Universal Studios Hollywood is a theme park with some incredible rides, but did you know it's also a working film studio? If you're a bit of a movie buff, you'll love the chance to explore the film and TV sets of some of the most famous productions of all time on the World-Famous Studio Tour.
Read on to discover the 12 film and TV sets you can see on the Studio Tour, plus the thrilling special effects moments along the way, our top tips, and the ways to step off the tram and onto the backlot itself.
The highlights reel
- The Studio Tour is included with your Universal Studios Hollywood ticket and takes around an hour.
- Real sets on the tour include the Bates Motel and Psycho house, Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives, Courthouse Square from Back to the Future, the War of the Worlds plane crash and Jupiter's Claim from Nope.
- Wisteria Lane is still part of the Studio Tour in November 2026.
- Universal Studios Hollywood is a working studio, so the route can change on the day when a production is filming.
- Want to step off the tram? Take a look at the VIP Experience or the new Backlot Photo Experience.
Does Universal Studios have movie sets?
Yes, the Universal Studios theme park in LA has both TV and film sets in the backlot. Over the years, countless movies have been shot at the park, and it's still used for filming today! Your tram guide will point out which soundstages are busy on the day, so you might ride past a real production in action!
Real movie & TV sets at Universal Studios Hollywood
Here are 12 of the amazing sets you can see during your time at the park. Universal is a working studio, so the running order and the sets you visit can change from day to day.
1. Bates Motel and the Psycho house from Psycho
If you're a film fanatic, you're sure to be familiar with the classic thriller Psycho. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this iconic movie became one of the most famous horror films of all time, so of course, it is one of the highlights of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.
You'll go past the eerie Bates Motel, with its vacant rooms. Then you'll see the infamous Psycho house on the hill above - home to creepy hotel owner Norman Bates.
If you look closely, you might just see a figure looking out of the upstairs window! Keep your eyes peeled for Norman, too. A performer playing him often appears at the motel, and he's been known to take a keen interest in passing trams!
During Halloween Horror Nights, this part of the backlot also becomes part of the Terror Tram, so it takes on an even spookier look after dark.
2. Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives
Is the Desperate Housewives set still at Universal Studios? Yes! As of November 2026, Wisteria Lane is still part of the Studio Tour, and it's one of the most popular TV sets to visit at Universal Studios Hollywood.
This fictional street is Colonial Street on the backlot, and it featured in the hit TV show Desperate Housewives across all eight seasons, from 2004 to 2012.
On the Studio Tour, fans will be able to see the white picket fences and perfect houses inspired by suburban America where stars like Eva Longoria and Teri Hatcher lived. You might be surprised to see that some houses on the street are just facades rather than full buildings - but you can't tell on TV!
The famous wisteria was taken down after the show finished, but the street looks much the same as it did on screen, so you'll recognise the houses straight away.
Colonial Street has also been used as a set for The 'Burbs, The Munsters, Leave It to Beaver, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Beethoven, Gremlins, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, as well as for music videos including The Offspring's Why Don't You Get A Job?, Smash Mouth's All Star, and Nelly and Kelly Rowland's Dilemma.
As Colonial Street is still used for filming, the tram may take a different route when a crew is working here. On the Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience, you may even get to walk along the street rather than viewing it from the tram, depending on the day's filming schedule.
3. Plane crash from War of the Worlds
Even if you haven't seen Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds (2005), you can't fail to be amazed by this impressive set. As the Studio Tour takes you through it, you'll be awestruck by the sight of the plane crash scene which featured in the movie.
To create the dramatic scene, a real commercial 747 aircraft was bought and broken into pieces before being transported to Universal Studios in LA and reassembled on the backlot. The tram rolls right through the smouldering wreckage, past scattered suitcases and the remains of a suburban street, for a close-up look at movie magic on a massive scale.
On the VIP Experience, you can step off and explore the crash site in detail, walking in the footsteps of the cast and crew.
4. Amity Island from Jaws
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... The Studio Tour heads to Amity Island, the seaside town from Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws.
The tram rolls along the water's edge, past the harbour village and its wobbly dock, as the famous great white makes a dramatic appearance. Look out for the fire effects too, and hold on to your hat, as this is one of the most thrilling moments of the whole tour!
5. New York Street
Never been to New York? Well, the Studio Tour will make you feel as though you're walking through the streets of the Big Apple itself. There are several different areas to explore, with New York Street being one of the most recognisable.
