paramount studio tour 2023

The Paramount Studio Tour in Hollywood

Is this movie studio tour worth your time?

 Christian Hundley / TripSavvy

Paramount Studios is the only remaining major studio left in Hollywood these days. It's also the longest-operating studio in general, still busy and fun to visit. They offer simple guided tours that accommodate eight visitors and one tour guide in an electric cart.

What the Paramount Studio Tour Is

On the Paramount Tour, you'll see a working studio. They don't stage things just to entertain tours. In fact, the only thing that's for visitors is the museum. Because of that, Paramount is a different experience every day.

Visitors sometimes get to visit sound stages and sets, but only when they are not being used. One thing you probably won't see on the Paramount tour is someone making a major movie. This studio produces television shows most of the time.

Paramount Studio Tour Highlights

• Paramount's private movie theater , where they hold premieres and screenings
• If the shooting schedule allows it, you may get to go inside sound stages and see sets for shows.
• You might even see a star or two , but if you don't watch a lot of network television shows, you might not recognize them. Don't expect this to happen, just consider it a nice bonus if it does.
• Paramount's property includes the old RKO/Desilu lot where the classic comedy  I Love Lucy  was produced.  Lucy Park is a hit with its fans. The small, landscaped area looks just like Lucille Ball's Beverly Hills back yard and has a replica of her New York apartment, too — so she could take publicity photographs there with her children without ever having to leave the lot.
• Other highlights on tour include Forrest Gump's bench and the Bronson Gate , where actor Charles Bronson got his name. It's also the place where Norma Desmond entered the lot in the 1950 film  Sunset Boulevard .
• You will also tour Paramount's extensive backlot , which is used for filming exterior scenes and includes sections that look like parts of New York and Chicago.

Is the Paramount Studio Tour Worth Your Time?

On its best days, the Paramount Tour is brilliant. It's a working studio, and that's a good thing in general if you really want to go behind the scenes of film production. But what you'll see is unpredictable. If you go on a day when little is happening, you could be disappointed.

Some visitors who write about the Paramount tour online rave about all the sets they visited and stars they saw. Others complain that all they did was stand around outside buildings without seeing anything.

Everyone likes how informal Paramount is, with each tour guide tailoring things to their group's interests. People also enjoy the suspense of not knowing what you might see or where you might get into. Unlike the other studio tours, they're much more generous about letting you take photographs, a bonus if you want to show all the folks back home what you saw.

A lot of the complaints come from people who visited when nothing was happening. In summer, most shows are on hiatus. During the end-of-year holiday season, many crews don't work. When that happens, Gary Wayne at seeingstars.com describes it best: "the blank, white exteriors of these barn-like structures have about as much charm as factory warehouses."

To maximize your chance of having a great tour, avoid summer and end-of-year holidays. If that's the only time you can go, it may still be worth it. That depends on how much you just want to see the place and whether you'll be heartbroken if you don't see any movie stars. Looking at the schedule of filmings you can get into at Audiences Unlimited can also help you figure out how busy things might be.

Tips for Enjoying the Paramount Studio Tour

• Bring your cameras. This is the only working studio that lets you take pictures on their tour.
• Studio security is tight and strict. Be prepared to show your ID to get in.
• The tour lasts about two hours. You'll get around part of the time in the cart, but there's also quite a bit of walking. Comfortable shoes are a good idea.
• Hollywood can be quite hot in the middle of summer. You'll find a hat, sunglasses and a bottle of water to be welcome accessories.

A fun thing to do on the same day as your tour is to watch Paramount film a TV show. Start by checking the list of current Paramount productions . Then go to  Audiences Unlimited  to see if any of them are shooting during your visit. 

If you just want to watch something being filmed and don't care what studio it's at,  find out how to get studio audience tickets in LA .

What You Need to Know About Visiting Paramount Studios

Check their current hours  for the tour schedule. Reservations are required, and they charge an admission fee. The basic tour lasts about two hours. 

Paramount's main entrance is at 5555 Melrose Ave. Parking is available in a paid lot almost directly across from the entrance. It's about 3 miles away from the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard . If you're also visiting Hollywood Forever Cemetery , that's just north of Paramount, facing Santa Monica Boulevard.

