Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton joined forces to bring dinosaurs back to life in a way that was never seen before with the film, Jurassic Park. From the earliest stages of its development, Crichton’s story was destined for the silver screen since it had begun as a script. Spielberg also knew that audiences would fall in love with the awe and wonder of the park. Both were proved correct as Jurassic Park became the biggest movie of 1993.
Unlike prior dinosaur films, Jurassic Park did not take audiences to the prehistoric past or a lost world. Instead, Crichton used his scientific background to craft a believably plausible way for dinosaurs to return to the current day: genetics. While the means of extracting ancient DNA was far from realistic, the results made the Park feel like it could exist one day. It also believably presented the greed of corporations and the dangers of men choosing to play God with science.
Decades later, fans of Jurassic Park still remember the first time they saw a Brachiosaurus rear up on its hind legs to pluck leaves off of a tree. The franchise had generated two books, six films, an animated series, several video games, and thousands of toys. Despite the ready influx of Jurassic Park merchandise and materials, many fans prefer to seek out the treasures from the 1990s. This has made vintage Jurassic Park collectibles extremely valuable on the second-hand market.
Presenting the ten most expensive Jurassic Park Collectibles that have sold on online auctions
There are many reasons why Jurassic Park collectibles have become some of the most valuable pop-culture items. Since its debut in 1993, there have been multiple toy lines and other products. Some of these toys and other collectibles were canceled before they even hit toy shelves. Others only appeared for a brief moment. Some collectibles were originally worth thousands of dollars; thus, they have maintained their value to the current day.
With so many options, we eagerly sought out the ten most expensive Jurassic Park collectibles that have been sold on online auction sites. In this process, we encountered a few fan-made products and items that we could not verify as legitimate. Thus, we decided to only include known products that we can properly confirm and track down. This means that this list will not include any listings for fan-built jeeps that mimic the film, resin statues that provide no information about the manufacturer, or other questionable listings.
10. Kenner Jurassic Park Chaos Effect Night Hunters Series Pteranodon (1998)
Fittingly, the first collectible on our list is a Pteranodon. When Michael Crichton first considered a dinosaur-themed story, he penned a script with a college graduate recreating a Pteranodon. In some ways, the prehistoric flyer could be considered the first “dinosaur” that was ever part of Jurassic Park. Despite its presence in the original draft and book, the creature did not make an appearance until the end of the second film.
This Pteranodon came from the never-released Night Hunters Series. Kenner had planned to release this subline as part of their Jurassic Park Chaos Effect line in 1998. Even though the toys had gotten to the test shots phase, they were never released to the public. So, it is rare to find any of these toys.
Each dinosaur that appeared in the Night Hunters Series featured glow-in-the-dark paint. This way they were colorful both in the light and in the dark. While some of these action figures were packaged with human characters, many only included the dinosaur. The two smaller Pterosaurs came along with the white and purple Pteranodon. The toy also featured snapping jaws and flapping wings.
One of these rare collectibles popped up on eBay in 2018. The package for this action figure was not in the best shape, for its blister had yellowed. Despite this fault, the action figure sold for $5,000.00 on April 12, 2018.
9. Sega Jurassic Park: The Lost World Pinball Machine (1997)
One of the earliest electronic games is the pinball machine. Since the 1930s, people have enjoyed the combination of bumpers, flappers, ramps, and more. Some of these machines have had multiple tiers of play while others focused on a single, exciting plane of play. The versatility of the pinball machine has also allowed multiple companies to create machines based on beloved pop culture franchises, like Jurassic Park.
One of these companies was Sega, which is currently well-known for its video games division. For decades before Sega made its first video game, the company crafted coin-operated machines like pinball. This background is reflected in their name, which is a portmanteau of their original name when they moved to Japan: Service Games of Japan. So, they had a legacy of creating pinball and other entertainment machines.
In 1997, Sega released a pinball machine themed after the sequel film, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, that John Borg designed. This machine presented an artistic rendition of the Tyrannosaurus Rex’s rampage through San Diego in the backbox. Meanwhile, the playfield had a giant egg in the center that would open to reveal a baby T-Rex. The artwork in the playfield also featured both parent Tyrannosaurs.
One of these vintage pinball machines sold on eBay for $7,590.00 on July 16, 2022.
8. Hasbro Jurassic Park III CamoXtreme Tyrannosaurus Rex/Spinosaurus (2003)
Often, toys created near the end of a toy line’s run are the rarest pieces to locate. Even though these toys fully make it through the production process, companies will often cut their losses and only release a small wave of toys. Sometimes, these runs are cut short as the manufacturer ends all support for the toy line.
