Universal Studios Hollywood Tour: Movies You’ll Recognize on the Backlot
- Lucy
- 4 hours ago
- 9 min read
This article highlights some of the most iconic films featured on the Studio Tour, so when you see them, you actually recognize them instantly and enjoy the experience even more.
Of course, this is just a small part of it. There are many more films, sets, and attractions at Universal Studios than we could fit into one article.
“Hollywood, for me, is the studios.” — Vincent Cassel
Few things define America’s cultural influence quite like its movies. Hollywood is more than just a district in Los Angeles — it’s a living symbol of storytelling, glamour, and imagination that reaches far beyond the hills.
And while the movie industry often feels distant, like something that exists only on screen, the Universal Studios Hollywood tour brings it into the real world. Here, you don’t just watch films — you step inside them. The Studio Tour takes you through iconic sets, backlots, and working production spaces where movie history was made, and where it continues today.
Universal Studios: More Than Just a Studio
Universal is one of the most influential film studios in the world, behind generations of iconic movies.
Under its umbrella are:
Universal Pictures (Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, The Mummy, Jaws)
DreamWorks Animation (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon)
Focus Features (The Pianist, Pride & Prejudice, The Big Lebowski)
Streaming is convenient, and cinemas remain timeless, but nothing compares to experiencing these stories in the very places where they were created.
What to Expect: A Tour for Kids and Adults
One of the reasons the tour stands out is how well it works for different ages. Adults will recognize classic films and feel the nostalgia of Hollywood history, while kids can enjoy attractions inspired by modern favorites like Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
For many families, this balance is what makes it one of the most memorable experiences in Los Angeles.
Iconic Movies and Filming Locations on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour
Earthquake: The Big One
The Earthquake attraction has been part of the Studio Tour since 1989, and it still manages to surprise people. Inside Stage 50, the tram suddenly rattles as sparks fly, the ceiling caves in, and water rushes toward you. It’s a short moment, but it feels like stepping into a real disaster movie.
What makes it even more interesting is that this isn’t just an attraction, but part of a working studio environment. Universal’s soundstages and backlot sets have been used in countless films and TV series over the years, often transformed and redressed to look completely different on screen.
Productions filmed on the Universal lot include films like Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and series such as Bones (2005), among many others.
Courthouse Square: Back to the Future
Few sets are as instantly recognizable as Courthouse Square, with its iconic clock tower. This is where much of the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990) was filmed.
The square has been part of Universal’s backlot since the 1940s and has appeared in countless films and TV shows over the years. After a major fire in 2008 damaged the set, it was carefully rebuilt — a reminder of how important it is to both Hollywood history and the studio itself.
Back to the Future became a defining part of pop culture. References to Doc and Marty continue to appear across modern media, from Rick and Morty to films like Avengers: Endgame.
King Kong 360 3-D
The next stop is one of the most immersive parts of the Studio Tour: King Kong 360 3-D. Created in collaboration with director Peter Jackson, known for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, this experience surrounds you with a battle between Kong and dinosaurs. The tram moves along a platform, rocking and shaking, while the 3D visuals make it feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
Jackson is known for pushing the limits of visual effects, so it’s no surprise the attraction was designed this way. When it opened in 2010, it was promoted as the world’s largest 3D experience of its kind.
King Kong, of course, has been part of cinema history for decades. The character first appeared in 1933 and has been reimagined many times, including in Jackson’s 2005 film. Alongside Japan’s Godzilla (1954), Kong helped shape the global idea of giant monsters, often referred to as “kaiju.”
Over the years, these two icons have appeared together in crossover films, sometimes as rivals, sometimes facing larger threats side by side.
Jurassic Park
Welcome to Jurassic Park (1993), Steven Spielberg’s legendary blend of adventure, horror, and disaster film. A park filled with prehistoric creatures and terrified visitors, a concept that completely captured audiences around the world.
Dinosaurs have always fascinated people, but Spielberg turned that fascination into something much bigger. By the time the film premiered, audiences weren’t just watching the story. They were ready to believe it.
What made Jurassic Park truly groundbreaking was its use of visual effects. Spielberg initially planned to rely on animatronics and stop-motion, much like he had done in earlier films. But after seeing early CGI tests from Industrial Light & Magic, he changed direction. The result was something audiences had never experienced before. Dinosaurs that felt alive.
The film went on to win three Academy Awards and marked a turning point in cinema, showing what computer-generated imagery could really do.
By that time, Spielberg had already built his reputation with films like Indiana Jones and Jaws. But with Jurassic Park, he set a new standard for movie spectacle, proving that even the most impossible creatures could feel real.
The Mummy
After dinosaurs, the next childhood obsession to check off the list is ancient Egypt.
Enter The Mummy (1999), directed by Stephen Sommers, the filmmaker behind The Jungle Book (1994) and Van Helsing (2004). Known for blending adventure with horror, he created one of the most popular modern versions of this story.
The film reimagines the 1932 classic, which was released during a time when interest in ancient Egypt was especially strong. A wave of archaeological discoveries, including the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, helped spark a renewed fascination often referred to as the Egyptian Revival. Egyptian-inspired motifs appeared across architecture, furniture, fashion, and cinema.
Nearly 70 years later, The Mummy brought that fascination back in a modern way. Starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, it combines humor, adventure, and visual effects with rich sets and detailed costumes.
