Year: 1977
Runtime: 106 mins
Language: English
Directors: Tsugunobu Kotani, Alexander Grasshoff
In this adventure, wealthy big‑game hunter Boone leads his team into an uncharted area that turns out to be a lost world ruled by a gigantic, man‑eating dinosaur. Stranded in prehistoric times, the group must evade the ferocious predator while desperately searching for a way back to their own era.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen The Last Dinosaur yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of The Last Dinosaur (1977), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Masten Thrust Jr. is a wealthy big-game hunter who runs Thrust Inc., a multimillion-dollar company that drills for oil under the polar caps with a manned laser drill called the “Polar Borer.” After one expedition, only geologist Chuck Wade returns, recounting that the crew went through the icecap on a routine check and surfaced in a volcanic valley. There, while the others explore, they are slain by a Tyrannosauruserm; Wade’s story convinces Thrust to go after the creature himself. He gathers a small party: Bunta, a Maasai tracker; Dr. Kawamoto; and Francesca Banks, a Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer chosen by the press pool. Though Thrust is initially reluctant to bring Frankie along, she wins him over with persistence and a bit of charm.
Using the Polar Borer to reach the valley, the group spots Pteranodons and raft to shore, narrowly avoiding a stampede from a Uintatherium. After setting up camp, Thrust, Wade, Bunta, and Frankie venture out in search of the T. rex, while Kawamoto stays behind. They soon confront the enormous predator and manage to escape its first assault. The beast later finds the camp, destroys it, and murders Kawamoto before dragging away the Polar Borer. With the Borer gone, the dinosaur digs a canyon in a wall of bone and releases a Triceratops, which clashes with the T. rex; in a brutal confrontation, the Tyrannosaurus rex kills the Triceratops and claims dominance.
Returning to the burned-out camp, the party discovers Kawamoto and the Polar Borer missing. Thrust’s rage grows, and he vows to kill the dinosaur. Months pass, and the survivors relocate to a cave, where they encounter a number of cavemen. They manage to fend off the intruders with a handmade crossbow and soon befriend a cavewoman, Hazel, who helps Frankie with washing her hair. The T. rex returns, forcing Frankie to seek shelter in a cave while Maston, Bunta, and Chuck fend off the assault with a heavy boulder tied to the creature’s tail. Realizing they need a decisive weapon, Thrust builds a catapult to bring the monster down.
During another hunt, Chuck discovers the Polar Borer is still operable, but Maston refuses to leave until the beast is dead. Chuck and Frankie depart to repair the Borer and depart with it, leaving Maston and Bunta behind. When the Borer is launched back into the water, Frankie returns to urge the others to leave one final time. Tragedy strikes as Bunta is killed by the T. rex while stalking him. Frankie reunites with Maston and helps him use the catapult on the dinosaur, but the beast rises again and shatters the device.
As Wade arrives with a warning that they must escape the valley or be trapped, Frankie pleads with Maston to depart with them, arguing the T. rex is the “last one.” Maston refuses, replying with a quiet resolve: > So am I. Wade and Frankie then depart aboard the Polar Borer, leaving Maston to face the valley alongside Hazel.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:36
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Driven characters face primal dangers in unforgiving, isolated environments.If you liked The Last Dinosaur, explore more movies about driven characters on perilous missions. This thread features similar survival adventures and sci-fi stories where obsession meets danger in isolated, unforgiving worlds, delivering tense and determined narratives.
The narrative follows a character, often an expert or hunter, whose obsession leads them into a deadly, confined setting. The plot unfolds as a series of escalating survival challenges, testing their skills and resolve, usually culminating in a final confrontational or pyrrhic victory that questions the cost of their ambition.
Movies in this thread share a core focus on a protagonist's consuming drive, a perilous and isolated setting, and a steady, tense pacing that builds suspense through survival-based action. The tone is often grim and determined, creating a cohesive feel of man against an overwhelming force.
Explorers stranded in primitive realms fight for survival against ancient dangers.Find more movies like The Last Dinosaur with this thread of survival thrillers and sci-fi adventures. Discover similar stories of explorers stranded in lost worlds, facing primal dangers and fighting to return home, all with a steady pace and tense, suspenseful tone.
These narratives begin with a discovery or accident that strands a group in an anomalous zone—a valley, island, or pocket dimension—teeming with prehistoric life or primal forces. The story is a linear survival odyssey, involving building shelter, evading predators, and searching for an escape, often concluding with a somber reflection on the fragility of mankind.
This thread groups movies based on the compelling 'lost world' setting, the straightforward plot of survival against ancient threats, and the consistent tone of tense adventure. The shared elements of isolation, exploration, and facing primordial danger create a highly specific and resonant viewing vibe.
Don't stop at just watching — explore The Last Dinosaur in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Last Dinosaur is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of The Last Dinosaur with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Last Dinosaur. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Last Dinosaur that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Last Dinosaur: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like The Last Dinosaur that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
The Last Dinosaur (1977) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
The Last Dinosaur (1977) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
The Last Dinosaur (1977) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like The Last Dinosaur – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Dinosaur (2000) Detailed Story Recap
Battle at Big Rock (2019) Full Summary & Key Details
The Lost World (1992) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
The Lost World (1000) Full Summary & Key Details
Dinosaur Hotel (2021) Detailed Story Recap
Planet of Dinosaurs (1977) Full Summary & Key Details
Dinosaur From The Deep (1993) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
Dinosaurus! (1960) Detailed Story Recap
King Dinosaur (1955) Full Summary & Key Details
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970) Detailed Story Recap
Age of the Great Dinosaurs (1979) Plot Summary & Ending Explained
The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956) Full Movie Breakdown
The Lost World (1960) Movie Recap & Themes
Dinosaur Island (1994) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Lost Continent (1951) Plot Summary & Ending Explained