The Jurassic Park Connection You Likely Never Noticed In 50 First Dates

Among the many laugh fests that Adam Sandler has under his belt, one of his most unforgettable is ironically the one its characters struggle to remember. "50 First Dates" saw the reunion of Sandler and co-star Drew Barrymore six years after they first worked together on "The Wedding Singer." He was the smitten aquarium veterinarian who falls for her charming, waffle-loving gem with anterograde amnesia. Laughs are had, hearts are broken, and our hero goes to great effort to make memories for a woman who can't.

Incredibly, though, a film that boasts a shockingly dated and massively offensive performance from Rob Schneider also shares connections with one of the most revered films in cinematic history: "Jurassic Park." Going beyond the connection of Drew Barrymore having previously worked with director Steven Spielberg in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," the link between this heartfelt rom-com and one of the biggest blockbusters of all time is a big one. Like, "fantastical theme park that never should've opened" big.

If you ever sat through "50 First Dates" and thought, "what this film needs is more dinosaurs," that's probably due to the familiar scenery that this heartwarming couple is wandering around in. The backdrop for Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's blooming on-screen romance took place on the now-iconic Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre nature retreat in Kaneohe, Hawaii, that is also home to the fantastical theme park that should really just be called Lawsuit Land but instead goes by Jurassic Park (via IMDb).

Following along with the likes of "Lost" and "Godzilla vs. Kong," the lush greenery and gorgeous Hawaiian hillsides in "50 First Dates" were also the same spots audiences would revisit years later in both "Jurassic World" and "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom." Kualoa Ranch is so synonymous with the Steven Spielberg classic that you can even go on tours that take you to the locations the film was shot. While there aren't any dinosaurs roaming the area, it is advised to keep your arms and legs in the vehicle and your humming of John Williams' classic score to a minimum. It's a wonder Sandler and Barrymore ever managed.