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9. T-Rex, Jurassic Park (1993)

CHARACTER STUDY Prior to 1993, 2-D textbook illustrations and the prehistoric renderings of ''Land of the Lost'' dinosaurs left many an imagination dissatisfied. But then Industrial Light & Magic's computer generated T. Rex made prehistory into movie history, by snacking on lawyers, velociraptors, and the like.

WHY WE LOVE HIM Short of a trip back to the Jurassic era, this may be the closest thing to the real deal we'll ever see (one possible exception being the fetch-happy Rex in Night at the Museum). With lifelike skin, thoroughly convincing movement, a persuasive mouth full of saliva-covered chompers, Steven Spielberg's T. Rex is the standard for all scary movie dinos.