There are few movies quite as iconic as Jurassic Park. The 1993 Steven Spielberg classic is beloved by cinephiles, and everything from the score to the beautiful visual affects have remained mainstays in popular culture. But meme culture takes no prisoners, and Jeff Goldblum has gone viral in the past few years due to one specific shot of the film: when his character Dr. Ian Malcolm lounged with his shirt open after the first attack. This scene is peak Goldblum sexiness, and has even recently been made into a Funko Pop vinyl figure. Now Goldblum has revealed what inspired him to show some skin, and become the subject of countless jokes.
It's supposed to be Costa Rica, right? So things are hot and I'm sure I'm in some sort of fever. So all the logic is that we gotta get some of these wet clothes off immediately. As I remember, I don't think anybody fought me on that.
It looks like Ian Malcolm wasn't just trying to show off his glorious figure during that scene in Jurassic Park. Instead, it was a mixture of the island's natural heat, the downpour of rain, and his injuries that motivated Ian to bare some skin. Take that, all you meme creators.
Jeff Goldblum's comments to Yahoo give some context and motivation behind his choice to unbutton on the set of Jurassic Park, and his logic does make sense. At that point in the film Ian barely survived a run in with the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and knows that something has gone seriously wrong within the park. It would make sense for him to be a bit overheated in the Costa Rican heat, in addition to the adrenaline that is no doubt surging through his exposed Goldblum body.
It's actually surprising that Jeff Goldblum gave such a straight up answer when asked about that infamous Jurassic Park scene. Goldblum's staying power in the business has been largely associated with his trademark wit and personality, and he's usually someone that likes to get ahead of the joke. I'd have expected him to make a joke out of the sexy Ian Malcolm meme, but it turns out that it was a conscious acting choice.
Jeff Goldblum's Ian Malcolm was a major character in the first Jurassic Park, and the only actors to return for its sequel, The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The hardcore fandom is especially excited to see him reprise the role once again in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. It's currently unclear how large his part will be, but Goldblum's inclusion in the trailer definitely got excitement drummed up.
You can catch Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on June 22, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trips to the movies.