The studio is also easy to reach by public transportation , but it takes two buses and half an hour to get there from the Walk of Fame - and only 10 minutes if you're driving or taking a shared rides service like Uber.

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Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You?

Posted on Published: June 29, 2019  - Last updated: February 26, 2024

Categories North America , California , Travel

There are four major Hollywood studio tours that you can go on in and around Los Angeles : Warners Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Universal Studio Tours.

It’s really not necessary to do all of them , especially on the same trip. There’s quite a bit of overlap between each studio tour, and the ticket prices can really add up.

Throughout my visits to California, I’ve managed to visit all 4 Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles (and some more than once!).

Here’s my in-depth reviews of all the major Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. This is what to expect from each one so you can decide which is the best studio tour in los Angeles for you!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Should You Go On A Hollywood Studio Tour?

Hollywood Studio Tours in Los Angeles are a great way to gain an “ all-access” pass to the biggest backstage lots in California .

They give you a chance to go behind the scenes on some of your favourite movies and TV shows.

You’ll get to see the sets and props, and learn about the magic of making movies. And, if you’re lucky, you might get the chance to either see a live film set or a celebrity at work . 

Let’s just say, visit a movie set is a quintessential Los Angeles activity … p.s. see my L.A. guide here .

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You ?

The best Hollywood studio tour for you will depend on three main factors :

• Your favourite films and TV shows

The studio tours vary in budget and tour length. The price ranges between $55 to $110 / ticket . And the tour can last anywhere between one to three hours .

But your favourite movies and TV shows are the most important factor when deciding which studio tour in Los Angeles to go to. If you haven’t watched anything the studio has produced, you’ll be less interested in what you’re seeing and learning about.

Best Studio Tours In LA: Overview

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Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

Universal Studios is a bit of a unique studio tour in Los Angeles. The studio tour can only be accessed if you buy a ticket to the entire theme park .

This also puts the studio tour at a much higher price point compared to the others around Los Angles. But, on the other hand, it is an ENTIRE day of activities instead of a few hours.

The tour itself is only 60 minutes but there are no shortage of other rides and shows to see once you’re in the park.

Quick Information & Links

Total Time : 1 hour (not including wait time in line) Admission : $109 -$119* (includes access to the entire park, price varies depending on the season) Book Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood . Parking : Starts at $32* (General Parking)

*Updated January 2024

Movies Referred To/ Filmed Here:

You should check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Jurassic Park
• Fast and the Furious
• Jordan Peele’s horror epic, NOPE

Pros Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

You are on the LARGEST film and TV studio in Hollywood and the world! You get to drive by some of the most iconic sets in all movie history.

You drive-by the sound stages, new and old sets.

But this is still a ride in a theme park so they’ve added some more ride-like adventure elements to make things more exciting, unlike any other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles.

At times you feel like you’re in the movie rather than just seeing where one was filmed!

And it’s not all for show either, they do still use these sets to film. In fact, this was the only Hollywood studio tour where I caught a live taping , so it’s still possible to see!

One thing’s certain though, you won’t be bored for a second on this tour even if you don’t happen to see an active film set during your tour. 

P.S. Make the most of your time at Universal Studios and book an Express Line ticket through Viator here . It gives you one-time express access to each ride, show, and attraction at the park !

Cons Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

It’s the least personal studio tour in Los Angeles. You’re on a tram the entire time for 60 minutes straight, with about 30 other people!

As I said, this tour is sometimes more of a ride than a studio tour (so it’s both a pro and a con!).

At times, the tour felt very streamlined , because most of it is. You still have a guide, but he’s following a script on a set path so it’s the same tour every time (unlike the others which have a bit more variance based on your guide).

The tram is on a set course and there are timed animatronics and effects throughout the tour.

Value For Money – Movie Location Los Angeles

I will admit, you get pretty good value for your money with your tickets to Universal studios. But that’s only if you wanted to visit the theme park.

If you were already planning on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then the studio tour is a must-do ride! 

But if you don’t like theme parks, and your only interest is the Hollywood studio tour, I wouldn’t recommend paying for the entire theme park just for the tour.

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• How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation

Logistics: What To Know Before You Go

A tram leaves about every 30 minutes for the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour so the line builds up pretty quickly. I’d prioritize this as one of your first rides of the day.