Over the years, several movies, TV shows, and even music videos that you may have thought were filmed on location in NYC were filmed here at Universal Studios in Los Angeles.
Scenes from the 1969 movie Change of Habit starring Elvis Presley were filmed on New York Street, as well as famous scenes from the likes of Dirty Harry, Bruce Almighty, Spider-Man 2 and Transformers. These were all shot on the original street, which was rebuilt after a fire in 2008. The new New York Street opened in 2010, spread across four acres, with extra areas designed to double as Paris, London and Central Park.
You'll learn plenty of filming secrets about these productions, and many more, along the way. If a crew is shooting here when you visit, you might even catch a glimpse of a real production in progress!
6. Courthouse Square from Back to the Future
The tram passes by Courthouse Square, where you'll find the iconic courthouse and clocktower from Hill Valley in the cult classic Back to the Future films from the 80s.
The set was reportedly built for a 1948 film called An Act of Murder, but it is now better known for its appearance in the much-loved trilogy. It was also used as a set for the Gremlins series and To Kill a Mockingbird (it was even nicknamed Mockingbird Square), and Universal has said it has featured in more than 1,000 film and TV shoots since the 1940s.
The square has been rebuilt and refreshed over the years, and some of the facades have changed since filming, but you'll be taken straight back to 1985 when you see it, or even further! You can easily imagine Doc and Marty here. The buildings here can be made to look completely different when other props are arranged around them.
Courthouse Square is one of the stops you might visit on the Backlot Photo Experience, and some VIP Experience tours also get the chance to step off here for a photo.
7. Six Points Texas
Saddle up for one of the oldest parts of the backlot! Six Points Texas is a Wild West town made up of six streets, each with its own saloon and sheriff's office. Back in the silent film era, this clever layout meant several Westerns could be filmed at the same time.
It has been used for countless Westerns over the decades, as well as more recent films such as Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where it was used for the scenes from Rick Dalton's TV Western pilot. It's a brilliant example of how Hollywood can create an entire town out of sets.
8. Jupiter's Claim from Nope
If you've seen Jordan Peele's sci-fi horror film Nope, then you'll be sure to recognise the original sets from the Jupiter's Claim theme park on the Studio Tour. The set was used on location outside Los Angeles to shoot the film, then it was taken apart and rebuilt at Universal Studios with props from the movie.
Jupiter's Claim joined the tour on 22 July 2022, the same day Nope was released in cinemas. Enjoy seeing the set against an atmospheric soundtrack using some of the audio from the film and flashing lights that take you right back to the UFO encounters in the frontier town.
The irony of a fictional theme park within an actual theme park is not lost on us!
9. Falls Lake
Falls Lake is a huge artificial lake at Universal Studios Hollywood which is regularly used for large productions. As the tram passes, you'll see the water stretching out in front of you, surrounded by boats and ship sets, where filmmakers recreate everything from open seas to stormy harbours.
It has been used in lots of movies, including Godzilla, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Evan Almighty, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. More recently, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey filmed partly here, and one of the film's original ships went on display by the lake in summer 2026.
It also featured in the cult classic The Truman Show. Spoiler alert! We're about to talk about the end of the movie so scroll past if you haven't seen it yet. In the final scene of the film, Truman sails out on his boat into the waters surrounding the town of Seahaven, where he lives, and bursts the wall of the dome that keeps him in the reality TV programme.
10. Brownstone Street
We've already had New York Street, so let's have a look at one of the other street-based film sets. Brownstone Street is designed to look like a classic American city street, lined with elegant brownstone houses.
Brownstone Street is the location of Jim Carrey's character Bruce's home in the film Bruce Almighty. Universal Studios Hollywood was also the filming location for another scene in the movie. The bit where Bruce walks on water was shot at Falls Lake.
11. Old Mexico
Old Mexico is a set resembling a historic Mexican village. The set here can be easily changed to look completely different, so it has featured as a historic location in many films.
During the Studio Tour, you'll experience the Flash Flood here - a water flood effect which has been part of the tour since 1968 and has also been used during filming, in movies including Big Fat Liar and Fletch Lives. The water rushes down from the top of the hill, threatening to sweep the tram away, before it drains off set, ready to be reused for the next tram.
