR’s science podcast Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber delve into the portrayal of dinosaurs in popular cinema, particularly focusing on the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises. The episode, released on July 15, 2025, features an insightful conversation with Matt Lamanna, a renowned dinosaur paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, who is both a passionate dinosaur enthusiast and a contributor to the museum's dinosaur exhibits.

A Paleontologist’s Passion and Role in Museum Curation

Regina Barber initiates the discussion by setting the scene of a classic dinosaur movie experience, highlighting the allure and fascination dinosaurs hold over audiences. She introduces Matt Lamanna, who shares his lifelong passion for dinosaurs, stating, “I told my parents I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was four years old” (01:20). Lamanna’s role extends beyond research; he is actively involved in designing dinosaur exhibits at the Carnegie Museum, ensuring that the public is presented with both accurate and engaging representations of these ancient creatures.

During a tour of the museum, Lamanna points out the authenticity of the exhibits: “Most of what you see in the dinosaur gallery are real fossils. So there’s about roughly 250 specimens on display, and about 75% of those are the actual fossils” (01:32). This emphasis on real fossils underscores the importance of scientific accuracy in museum displays, contrasting with the creative liberties often taken in film adaptations.

Diverse Marine Reptiles and Their Cinematic Misrepresentations

A significant portion of the conversation addresses the misclassification of marine reptiles in films. Lamanna clarifies, “These are what are called ichthyosaurs. So just for the people that see the Jurassic World movie, that Mosasaurus is described as a swimming dinosaur. It’s not. It’s actually more closely related to lizards” (01:48). He further explains that creatures like Mosasaurus and pterosaurs (commonly but inaccurately referred to as pterodactyls) are not classified as dinosaurs, highlighting a common misconception perpetuated by popular media.

Insights into the Latest Jurassic World Film: Rebirth

The conversation shifts focus to the latest installment in the franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, released on July 2, 2025. The film’s plot revolves around a team led by Scarlett Johansson and a paleontologist portrayed by Jonathan Bailey, who are tasked with extracting dinosaur blood to develop a cure for heart disease. Lamanna comments on the scientific premise: “If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved” (02:24).

However, he tempers expectations by noting that the series accurately portrays some aspects more effectively than others. Lamanna reflects on his involvement in the movie, particularly in designing Dreadnoughtus, a newly discovered titanosaur that appears in Jurassic World Dominion. He recounts the discovery process: “I joined them. And when I got there, they had already uncovered the 6 foot 3, so 1.9 something meter long femur thigh bone of what would become Dreadnoughtus” (05:53). This discovery not only enriched the museum’s collection but also provided authentic inspiration for the film’s depiction of sauropod dinosaurs.

Accuracy of Dinosaur Features: Strengths and Missteps

A focal point of the discussion is the accuracy of dinosaur characteristics as portrayed in films. Lamanna praises the depiction of the T. Rex in the latest Jurassic World movie, stating it is “even more accurate than previous” iterations (08:54). Contrastingly, he criticizes the original Jurassic Park’s portrayal of the T. Rex’s sensory capabilities: “The T. Rex is pretty awesome... But... if you remember it... the T. Rex actually nuzzles the people. And if it has a good sense of smell, it's gonna eat you anyway” (09:31). He highlights that the original scene inaccurately suggested the T. Rex couldn’t see or smell its prey, undermining the creature’s formidable nature.

Lamanna also touches upon his admiration for Jack Horner, the paleontology consultant for the original Jurassic Park, who posited that the T. Rex was primarily a scavenger with a highly developed sense of smell. He argues that such scientific insights could have been better integrated into the film to maintain the dinosaur’s predatory prowess without resorting to implausible behaviors.

Depiction of Dinosaur Habitats: Tropics vs. Polar Regions

Another critical analysis by Lamanna pertains to the portrayal of dinosaur habitats in the latest movie, where dinosaurs are depicted as surviving only in tropical regions. He refutes this notion by presenting fossil evidence: “We have dinosaur fossils from the north slope of Alaska all the way down to 500 miles from the South Pole in Antarctica” (10:56). These fossils indicate that dinosaurs inhabited a wide range of climates, including temperate and seasonal environments, which contradicts the film’s portrayal of them being confined to equatorial regions. Lamanna emphasizes the adaptability and resilience of dinosaurs, underscoring their ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches.