As I said, don’t expect reality with this one, they do show you real sets but it’s also still a ride. So you’ll get a lot of gimmicky routines created specifically for this tour. 

Also, some advance warning, you might get wet at certain points during the ride. If you’d prefer to not get wet, try to sit in the middle of the row.

Book Universal Studio Tours Tickets In Advance Through Viator

Book General Admission tickets →

Book Skip the Line Express Tickets →

Book the VIP Experience on Viator (giving your exclusive access to off-limits areas of the park) →

For more Los Angeles organized tours from Viator, click here .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Warner Bros. Studio is actually in Burbank California , but it’s close enough to Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. studio tour takes you on a tram around different parts of the studio, with only around 12 guests at a time on the tour.

So unlike Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, it’s a lot more personal and you’re only on the tram to get from place to place (because their lot is HUGE!).

You drive by sound stages and countless outdoor sets. But you’ll get off and walk around a bit, even walking in some sets if you’re lucky. So you should be prepared for some walking on this studio tour in Los Angeles!

Total Time : ~3 hours (1 hour guided, 2 hours unguided). Leaves every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 3:30 Admission : 70$* Parking : 15$* Website

What Was Filmed Here (Sets You Might See!)

Check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Harry Potter
• Gilmore Girls
• Back to the Future
• The Big Bang Theory
• Pretty Little Liars

So Much More Than A Studio Tour

Over the years, the Warner Bros. studio tour has grown. It’s no longer just a backlot tour, now, that’s just one part of it…

Museums, Props, Sets, & Photo Ops At Warner Bros. Studio

Tickets to the Warner Bros. studio tour also includes interactive museums where you’ll want to take all the pictures you can!

You can interact with different sets from your favourite movies and TV sets, like Friends, the Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter! on the magic of movies, costume

There’s also an entire exhibit on the DC universe with all superheroe and villain props. They have Aquaman’s lair, Wonder Woman’s study, Superman’s office, and the Batman’s bat cave.

And finally they have an in-depth exhibit on all things filmmaking. Staring with the writing process and finishing with the special effects of movie making.

Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tickets With Viator

General Admission tickets →

Pros Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

They are constantly updating the Warner Bros. studio tour – that means you can even go back the next time you’re in Los Angeles, I’ve already gone back twice!

There was some over lap with the sets and information, but very little. A lot had been updated and added to the tour. And I’ve already noticed that they’ve added a lot more content since I’ve gone!

Also, the guided portion of the tour will rarely be the same. For starters, where you go will all depend on what they’re filming at the time. So not only can it change over the years, but it can change within the hour!

It’s also a very personal tour with only being 12 people on the tram. You can also all your questions about movie magic!

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Cons Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

With all the new additions to the tour every year, I’ve noticed the guided portion has become less and less…

The guided tour portion is only hour , and then two hours are a self guided tour through the museums.

But it’s the guided portion of the tour that’s always fresh and what brings me back! I’m a bit disappointed that the museums seem to have taken over the tour now, making the tour a bit more gimmicky and less about touring real sets and sound stages…

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Bring government I.D. when you visit, and make sure to arrive early!

You have to go through security and there might be a lineup. They suggest arriving 30 minutes in advance.

Don’t worry about getting lost on your way to the studios (if you’re driving there)! I followed the instructions we were given on how to get to the visitor’s centre, but my GPS brought me to the wrong gate. No need to panic if this happens to you too! The patrol was very understanding (I’m sure this happens all the time) and told us exactly where to go.

If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot across the street from the visitor’s centre (paid, of course). The studio is in a pretty secluded area, but there’s a Starbucks in the visitor’s centre .

You can book Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets in advance on Viator here .

Paramount Pictures Hollywood Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures is really interesting because it’s the last Hollywood studio still in Hollywood (well in Los Angeles). 

So it’s only about a 15-minute drive from Hollywood Blvd. FYI, Warner is in Burbank, and Sony is in Culver City.

It was very similar to Warner Bros. Hollywood studio tour in terms of the scale of the studio. They have several sound stages, a water tank, and a totally customizable New York set.

