T-Rex Paddock Escape

When the lights go out, the king comes out to hunt.

The T-Rex Paddock Escape is the pivotal moment in Jurassic Park when the park's carefully engineered safety systems fail, allowing the island's apex predator to break free. This event occurs during the initial tour of the park, when a system-wide power failure—caused by Dennis Nedry's sabotage—shuts down the electric fences. The T-Rex breaches its enclosure, attacks the tour vehicles, and devours Gennaro and injures Malcolm while Grant, Lex, and Tim escape.

Quick Facts

Subject: Tyrannosaurus Rex

Lore & Background

The T-Rex escape is the direct result of Dennis Nedry's sabotage, which disables the park's security systems. The T-Rex, a cloned dinosaur created by InGen, breaks through the electrified fence after the power fails. It attacks the tour vehicles, killing the lawyer Donald Gennaro and injuring others. Grant, Lex, and Tim escape and take shelter in a tree. Later, the Tyrannosaurus appears in the visitor center and fights the two raptors that have cornered the survivors, allowing the group to flee.