Public Fascination and the Unlikelihood of Losing Interest in Dinosaurs

Addressing the film’s subplot where characters grow indifferent to the presence of living dinosaurs, Lamanna expresses skepticism: “It’s really hard for me to imagine if we had living dinosaurs walking around that people would just be like, meh, Whatever” (12:12). He argues that public interest in dinosaurs is enduring, as evidenced by the consistent high attendance in museums and the widespread intrigue surrounding dinosaur research. Lamanna finds the premise of societal indifference to living dinosaurs implausible, given the profound impact these creatures have on collective human imagination and cultural consciousness.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Lamanna’s reflections on the balance between scientific accuracy and creative storytelling in dinosaur-centric films. While recognizing the entertainment value and imaginative aspects of cinematic portrayals, he advocates for a more informed representation that honors paleontological insights. Regina Barber and Matt Lamanna’s discourse offers listeners a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in bringing prehistoric life to the big screen, highlighting the intersection of science and fiction in shaping public perceptions of dinosaurs.

Notable Quotes:

• Matt Lamanna on his lifelong passion: “I told my parents I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was four years old” (01:20).
• On the authenticity of museum exhibits: “Most of what you see in the dinosaur gallery are real fossils” (01:32).
• Critique of Jurassic Park’s T. Rex portrayal: “There’s so much wrong with that scene, I can’t even take it” (09:31).
• On the adaptability of dinosaurs: “We have dinosaur fossils from the north slope of Alaska all the way down to 500 miles from the South Pole in Antarctica” (10:56).
• Skepticism about public indifference to dinosaurs: “It’s really hard for me to imagine if we had living dinosaurs walking around that people would just be like, meh, Whatever” (12:12).

This comprehensive discussion not only evaluates the scientific accuracy of dinosaur representations in movies but also underscores the enduring fascination humans hold for these magnificent creatures, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and popular imagination.

Transcript

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[Regina Barber]

You're listening to Short Wave from npr. Picture you're sitting in the plush seats of a movie theater, popcorn in hand, Sour Patch Kids next to you. And on screen, you're staring at an enormous T. Rex chasing its prey. That's part of the plot of many movies in the Jurassic park franchise. And as a scientist, as much as I love some movie magic, I've always wondered, how close are those dinosaurs on screen to the creatures that actually walked, flew and swam on Earth millions of years ago?

[Matt Lamanna]

So the scene in Jurassic park, this.

[Regina Barber]

Is the OG Jurassic park, you know.

[Matt Lamanna]

Where can't see us if we don't move. It's actually extra problematic with T. Rex because it probably had one of the best visual acuity in any dinosaur.

[Regina Barber]

That's Matt Lamanna, a dinosaur paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. He's loved dinos his whole life.

[Matt Lamanna]

I told my parents I wanted to be a paleontologist when I was four years old, supposedly.

[Regina Barber]

I recently took a trip to the museum to talk Jurassic World with Matt. And he's one of the curators who helped design the dinosaur exhibits at the museum. He gave me a tour.

[Matt Lamanna]

Most of what you see in the dinosaur gallery are real fossils. So there's about you know, roughly 250 specimens on display, and about 75% of those are the actual fossils. So those three are real.

[Regina Barber]

For instance, these, like, fishy looking ones. They're real fossils.

[Matt Lamanna]

Yeah. Yep. But these are what are called ichthyosaurs. So just for the people that see the Jurassic World movie, that Mosasaurus is described as a swimming dinosaur. It's not. It's actually more closely related to lizards.

[Regina Barber]

Matt and I got to talk about the latest movie in the Jurassic park franchise, released July 2, Jurassic World Rebirth. It's in theaters now. It's about a group of mercenaries led by Scarlett Johansson and a paleontologist played by Jonathan Bailey. And they're hired to extract blood from three of the largest dinosaurs living in this fictional present day. In this story, the blood from all three creatures is the key to creating a cure for heart disease.

[Matt Lamanna]

If we get this DNA, millions of lives are saved.

[Regina Barber]

But putting movie magic aside, Matt told me the series definitely gets some things more right than others.