Like the other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles, there’s a museum portion of the tour with props. Paramount Pictures one had a lot of “ unwanted ” props (those that could only be used once for the film they were designed for).

There was A LOT of props from the Transformers franchise, but there were also Star Trek, Gladiator, and Dream Girls props.

Time : 2 hours * They leave every 30 minutes from 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Admission : 65$* Parking : $22 – (used to be cash only)* Website

What Was/ Is Filmed Here

• The Godfather
• OG King Kong (In Set 19)
• Breakfast at Tiffanys
• Forrest Gump

Pros Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour In Los Angeles

The best part about the Paramount Pictures Hollywood studio tour tour was the small size of the group. There’s a max of 7 people on the tour (you’re in an 8 seater golf cart).

The tour also provided earphones to be able to perfectly hear your tour guide at all times, so they didn’t have to shout at you! There can be a lot going on on sets with a lot of noises, so the earphones were definitely appreciated.

I also liked that they provided visuals for what you were looking at during the tour. Our tour guide carried around an iPad showing examples of what a specific set was used for over the years. So instead of looking at a giant green screen, they showed us how that green screen was used in different films.

Cons Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures studio tour taught me a few things about Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles…

First, the quality of the tour really depends on your tour guide – they can make or break your visit. And unfortunately, you won’t really know who you’re going to get beforehand.

Unfortunately for me, my tour guide at Paramount Pictures wasn’t the best. There’s so much history to this Hollywood studio that I ended up lost most of the time because I didn’t know who or what he was referring to, I guess the references were also a bit ahead of my time…

Paramount Studio tour also really showed me how important it is to have seen (or at least heard of) the films or shows the studio produced. 

So if you’re a fan of classics like I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchcock, or the original King Kong then Paramount Pictures studio tour is a must for you!

For me, Paramount Pictures studio tour was a bit of a mixed bag. I really see the potential of this tour though, but I think you have to be a really big movie buff to enjoy Paramount Pictures studio tour.

The visitor parking is across the street from the main gates. Be wary of the address on Google Maps, it brought me to the wrong gate.

When I visited, parking was cash only, so it’s always good to be prepared. There’s an ATM you can use at the end of the tour if you need (apparently no one does cash back in the area…).

Like the other tours, you have to show I.D. and go through security, so they ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your tour . But, in case there’s no wait at all, there’s a mini-exhibit you can visit to pass the time before your tour starts. 

Make sure to bring water and food, there’s really not much in the area. But drinks aren’t allowed on the tour itself, so leave it in the car!

SONY Studio Hollywood Tour

SONY Hollywood studio tour ended up being my favourite studio tour . We were only about 5 people on this tour, so it was very personal. But I don’t know if this was the max, or that fewer people happened to sign up for it.  

I know online there are 25 spots per time slot. I don’t know if that’s the typical tour size on a busier day, or if they would always split you up into smaller groups once you get there.

There are famous cars on display from movies and shows (like Breaking Bad and Ghostbusters). They also have a prop museum at the start of the tour. There’s even an Oscar and an Emmy award you can see (and even hold!). 

Time : 2 hours * Leaves 4 times a day: 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:30. Admission : 55$* Parking : Free Valet Website

What Was Filmed Here

• Breaking Bad
• Wheel of Fortune
• Ghostbusters
• The Goldbergs

Pros Of The SONY Studio Tour

SONY is a MUCH smaller studio than the other three Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. That means you don’t even need a tram to get around, we walked everywhere (so you should also be prepared to walk!). This made it easier to take appreciate it all and take pictures!

I also absolutely loved our tour guide, he was by far my favourite out of all the ones we had on any tour. It didn’t seem like he simply memorized a script. It was as if he lived and breathed SONY and films in general. I would’ve believed it if he’d told us he grew up on set.

We also got the chance to walk on to a sound stage from one of my favourite TV Shows – The Goldbergs. And our guide brought us onto a working foley stage (where they create extra sounds for movies). 

If a sound or foley stage isn’t available to see, you are guaranteed to see either the Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy set . They film on opposite days, so you’ll always be able to see one of them.