12. Little Europe
Little Europe is a charming European-style village that has been transformed into countless towns and cities on screen. Its Court of Miracles area takes its name from the 1919 film The Miracle Man, and this part of the backlot also appeared in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and Frankenstein (1931), making it a must-see for fans of the classic Universal Monsters.
More recently, it starred in the TV comedy The Good Place. Special events at the park, such as Universal Fan Fest Nights, have even given guests the chance to explore it on foot.
Special effects moments on the Studio Tour
Not everything on the Studio Tour is a filming location. These show-stopping moments are built purely to thrill tram riders, and they're just as much fun:
- King Kong 360: Created under the direction of Peter Jackson, this immersive Skull Island experience surrounds your tram with a battle between Kong and the dinosaurs. Since March 2026, it has been shown in 2D, so there are no glasses to pop on.
- Earthquake - The Big One: Feel an 8.3-magnitude earthquake hit a San Francisco subway station, complete with sparks, collapsing ceilings and rushing water. This attraction had a top-to-bottom refurbishment for the Studio Tour's 60th anniversary in 2024, with new lighting, technology and sound.
- Picture Cars: Keep an eye out for this collection of famous vehicles from film and TV. Look out for Biff's car from Back to the Future, a Gyrosphere from Jurassic World, the Flintstones' cars and the delivery van from Nope. The line-up can change, so there might be a few surprises too!
Where can you find Jurassic World and Fast & Furious at Universal Studios Hollywood?
Dinosaur fans should head down to the Lower Lot for Jurassic World - The Ride, a thrilling water ride through the world of the films.
Fast & Furious fans can now take on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a brand-new roller coaster on the Upper Lot that opened on 16 September 2026. It's a separate ride rather than part of the Studio Tour. Fast & Furious - Supercharged, which used to bring the Studio Tour to a close, made way in March 2025 for an all-new Studio Tour attraction, which Universal will announce in the future.
Is the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood free?
The tour is included in the admission price when you buy a Universal Studios Hollywood One-Day Ticket.
Want to get even closer to the action? There are two ways to step off the tram and onto the backlot:
- VIP Experience: You can upgrade to a Universal Studios VIP tour with a Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience ticket, which includes valet parking, use of an exclusive VIP lounge, and the opportunity to hop off at selected sets and see areas that aren't open to regular park guests.
- Backlot Photo Experience: This brand-new add-on takes small groups of up to 12 guests around the backlot by van for up to 90 minutes. Your guide stops at five to seven locations chosen by Universal on the day, such as Courthouse Square and the Hollywood sign replica, so you can get out and snap your own photos. It's bought separately on top of a same-day park ticket, with prices from $75.95 per person*.
*The Backlot Photo Experience is booked directly with Universal Studios Hollywood and isn't available through AttractionTickets.com. Prices are correct at the time of writing and may vary by date.
Our top tips for the Studio Tour
- Visit on a weekday for the best chance of seeing a production filming, as more crews tend to be working Monday to Friday.
- Sit on the left for a great view of Courthouse Square, although there's plenty to see on both sides of the tram.
- Try a late-afternoon or evening tour for a completely different feel, with warm golden light over the backlot.
- Pack sun cream and a hat in summer, as the trams have open sides.
- Languages: Spanish-language trams run throughout the day, and selected trams have Mandarin-speaking guides, with times shown at the tour entrance.
- Accessibility: Guests can stay in standard wheelchairs on the tram, while ECV users need to transfer to a wheelchair.
- Little ones: Some scenes feature loud noises, fire, water and dramatic effects, so younger children may find parts of the tour a little intense.
Book your Universal Studios Hollywood tickets
So, there we have it, a list of film sets that any film fanatic would be pleased to visit - and you can see them all at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Ready to experience the magic of the movies for yourself? Choose the ticket below that suits your trip:
- Universal Studios Hollywood One-Day Ticket: A full day of thrills at the park, with the World-Famous Studio Tour included.
- Universal Studios Hollywood Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day Free Ticket: Two days to explore the backlot, the rides and everything in between.
- Universal Studios Hollywood Express ticket: One-time Express Access to each ride, attraction and seated show, including the Studio Tour.
- Universal Studios Hollywood VIP Experience: Step off the tram and explore selected sets for the ultimate behind-the-scenes adventure.
Discover all our Universal Studios Hollywood tickets and start planning your trip to Hollywood. Lights, camera, action!
