The "Houston Chronicle" wrote that the film "takes an exploitation-film approach to "Jurassic Park". That is to say, it's cheap and shamelessly derivative. Yet it also sports a fine cast, including two-time Oscar nominee John Savage, and is galvanized by the scrappy resourcefulness and unpretentious spirit that low-budget filmmaking allows." The "New York Daily News" considered "Carnosaur 2" an improvement over the original film, and praised the cast, especially Savage and Stroud. "Missoulian" criticized the special effects but praised Savage's performance, and wrote that the film was done with "energy and a bit of style and a tiny bit of wit". J.R. Taylor of "Entertainment Weekly" gave the film a "B+" and called it an ""Aliens" rip-off".