But the best perk of all is… You get your picture taken on the set of either Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, which they’ll print out and give to you as a souvenir… FREE OF CHARGE! ! Seriously when is anything ever free these days…

Cons Of The SONY Hollywood Studio Tour

As I mentioned, there’s no tram for the SONY Hollywood studio tour. Although the studio isn’t as large as the others, you have to be prepared to walk quite a bit.

Another sort of pro and con is that it’s 80 % outdoors . So you really want to go when it’s decent weather. And be prepared to be in the sun!

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Value For Money – Hollywood Studio Tours In Los Angeles

I think you get a lot of value for your money at SONY studio tour. It’s the cheapest out of any of the Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles and they give you some nice freebies (like parking and a photo souvenir!).

The scale of the studio might be smaller than the other three major studios, but there’s still a lot to see. And despite the lack of big blockbuster sets, they make up for it in different ways (like seeing the inside of a game show set, and a foley stage).

Like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures studio tours, they ask that you arrive 30 minutes early to go through security. 

If you drive there, they offer FREE valet parking in the Overland lot. 

The studio is very much out of the way, so plan your meals and snacks in advance. All they had at the studio was a vending machine .

Don’t expect to see large outdoor sets like from Warner Bros. or Paramount, SONY is a lot smaller, so most of their sets are on sound stages. So if you’re interested in the big New York outdoor sets, SONY isn’t for you!

Overview, What’s The Best Studio Tour In Los Angeles?

Like I said before, Universal Studios is the most expensive, but you do get an entire days worth of activities. But if your intent is to learn about movie magic, the other three are better choices. 

If you have time for more than one, you don’t need to see both Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. There’s quite a bit of overlap between the two. Instead, choose one of those, and then either Universal or SONY as your second option.

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In L.A.? Hotel Recommendations

Finding a place to stay in Los Angeles can be quite overwhelming – it’s HUGE!

I stayed at the Sofitel and would highly recommend it. It was in a safe area, and across the street from the Beverly Hills mall (which proved to be very convenient). It was also within walking distance to some local restaurants you need to try – like the Kings Road Cafe! See room rates & availability here .

If you want to stay on the beach outside of the city life instead, we stayed at The Georgian in Santa Monica and couldn’t recommend it enough! It’s only about a 25 minute drive from the city. This was a beautiful art deco hotel that is begging you to go there! It’s a minutes walk to the beach, Santa Monica Pier, and the Third Street Promenade. See room rates & availability here .

For more accommodation options in Los Angeles, click here . Interested in longer stays in L.A. check out Plum Guide here .

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Tuesday 26th of September 2023

You've gotten me excited about my next trip to Los Angeles. I've done the Universal tour and the Warner Bros tour, so I may do what you suggested and do Paramount and Sony next.

You're right about Universal's tour being more of a ride from what I remember. However, it was cool to see sets from The Good Place, Jaws, and Psycho. Being on the tram the whole time was a little different, and my experience was a bit thrown off because I hadn't expected Universal, CA to have such similar rides to Universal, FL, and I loved how Universal, FL made it really seem like you were on a set walking through various cities. Definitely not the same as CA. I think I was there for about 2 hours and was done. The weather was weird where it was kindof warm at first, but then turned super cold while I was in line for a ride, so I was done sooner than I expected.

I absolutely loved the Warner Bros tour. The guide was super nice and knowledgeable. I almost died when I saw the Gilmore Girl house and Luke's Diner. Of course I took pictures at the Central Perk. To me, the prop museum was a tad boring, but still overall decent. The tour was partially walking and partially riding. There were so many moments where I was like...."this looks familiar" and had to think of where the set had been used. Super cool. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

That's awesome!! Definitely I enjoyed that the Warners brothers was mixed with walking and a tram ride you were able to get so much further that way - and the lot is HUGE! It really is cool seeing sets from your favourite TV shows and movies! I really liked the SONY tour but it was definitely a lot smaller than Warner bros!

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Hi Meghan, great article. Easy to read and allowed me to choose the studio we should visit in the short time we will be in L.A. Thanks you.

Monday 20th of February 2023

That's awesome to hear! Glad I could help :D :D

How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation | Afternoon Tea Reads

Thursday 1st of October 2020

[…] sure which one to visit? Read my overall review of each studio tour to help you […]

Monday 1st of July 2019

Wow what a great list of tours to choose from! I personally don't like these types of things however I think your post will be super useful for those who do!