This was the fate of Hasbro’s Jurassic Park III CamoXtreme toy line. Hasbro had set up a simple line-up filled with colorful repaints of their Jurassic Park action figures. As the name implies, the paint jobs for each figure presented a take on natural camouflage. Despite the simple setup, Hasbro terminated production on this line not long after they began shipping it out. While a few lucky fans located these toys in local or online stores, most missed out on this line.
One of the 2-packs from the CamoXtreme line contained both a Spinosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Both of these action figures had a Jungle-themed color scheme. So, while the Tyrannosaur was light yellow with black splotches, the Spinosaurus sported a dark brown with black splotches color scheme.
As a missing part of many collections, collectors highly value the CamoXtreme toys. This is why one of these toys sold on eBay for $8,855.87 on January 29, 2023.
7. Data East Jurassic Park Pinball Machine (1993)
Data East produced video games, pinball machines, and other forms of entertainment from 1976 until 2003. Like many early video game companies, Data East originated and operated out of Japan. By 1979, it made its presence known to the US with a local division. Titles like 1984’s Kung-Fu Master put Data East on the map.
Meanwhile, Data East produced pinball machines beginning in 1987. They later closed their pinball subsidiary and ended production of the machines in 1994. During this short time, they made their impact known by pioneering the use of the dot matrix display. They also preferred to create licensed machines, like those for the Simpsons and Jurassic Park.
Data East brought out the Jurassic Park machine in 1993, a year before they sold their pinball production factory to Sega. The backbox featured art of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and the main members of the cast. The machine was famous for having a Tyrannosaurus head that would chomp down on the ball. It also had a ramp with the iconic Jurassic Park gate hovering over it.
While Data East produced over 9000 of these pinball machines, they can be hard to find in working conditions. Thus, when one of the Jurassic Park machines appeared on eBay, it sold for $8,999.00 on November 10, 2022.
6. Kenner Jurassic Park Chaos Effect Night Hunter Series Pachycephalosaurus + Ajay (1998)
Aside from dinosaurs, Kenner produced dual packs with hunters and dinosaurs for the Night Hunter Series. These toys had nearly made it completely through the production cycle, with test copies prepped for photographs and promotion. Unfortunately, this 1998 toy line never made it onto toy store shelves.
One of the sets packaged Ajay, who had been a member of InGen’s hunting group in The Lost World, with a Pachycephalosaurus. Like many Jurassic Park toys that Kenner had created, Ajay’s muscularity was exaggerated, as he was toned but not bulging in the movie. Moreover, he tended to wear simple glasses and not sunglasses. He also came with a projectile-firing cannon instead of the hunting rifle from the film. Meanwhile, the glow-in-the-dark Pachycephalosaurus had a blue and orange color scheme.
One of these toys popped up on eBay in 2017. Even though this piece had imperfections, like a puckered blister, it sold for $12,100.00 on January 18, 2017.
5. Kenner Jurassic Park Scrap Davis in test package (1994)
Sometimes, manufacturers will put their prototypes in available packages to test the finished feel of the product before they have a box or card prepared. So, it is possible to find one of these toys in a package that has nothing to do with them or their line. Such was the case for the Scrap Davis action figure that was put up for auction on eBay in 2023.
Kenner had made plans to release Scrap Davis in 1994, but he was canceled late in the development phase. This character was planned to be part of the Evil Raiders, part of the Series 2 run of the toy line. He was planned as a cybernetically enhanced member of the team, with a notable robotic right arm and left leg. They planned to include a firing arm weapon and a hydraulic hand grip gimmick with the toy. The figure also came with a Dimetrodon hatchling companion.
The figure that made its way onto eBay was packaged in a Jurassic Park Dino Trackers package. Even though the package was labeled “Harpoon/Harpon” Harrison, the figure in the blister was Scrap Davis. This rare action figure sold for $14,999.00 on March 25, 2023.
4. Jurassic Park: The Lost World – Lenticular Picture (1997)
A major component of a major motion picture is the marketing that spreads public awareness. From trailers to tie-in merchandise, there are multiple ways to make the movie noticeable. However, one of the oldest and most reliable are the posters that the studios give to theaters for displays. Most posters are a simple double-sided print that works well on a backlit frame. On occasion, a studio will experiment with a new format to make their posters stand out.