[Matt Lamanna]

So dinosaurs weren't the only giant reptiles that were around during the Mesozoic era, commonly known as the age of dinosaurs. That also included many groups of different marine reptiles that aren't dinosaurs, including Mosasaurus and these guys here, which are called pterosaurs. A lot of people call them pterodactyls, and they're not quite, quite dinosaurs.

[Regina Barber]

And when it came to this new Jurassic World series, Matt got to play a role in a dino's design, a dinosaur he helped discover. So today on the show Dinosaurs on Screen, we talk with the paleontologist about the beloved giant creatures in the newest Jurassic World film and the accuracy of some others in the franchise. Regardless, I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the Science podcast from NPR.

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[Regina Barber]

Said you loved dinosaurs since you, like, were a little kid. What was it like seeing Jurassic park for the first time, that first film?

[Matt Lamanna]

So I was in high school when the first Jurassic park came out. And I remember very distinctly, like, when the first scene of that Brachiosaurus walks on screen. Like, you know, it's the classic scene where the paleontologist Alan Grant grabs the paleobotanist Ellie Sattler's head and they get out of the jeep and there's this gigantic majest animal there, you know, browsing from the top of a tree and trumpeting and all these things. My brain must have just gone into, like, overdrive or something. Like, it was like, it was like somebody had put on the big screen what I'd been imagining my whole life. And it was totally, totally mind blowing. To see that, you know, on the big screen.

[Regina Barber]

So you loved Jurassic park movies. And then like later in your life, you actually got a chance to be part of one Jurassic World movie. Like you and your team discovered a dinosaur called Dreadnoughtus and, and this dinosaur showed up in the last movie, Jurassic World Dominion. How did you find this new dinosaur, Dreadnoughtus?

[Matt Lamanna]

Well, so it's from southern Patagonia, Argentina in particular Santa Cruz Province. It's near these two beautiful glacial lakes. I walk up the side of a mountain because I always do this. I'm always like, the best looking rocks are gonna have the best looking fossils in them. And I've gotta get up to the, you know, up the side of the hill. So I'm playing music and I'm walking up prospecting the whole time. And I found virtually nothing that day. But I turn around and I see my three Patagonian friends, Lucio, Gabriel and Marcelo, gathered around this very like nondescript looking spot of badlands. But they were all standing there for a long time. So I was like, something is going on. So I came down the hill and I joined them. And when I got there, they had already uncovered the 6 foot 3, so 1.9 something meter long femur thigh bone of what would become Dreadnoughtus. And so then we, then this was when it got really cool. Like it's one thing to find an isolated bone of a giant dinosaur, but we dug towards the, you know, kind of the knee end of the thigh bone and lo and behold, there was the shin bone. And then we dug a little further and we there was the ankle bone and then there was some tail vertebrae over here. And we, this was the first day we were there and so we knew right away that we have part of a skeleton of a giant titanosaur, a giant, you know, sauropod dinosaur. So titanosaurs are a type of sauropod and so Dreadnoughtus is a sauropod dinosaur. So every dinosaur you've ever seen in your life that looks like a brontosaurus, so to speak. So with a small head, a long neck, big elephant like body and long tail, these are all called sauropod dinosaurs. And Dreadnoughtus is another kind of sauropod. So it is, and it actually is fairly closely related to Brachiosaurus from that original Jurassic Park.

[Regina Barber]

Titanosaurus is what the huge like sauropod dinosaur is called in this new film, Jurassic World Rebirth. It's so humongous. It's got this really, really long neck and these really, really really long skinny tails. Are any of those features real?

[Matt Lamanna]

Well, so titanosaurs are. They're a group of sauropods. So they're like a, you know, a family of sauropods, you know, think in a loose sense like a breed of dog or something like that. And so titanosaurs, the group were super diverse. You know, again ranging in size from a humpback whale to lived on every continent, you know, ranged in time for tens of millions of years.

[Regina Barber]

So there was a new dinosaur in this one? Probably. This dinosaur was probably one of my favorites in this movie. This new little like baby like dinosaur. It almost looked like a pet. It almost, it acted like a cat or a dog.

[Matt Lamanna]

Equalapse is how I would pronounce it. It's an older, so geologically older and much, much smaller hornless relative of Triceratops, like distant relative of Triceratops. And it's. Yeah, I seen little clips of the thing and it looks adorable.

