Universal Studios Hollywood, located in Universal City, California just north of Los Angeles, is one of the oldest and most iconic theme parks in the United States. Born from a 1964 tram tour of Universal’s working film lot, the park has grown over six decades into a full-scale destination that blends Hollywood entertainment with immersive themed worlds.
Owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast, and operated by Universal Destinations & Experiences, the park welcomes around 8 to 9 million guests each year. Its 415-acre complex includes an active film and television production studio alongside roughly 80 guest-accessible acres, home to beloved lands such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, and Jurassic World.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Universal City, California
- Opened: July 15, 1964
- Owner: NBCUniversal (Comcast)
- Operator: Universal Destinations & Experiences
- Guest-Accessible Area: About 80 acres
- Total Complex: About 415 acres
- 2024 Attendance: 8.7 million guests (16th most visited globally)
Iconic Lands and Attractions
The park is split between an Upper Lot and a Lower Lot, connected by a series of escalators built into the hillside. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter recreates Hogsmeade village beneath the soaring towers of Hogwarts Castle, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey serving as its headline dark ride. Super Nintendo World drops guests into a life-sized video game environment anchored by Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, a mixed-reality racing experience.
On the Lower Lot, Jurassic World: The Ride delivers a water adventure through prehistoric paddocks before a steep 84-foot plunge. The park’s longest-running signature attraction, the World Famous Studio Tour, takes guests on a narrated tram ride through active production sets, featuring immersive sequences including King Kong 360 3-D and a Jurassic Park flash-flood simulation. Springfield, modeled after the fictional hometown of The Simpsons, rounds out the main themed areas with rides and restaurants pulled straight from the show.
A Working Hollywood Lot
What sets Universal Studios Hollywood apart from nearly every other theme park is that it operates within a genuine, active film and television production facility. The broader 415-acre complex houses more than 30 sound stages and permanent exterior sets including the Bates Motel from Psycho and the Courthouse Square used across dozens of productions. Guests riding the Studio Tour occasionally glimpse live shoots taking place just beyond the tram barriers.
This connection to real filmmaking stretches back to 1915, when founder Carl Laemmle first opened the lot to the public for five cents a visit. That spirit of making the creative process visible remained the park’s founding identity, and it continues to differentiate Universal Studios Hollywood from competitors more than a century after those first public tours began.
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Universal Studios Hollywood FAQs
When did Universal Studios Hollywood open as a theme park?
The modern theme park officially opened on July 15, 1964, evolving from a simple studio tram tour that Carl Laemmle first offered the public back in 1915.
What are the most popular rides at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Top attractions include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in Super Nintendo World, Jurassic World: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, and the World Famous Studio Tour.
Is Universal Studios Hollywood a real working film studio?
Yes. The park sits on an active NBCUniversal production lot, and its backlot — accessible via the Studio Tour tram — is used regularly for film and television productions alongside regular park operations.
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Photo by Jared Lisack on Unsplash.