In the case of The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Universal released a lenticular poster that provided a 3-D illusion to some theaters. By covering the print with a series of thin convex lenses, lenticular prints gained a special effect that shifted depending on the position of the viewer. In the case of The Lost World’s poster, it created a poster that morphed between the logo and an image of a T-Rex head bursting through the logo. This illusion made it stand out on the theater wall.
One of these lenticular posters for The Lost World: Jurassic Park sold on eBay for $15,000.00 on May 09, 2022. Even though it was not a poster for the original movie, its unique effect made it valuable to collectors.
3. Raw Thrills Jurassic Park Arcade Game (2015)
Arcade machines are not the cheapest products to make or own. Most classic standing arcade machines are worth thousands of dollars. Even the cabinets are valuable when they are in good shape. This price only increases with larger units, like the two-seater light-shooter game for Raw Thrill’s The Jurassic Park.
This arcade unit paid homage to the original Jurassic Park arcade game that Sega released in 1994. Like the classic game, this arcade unit was a light-gun-controlled unit that tasked players with shooting various rampaging dinosaurs. As the unit was enclosed, it gave the illusion that the players were sitting inside a vehicle, with the screen being the opening. Thus, the stages often had the players situated in the back of a truck or inside of a helicopter. The various stages faced them against some of the star dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park series: the Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, or the Spinosaurus. There were also three stages within each target dinosaur’s campaign.
The unit itself had a few different marquees. On the top of the screen was a lit-up marquee of a Tyrannosaurus head. Then, there was a light-up sign with the Jurassic Park logo behind the chairs. Finally, there was a standard, unlit marquee within the unit above the screen. Inside the unit’s cab were two seats and two mounted light guns.
The MSRP for this unit is around $17,999.00. So, it was no surprise that one of the Raw Thrills Jurassic Park cabinets sold on eBay for $18,199.00 on October 19, 2022.
2. Stern Jurassic Park Limited Edition Pinball Machine (2019)
One of the largest manufacturers of pinball machines is Stern, which has been in the market since 1977. The company manufactured its machines under the Stern Electronics, Inc. name until 1986 when they switched over to Stern Pinball. In a twist of events, Stern’s Pinball division originated from Data East Pinball that momentarily became Sega Pinball before Stern rebought the company and eventually renamed it Stern Pinball. All three of these companies have had a hand in creating a Jurassic Park Pinball machine.
In recent years, Stern has turned their attention to the home collector’s market. Thus, many of their machines receive three different versions. In the case of the 2019 Jurassic Park pinball machine, Stern released a Pro, premium, and limited edition. Each of these editions had differences, especially with the backboxes.
In the case of the limited-edition Jurassic Park machine, the borders were a rich green instead of the black of the other two versions. The backbox featured artwork depicting a Tyrannosaurus fighting against a Spinosaurus. Like the Premium edition, this version had an animatronic T-Rex head that swallowed balls before spitting them back out. They also included an interactive raptor pen with a ball-locking mechanism.
Even though the Limed Edition machine was only released in 2019, Stern only created 500. Thus, it has become valuable in the second-hand market. So, one of these machines sold on eBay for $19,999.00 on September 28, 2020.
1. Jurassic Park/World Universal Studios Theme Park Life-Size Velociraptor Prop
Props are created for several uses, including live performances and theme parks. Since 1964, Universal Studios had been bringing the magic of moviemaking to the public with its theme park in Hollywood. While one of the most notable attractions in the park remains the studio tour, there are also several themed attractions and stores.
In 1996, Universal Studios Hollywood introduced their newest attraction: Jurassic Park the Ride. This water ride had riders travel on a large raft that was guided through a tour before escaping from a Tyrannosaurus attack via a long drop to safety. The success of the original ride led to Universal Studios in Orlando Florida building a Jurassic Park section to their Islands of Adventure in 1999. Along with the area were various buildings and shops also themed after the blockbuster movie.
Within the Jurassic Outfitters store was a life-size prop statue of a velociraptor. These creatures were some of the deadliest hunters from Jurassic Park. Their pack-hunting skills and intelligence made them the star attraction next to the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Moreover, their smaller 6-foot stance was suitable for an indoor display. Thus, Universal Studios had this statue made of rubber and silicone standing over its merchandise.
As the years passed, Universal Studios eventually refurbished the Jurassic Park area to align it with the new trilogy, Jurassic World. Thus, the velociraptor statue was eventually removed and replaced. Luckily for fans, it found its way onto eBay in 2022.
This Jurassic Park statue wound up selling for $30,000.00 on December 01, 2022.