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The 1962 John Wayne movie that inspired Steven Spielberg’s biggest hit: “The high watermark”
Steven Spielberg cited the 1962 John Wayne film *Hatari!* as the main inspiration for *Jurassic Park*, calling it the “high watermark” for depicting humans confronting nature. The connection helps explain why Spielberg’s blockbuster emphasises visual spectacle and adventure, despite the darker, more horror-focused elements of Michael Crichton’s novel.
In *The Making of Jurassic Park*, Spielberg also named *Jaws*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark* and nature documentaries as reference points. He admired *Hatari!* for its ambitious portrayal of people and animals, and the article says that approach can be seen in the way *Jurassic Park* frames human encounters with dinosaurs.
In short
- Spielberg named *Hatari!* as a key *Jurassic Park* influence.
- He admired its depiction of humans facing nature.
- *Jurassic Park* prioritised spectacle over the novel’s horror.
Explained simply
"Hatari!", released in 1962, is an adventure film starring John Wayne about hunters pursuing wild animals in Africa. The film depicts humans attempting to capture and manage dangerous creatures in visually compelling sequences.
"Jurassic Park", released in 1993, is a blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg about a theme park containing dinosaurs created through genetic engineering. Spielberg adapted the film from Michael Crichton's 1990 novel, which treated the dinosaurs primarily as a threat to human control and survival.
Though made nearly thirty years apart with different subjects, both films focus on the encounter between humans and large, dangerous animals presented as spectacle. This similarity explains why filmmakers tackling similar material might look to earlier films for creative inspiration and approach.