And yes, the mummy itself gave a whole new generation something to be afraid of.
Jaws
We’ve seen monsters that were mythical or prehistoric, but this time, the terror was real. Enter Jaws (1975), Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough thriller about a shark haunting a small beach town.
By then, Spielberg had already shown his talent for adventure, but Jaws was something different: suspenseful, terrifying, and unforgettable. Critics later called it the beginning of the “Spielberg Effect” - his uncanny ability to turn almost any genre into a hit. And it all started with one very difficult mechanical shark.
The film wasn’t shot in a studio but on the open Atlantic Ocean with unpredictable waters, rough weather, and endless technical problems. The mechanical shark, nicknamed “Bruce,” constantly malfunctioned in the salt water. Spielberg had to improvise, relying on clever camera work and John Williams’ now-iconic score to build suspense. Ironically, those limitations made the film scarier: audiences often imagined the shark before they ever saw it.
The result? A cultural phenomenon. Jaws not only won three Academy Awards but also invented the concept of the modern summer blockbuster.
As actor Richard Dreyfuss later joked: “I will never walk from the beach into the water so that the water comes up to my chest. And if that ever happens, I’ll either be dead or in the mental institution.”
That’s the magic of cinema and the reason the shark still "lurks" on Universal’s Studio Tour today, ready to lunge at another tram full of screaming visitors.
War of the Worlds
One of the most haunting sights on the Studio Tour is the wreckage from Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds (2005). To recreate the aftermath of an alien attack, the production used a real decommissioned Boeing 747, scattering its pieces across a suburban street set. Driving by it feels less like a movie scene and more like stepping into something that actually happened.
The film is based on H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel, a story so vivid that when Orson Welles adapted it for a radio broadcast in 1938, some listeners believed the invasion was real. Spielberg’s version carries that same sense of unease, with alien tripods and shattered landscapes that became some of the most recognizable images in modern science fiction.
Today, the remains of the airplane and surrounding houses form one of the largest and most dramatic sets on the backlot. It’s a reminder of how cinema can turn imagination into something that feels almost real.
Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock, often called the “Master of Suspense,” changed cinema with Psycho (1960). He introduced audiences to a different kind of fear. Not sudden, but slowly building. The kind that makes you uneasy long before anything actually happens.
Made on a tight budget and schedule, Psycho became one of the most influential horror films of all time. With stark lighting, unusual camera angles, and Anthony Perkins’ chilling performance as Norman Bates, it helped define psychological horror and influenced generations of filmmakers.
On the Studio Tour, you’ll see the eerie Psycho House, where much of the film’s action takes place. Its design was inspired by Edward Hopper’s painting House by the Railroad (1925), now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Even the way the house is framed in the film echoes the lonely, elevated perspective of Hopper’s work.
At the center of the story is, of course, the infamous murder. The shower scene remains one of the most studied sequences in film history. It was originally planned without music, until composer Bernard Herrmann added the now-iconic string score. The scene took seven days to shoot, using chocolate syrup for blood and carefully constructed sound effects to make each movement feel real.
And while Psycho shocked audiences with its violence, it also helped shape something new. The idea of a surviving female character who confronts the threat. Lila Crane is often seen as an early example of what later became known as the “final girl,” a trope that would define horror films for decades.
Fast & Furious — Supercharged
The Fast & Furious franchise (2001 to present) often raises a simple question. Why is it so popular? On the surface, it’s cars, speed, and explosions. But part of its appeal is exactly that. It’s straightforward, adrenaline-filled, and easy to enjoy. The action is so focused on stunts and movement that it’s hard to look away.
What sets it apart from other action franchises is its emotional core. Family. That theme runs through every film, turning what could have been a simple story about street racing into something audiences around the world connect to. Yes, the internet has turned those “family” lines into endless memes, but those moments work because they feel real.
On the Studio Tour, you get to experience that energy in Fast & Furious — Supercharged. Explosions, gunfire, and high-speed chases unfold around the tram through a combination of physical effects and large-scale projection. It’s loud, intense, and unapologetically over the top. Exactly what the franchise promises.
You’ll also soon be able to experience the franchise in a completely new way. Universal Studios Hollywood is preparing to open Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a high-speed outdoor roller coaster expected in summer 2026.
The ride is designed to simulate the feeling of drifting cars, with vehicles rotating as they move at speeds of up to 72 mph. It’s set to become one of the most technically advanced attractions in the park and a new highlight for fans of the series.
Practical Tips for the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour
Best time to go: Early morning on weekdays for shorter wait times
How long is studio tour: Approximately 45–60 minutes
Where to sit: The right side of the tram is often recommended for better views
Express Pass: Worth it during busy days
Is universal studios tour good for kids: The Studio Tour itself does not have a strict age or height requirement, so even very young kids can go. That said, some scenes can be loud and intense. Attractions like Earthquake, King Kong, or Jaws may feel exciting but also a little scary for younger children.
Universal Studios is not just about the Studio Tour. You can easily spend a full day in the park.
And then there’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which honestly feels like its own universe. From the rides to the shops and little details, it’s the kind of place you’ll want to explore slowly.
And let’s be honest, you probably know this world better than I do 😁
Credits
This article was written by Nadiia Cedar and edited by Lucy Chepizhenko.
Disclaimer
This article is an independent editorial piece created for informational and entertainment purposes. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Universal Studios Hollywood.
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