[Regina Barber]

Can you tell me the best example of like accurate dinosaurs in the franchise?

[Matt Lamanna]

Oh, that's a good question. The T Rex is pretty awesome, I will say. And what I've heard is the new T. Rex, the one that's in the current movie is even more accurate than previous. But in the first movie when the paleontologist Alan Grant tells the kids, you know, freeze if you, you know, if you, if it can't see, if you don't move. This was back then not defensible and now is not defensible at all. T. Rex, I mean, certainly could see you if you didn't move. In fact, it probably had some of the best vision of any predatory dinosaur.

[Regina Barber]

It's such a big thing in the movies.

[Matt Lamanna]

Yeah, exactly. Well, the other thing is like it's based on this idea that the paleontology consultant for the original Jurassic park is one of my all time heroes, a guy named Jack Horner. And he had this long standing idea that T Rex was primarily a scavenger. And so it had a really big, well developed sense of smell. But on top of that, in that scene, if you remember it, the T Rex actually nuzzles the people. And so if it like has a good sense of smell, it's gonna eat you anyway. So there's so much wrong with that scene, I can't even take it. This is the dumbest thing that they did in Jurassic Park. The T. Rex not only not be able to see you, but also not be able to smell you. It makes for an incredibly dramatic scene and I will give it that. Like, you know, you think for sure, they're, they're goners, right? And that was the point. But I feel like there's other ways they could have done that where, you know, they didn't turn this, you know, one of the most awesome killing machines that's ever evolved into this completely inept, like hapless, like thing that can't see you or smell you.

[Regina Barber]

In the latest Jurassic Park. Well, in the latest Jurassic park movie, I found a couple things interesting. One of the things I found really interesting is that they keep on talking about how the dinosaurs wouldn't survive outside of the tropics. Like this is a new thing for the series and all of a sudden the dinos are only kind of isolated to near the equator. Why would that be true if it would be?

[Matt Lamanna]

Well, it's probably not true. It is true that the age of dinosaurs, the Mesozoic era, was much warmer on average than it is today. However, we have dinosaur fossils from the north slope of Alaska all the way down to 500 miles from the South Pole in Antarctica. These areas, they would have certainly been warmer than they are today on average, but they would have been very seasonal environments. I think think of like the Pacific Northwest, but like mix it up with Alaska such that you have like several months of darkness every year because geographically Alaska and Antarctica were more or less in the same places they are. So they would have had months of darkness on end and climates that were, you know, temperate, you know, so not tropical for sure. And dinosaurs lived there anyway. We have, we have extensive fossils from Alaska. We have extensive fossils from Antarctica. And so we know that dinosaurs lived from virtually from pole to pole during the age of dinosaurs.

[Regina Barber]

So another thing about the movie, like is this whole idea in this recent movie that people would be bored of dinos once they were here. What do you make of this premise in this plot being nobody cares about dinosaurs anymore?

[Matt Lamanna]

I think that I find that a little bit hard to believe. I mean, of course I'm not your normal, you know, like I'm a middle aged man who studies dinosaurs for a living. So I'm not exactly like the objective mind here. But I do find it really hard to believe that the public would ever tire of dinosaurs, especially if we were, you know, if, you know, this magic from Jurassic park happened and we were able to resurrect a few of them. Dinosaurs are huge now and all we have are, you know, in the best case scenario, we have a complete skeleton or maybe a few smatterings of skin and feathers. The public is absolutely fascinated by these animals. They come to our museum by the hundreds of thousands a year to see them. So it's really hard for me to imagine if we had living dinosaurs walking around that people would just be like, meh, Whatever.

[Regina Barber]

Thank you so much Matt for talking to me today.

[Matt Lamanna]

Absolutely, Regina. Thank you so much too.

[Regina Barber]

If you like this episode and want to hear more, please like, follow or subscribe to Shortwave now. You'll get a fun, fresh science episode in your feed four times a week. This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson, edited by showrunner Rebecca Ramirez, and fact checked by Tyler Jones. The audio engineer was Kwesi Lee, Beth Donovan is our senior director and Colin Campbell is our senior Vice president of Podcasting strategy. I'm Regina Barber. Thank you for listening to Shortwave from npr.

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