When Jurassic Park III introduced Spinosaurus in 2001, it immediately became one of the franchise’s most infamous dinosaurs. But its history in Jurassic toy form actually began a few years earlier. Over the decades, Spinosaurus has evolved not just in scientific understanding but also in its toy adaptations—ranging from oversized and inaccurate figures to highly detailed, movie-accurate models. With Jurassic World: Rebirth set to introduce a brand-new Spinosaurus design based on modern paleontology, Mattel is preparing to release a new figure to match.
Let’s take a look at how Spinosaurus has evolved in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World toy lines.
1997: The First Spinosaurus Toy – Kenner’s Electronic Spinosaurus
Before Spinosaurus ever appeared in a Jurassic film, Kenner introduced the dinosaur in The Lost World: Jurassic Park toy line. The Electronic Spinosaurus was the first-ever Spinosaurus figure in the franchise, featuring a snapping jaw and electronic sounds. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to scale with the rest of Kenner’s dinosaurs, making it look out of place among other figures. While it was an ambitious addition, the sculpt felt awkward, and the overall quality didn’t match Kenner’s best work. It remains a notable but flawed first attempt at bringing Spinosaurus into the Jurassic toy universe.
2001: Jurassic Park III Brings Spinosaurus Into the Spotlight
Center: Re-Ak At-Ak Spinosaurus Aqua Attack (Hasbro, 2001)
Right: Camo-X-Treme Jungle Spinosaurus (Hasbro, 2002)
With Jurassic Park III, Hasbro had the opportunity to create Spinosaurus toys based on its on-screen appearance. The Re-Ak At-Ak Spinosaurus was a mid-sized figure with a simple attack action, allowing it to slash and chomp when its buttons were pressed. While it captured the general look of the movie Spinosaurus, its articulation was limited, making it more of a static toy than a fully poseable figure. Alongside it, Hasbro released a second sculpt and different colors, dubbing it the Spinosaurus Aqua Attack. Hasbro later repainted the Re-Ak At-Ak Spinosaurus for the Camo-X-Treme Jungle Spinosaurus, giving it a brown camouflage pattern but adding nothing new in terms of features or sculpting.
The standout figure from this era was the Animatronic Spinosaurus, the largest and most ambitious Jurassic Park toy Hasbro ever produced. Featuring a soft, rubberized skin similar to Kenner’s classic dinosaurs, this electronic figure had realistic roars, impressive automated movements and a detailed sculpt. Even today, it remains one of the most sought-after Jurassic Park III collectibles.
2015-2016: The Jurassic World Era and the Decline of Spinosaurus Toys
Right: Hybrid Spinosaurus (Hasbro, 2016)
When Jurassic World launched in 2015, Spinosaurus was only briefly featured as a skeleton on Main Street, but Hasbro still released a Spinosaurus toy as part of its Jurassic World line. The Bashers and Biters Spinosaurus was a small, stylized figure with basic articulation and a simple biting action.
In 2016, Hasbro repainted the Bashers and Biters figure for the Jurassic World: Dino Hybrid line, re-releasing it as the Hybrid Spinosaurus. The new blue and red paint scheme was eye-catching, but it had no connection to the films or to real-world Spinosaurus, making it feel like a random addition rather than a meaningful update.
2018-2022: Mattel’s Ultimate Spinosaurus Figures
Bottom: Camp Cretaceous Extreme Chompin’ Spinosaurus (Mattel, 2020)
When Mattel took over the Jurassic World toy license, they delivered what fans had been waiting for: a highly detailed, movie-accurate Spinosaurus. The Jurassic World Legacy Collection Spinosaurus, released in 2018, finally captured the Jurassic Park III design with a sculpt that matched the film’s Spinosaurus perfectly. It was large, in scale with other Mattel figures, and featured a chomping jaw action that made it both a display piece and a fun toy. However, it had a limited release worldwide, making it difficult to find. In 2020, Mattel re-released the figure with a new paint scheme inspired by its appearance in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, giving collectors another chance to add Spinosaurus to their collections.
Mattel also introduced an incredibly unique version of Spinosaurus with the 2019 Battle Damage Spinosaurus. This figure had an interactive wound feature, revealing liquid blood under a ribcage flap, making it one of the most visually striking Spinosaurus toys ever produced. Unfortunately, its distribution was even more limited than the Legacy Collection Spinosaurus, making it one of the hardest Jurassic World figures to track down.
In 2023, Mattel introduced the Slash Attackin’ Spinosaurus, a new sculpt with an alternative battle damage design using sound and light effects. While it wasn’t directly based on Jurassic Park III, it offered collectors another chance to add a Spinosaurus to their collections.
2025: A New Spinosaurus for Jurassic World: Rebirth
With Jurassic World: Rebirth set to introduce a brand-new Spinosaurus design, the toy evolution of this dinosaur is far from over. Unlike its previous franchise appearances, this new version of Spinosaurus will be based on modern scientific discoveries, featuring a shorter, more crocodilian snout, a bulkier body, and adaptations that reflect its semi-aquatic lifestyle. Mattel has already confirmed that they will release a new Spinosaurus figure based on this updated design, marking the next step in Spinosaurus’ evolution in the Jurassic toy line.
Right: Playskool Spinosaurus (Hasbro, 2015)
Spinosaurus has had a fascinating journey in the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World toy lines. From its first appearance as a rather basic Kenner figure to the highly sought-after Mattel releases, this sail-backed predator has remained a fan favorite. With Jurassic World: Rebirth set to introduce a fresh take on Spinosaurus, the future looks bright for new and exciting toy adaptations.
Which Spinosaurus toy is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
