Steven Spielberg explains what went wrong with ‘The Lost World’
Proving that not even one of the greatest directors of all time can make lightning strike twice, Steven Spielberg ended his four-year sabbatical from filmmaking by attempting to replicate the success of his career-best year, regardless of whether that was by accident or design.
Spielberg had two diametrically opposed movies release in 1993, both of which became global sensations for very different reasons. Game-changing blockbuster Jurassic Park was a cultural phenomenon that became the highest-grossing film in history, while haunting drama Schindler’s List was an awards season favourite that won seven Academy Awards including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’.
Mounting two completely opposite but equally-exhausting productions in such a short space of time took a toll on Spielberg, but when he did return behind the camera, it was under very similar circumstances. His 1997 saw sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park hit cinemas months before Amistad, another powerful drama focusing on a pivotal period in history.
Suffice to say, the results were hardly identical. Amistad remains one of the biggest professional disappointments the lauded director has ever experienced, while The Lost World was a vast step down from its classic predecessor in terms of excitement, entertainment value, and earning power.
Acknowledging that his own hubris may have played a part in the latter’s muted reaction, Spielberg told The New York Times that his ego may have gotten the better of him. “My sequels aren’t as good as my originals because I go onto every sequel I’ve made and I’m too confident,” he said. “This movie made a ka-zillion dollars, which justifies the sequel, so I come in like it’s going to be a slam dunk and I wind up making an inferior movie to the one before. I’m talking about The Lost World and Jurassic Park.”
It’s an interesting assessment considering sequels have never been a massive part of Spielberg’s filmography, with The Lost World and Raiders of the Lost Ark follow-ups Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the only franchise fare he’s delivered during a career that’s so far yielded 34 features.
Of course, the Jurassic Park saga was always going to carry on without him and currently has a seventh instalment in the works and eying a theatrical debut in the summer of 2025, but he’s only remained on board the property as an executive producer since The Last World, fulfilling a similar remit on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny when James Mangold was drafted into direct.
Nobody can justifiably deny that The Lost World is a sizeable step down on every level, but it’s nonetheless refreshing to hear a talent of Spielberg’s calibre concede that maybe he was a little too cocky heading into the shoot.
