Raising Jurassic Park age rating: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
Jurassic Park age rating: Steven Spielberg's 1993 film is rated PG-13 in the US for intense science fiction terror, per the MPA. The UK's BBFC rated it PG in 1993 but 12A for the 2023 cinema re-release, for moderate threat, violence and bloody images, and Germany's FSK rated it 12. The BBFC describes adults and children chased by predatory dinosaurs and brief sight of a severed arm. Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit, lists it for ages 11 and up.
Jurassic Park at a glance
- ✓Official rating above age 7
MPA: PG-13 - ✓Violence in rating descriptors
BBFC 12A: moderate violence, injury detail - ✓Scary content in rating descriptors
MPA: intense science fiction terror - –Bad language in rating descriptors
BBFC: mild language only (not counted) - –Sexual content, drugs, or alcohol in rating descriptors
BBFC: mild sex references (not counted) - ✓Rated 12 or higher in the UK or Germany
BBFC: 12A (2023); FSK: 12
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count. Rating reasons marked mild, very mild, or brief don't count.
| Type | Steven Spielberg's sci-fi film (1993) about cloned dinosaurs loose in a theme park source |
|---|---|
| US (MPA) | PG-13 (parents strongly cautioned; some material may be inappropriate under 13) — intense science fiction terror (rated 1993) source |
| UK (BBFC) | 12A in cinemas since 2023 (no one under 12 unless with an adult), 12 for streaming (2025) — moderate threat, violence, injury detail; PG in 1993 source |
| Germany (FSK) | 12 (from age 12), cinema release, October 1993; DVD 2000 also 12 source |
| Common Sense Media | 11+ — realistic dinosaur attacks, multiple deaths, jump-scares |
| Sequels (MPA) | The Lost World (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001): PG-13 for intense sci-fi terror and violence source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What Jurassic Park is about
Jurassic Park is a 1993 Universal film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Michael Crichton's 1990 novel. On the island of Isla Nublar, industrialist John Hammond and his scientists have created a wildlife park of cloned dinosaurs. When the park's power and security shut down, a small group of visitors, including two children, struggle to survive and escape, per Wikipedia. It won three Academy Awards and started a franchise that includes Jurassic World.
Jurassic Park age rating: what's in it
Short answer: PG-13 in the US, 12A in the UK since 2023, 12 in Germany.
- US (MPA): PG-13, intense science fiction terror.
- UK (BBFC): 12A (2023), moderate threat, violence, bloody images; 12 for streaming.
- Germany (FSK): 12.
The BBFC lists a man snatched and shaken in a dinosaur's jaws, without strong detail, and adults and children chased by dinosaurs in "intense and occasionally sustained" scenes. It notes brief sight of a severed arm, a bloodied leg, and mild bad language. Common Sense Media mentions jump-scares and multiple deaths.
Why was Jurassic Park PG in the UK and now 12A?
Short answer: The BBFC rated it PG in 1993 and reclassified it 12A for a 2023 cinema re-release. The 2023 advice lists moderate threat, violence and bloody images, and the 2025 streaming release is rated 12. In the US, the MPA rating has been PG-13 since 1993.
The habit kids may copy: the roar
After the film, many kids play dinosaur: chasing, roaring and "eating" whoever they catch.
Try tonight: is the dinosaur real?
If a dinosaur scene comes back at bedtime, ask: "Is it real, or made up?" Then check the facts together: dinosaurs died out about 66 million years ago. In our program, this is the lesson "True or Made Up": checking a fear against the facts.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What is Jurassic Park rated?
PG-13 in the US for intense science fiction terror. It's 12A in UK cinemas since 2023 and 12 in Germany.
What age is Jurassic Park for?
The MPA's PG-13 means some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Common Sense Media lists it for 11+.
Is Jurassic Park scary?
The MPA cites intense science fiction terror, and the BBFC lists moderate threat as dinosaurs chase adults and children.
Are the Jurassic Park sequels PG-13 too?
Yes. The MPA rated The Lost World (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001) PG-13 for intense sci-fi terror and violence.
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