This new Australian dinosaur movie has gone mostly unnoticed, despite many viewers rating it higher than several instalments in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises, but you’ll soon be able to judge for yourselves when it becomes available on demand. Ever since Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park movie hit theaters in 1993, the film series has practically monopolized the concept of dinosaurs returning in the modern era. This may no longer be the case, however, as a new dinosaur flick has been biting at the Jurassic Park franchise’s heels.
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Released on August 21, 2025, Primitive War is an Australian-made action movie that sees a platoon of soldiers during the Vietnam War in 1968 come face-to-face with a pack of de-extinct dinosaurs. Primitive War was the first Australian movie ever to headline a panel at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con, which perhaps boosted its awareness prior to its limited theatrical release, which saw it earn $210,730 at the box office. Now, Samuel Goldwyn Films has confirmed that Primitive War will be released on Video On Demand on October 3, 2025, bringing this popular dinosaur movie into your homes.
Primitive War Has Been Rated Higher Than Many Jurassic Park Movies
With other 250 verified ratings and reviews from audience members on Rotten Tomatoes, Primitive War has achieved a higher approval rating than six of the seven movies in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World film series. While Primitive War has only scored a 57% critics score, the movie has garnered a whopping 86% rating from viewers. Despite its wild premise and low budget, Primitive War has been lauded for its strong performances, powerful action, brilliant direction from Luke Sparke, and its fun and entertaining narrative, while many have felt that several Jurassic Park movies have been missing these qualities.
While 1993’s Jurassic Park movie has a 91% critics and audience score – making it very hard to beat – 2015’s Jurassic World is the only other instalment to beat Primitive War’s critics score, totting up a 71% approval rating. Jurassic World’s 78% audience score means Primitive War still outmatches it among viewers, and the 2025 movie beats both the critics and audience scores of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Jurassic World Dominion, and the recent Jurassic World Rebirth, making it one of the most popular dinosaur movies of recent years among viewers.
Luke Sparke’s previous movies, including Occupation, Bring Him to Me, and more, have also been positively received among audiences, establishing him as one of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming directors. Primitive War cements this status, as the movie balances its very human story and war-based action with full-throttle dinosaur drama. As an alternative to the Jurassic Park movies, Primitive War is an excellent substitute, and it’s even strong enough to stand on its own two feet, so it’ll be worth the watch when it releases on VOD on October 3rd.
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