To put it simply, the moral of the story could be stated as follows: "those who bring back ancient creatures just to enrich themselves will be eaten by them". However, while this lesson is still there for the average viewer, the moral seems too simplistic for the astute critic. Jurassic Park is but a modern retelling of Classical myths concerning hubris, an excessive pride that eventually results in the hero's fall. Examples of hubris are often found in fiction, most famously in Greek myths. More recently, Victor in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein also manifests hubris in his attempt to become a great scientist by causing life through technological means, but eventually regrets this previous desire. The Titanic story is also a fascinating modern example.

In his novel, Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton builds on themes developed earlier in H.G. Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau, in which human experiments with biology lead to catastrophic consequences. The story is a cautionary tale concerning scientific arrogance. The scientists in the story are too confident in their own abilities and take insufficient precautions with their experiments, and are unwilling to respond sufficiently quickly when evidence starts to point to there being problems with their project.

There are several moral conclusions one could draw. First, that the possibility of commercial gain leads scientists to take unnecessary risks. Second, that interfering too much with biology can have adverse unforeseen consequences. Thirdly, that we should not arrogantly take for granted the ultimate supremacy or survival of the human race.