Thanks! I hope it will be :)

I’ve done the Universal tour but it was like 20 yrs ago! I really want to go back and do all these studio tours. I’m film mad me 😃💕

Oh wow, you really should I'm sure a lot has changed since then. It's a movie geeks dream :)

 • 4 1/2 hour cart tour

 • Available at 9:30am, Monday-Friday

 • Gourmet catered lunch at an exclusive location

 • VIP access to Archives and Backlot Production     Facilities

 • 15% discount at the Studio Store

 • Complimentary parking

 • Personalized souvenir photo

 • Guests 10 years and over are welcome

• $ 1 9 9 per person, taxes and fees included

As a Paramount VIP Tour Guest, you will have exclusive access to private areas of the Studio operations including Sign Shop, Prop Warehouse, and Sound Stages. In our legendary Archive facilities receive a hands-on look at props and set items from past productions. You will be introduced to the people and places who bring Hollywood to life and are the heart and soul of Paramount. Along the way, your group will enjoy a gourmet lunch or hors d’oeuvres in a unique production setting. Each step of the way, you’ll learn how the puzzle pieces fit together to create the movies and television shows you’ve come to love. This unforgettable tour experience allows you to see the inner workings of Hollywood, and learn firsthand what goes on behind Paramount’s iconic gates.

Tour Details

© 2022 Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

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PRIVACY POLICY

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DO NOT SELL MY INFORMATION

Thu, Apr 27

Los Angeles

GVBC Primetimers: Paramount Studios Tour

Join the Primetimers Ministry for an exciting day trip to visit one of the area’s newest attractions as well as one of the most iconic motion picture studios ever! Register by April 3, 2023.

Apr 27, 2023, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Los Angeles, 5515 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA

Information

You’ll begin your day at Eataly L.A. There are three restaurants located on the main floor and a rooftop restaurant that you can dine at today. You can also shop for a variety of fresh items in the Marketplace. There are bakery items, cheeses, 100 varieties of Olive Oil, and more. Next, you’re off to explore Paramount Studios. You'll arrive as a welcomed guest and leave a true industry insider. On this 2-hour guided tour aboard a Tour Cart, you’ll discover Hollywood’s first major movie studio led by an engaging Studio Page, visiting iconic locations like the Bronson Gate, New York Street Backlot, and the Prop Warehouse. Each step of the way, you will learn how Paramount’s 110-year legacy influenced Hollywood and the world at large.

Departure Time: 10:00 am

Return Time: 5:30 pm

TOUR COST: $148.00 per person. The final payment is due by April 3, 2023. Make checks payable to GVBC.

*NO REFUNDS after final payment is made*

For questions or more information, contact: Keiko Imatomi at (310) 327-0843 or email: lkimatomi@sbcglobal.net

Los Angeles Warner Brothers Studio Tour And Paramount Studios Tour 2023

June 14, 2024.

On my 2023 trip to Los Angeles, I accomplished a travel goal I’ve had for many years. I went on two Hollywood studio tours, Warner Brothers and Paramount Studios. Each studio was different in many ways, but both were awesome. If you’re in the L.A. area, I highly recommend these tours.

Warner Brothers Studio Tour Review

The Warner Brothers studio tour was quite expensive. However, the quality of the tour, tour facilities, parking garage, and length all made it 100% worth it. You start out in a beautiful building surrounded by Barbie movie props and costumes. This blew my mind! Then you wait in a room filled with WB memorabilia and photos. I paid for the upgraded tour, so I entered a special room which had snack, drinks, and priority tour access. There were hundreds of guests and many tour guides driving large golf carts.

The tour consisted of the Warner Brothers jungle set, showcasing areas used in Jurassic Park and True Blood. There was also a ton of time spent on the back lot New York City set which was amazing. We saw how building facades were transformed into amazing and iconic movies. We got to walk through a tiny fraction of the prop warehouse. It was an organized hoarder’s paradise. The best part of the tour for me was to sit on the actual couch and set from Central Perk, Friends TV show’s coffee house.

Paramount Studios

This studio tour was small and private by comparison. There were only 4 of us on the tour, and we had the entire studio lot to ourselves. We saw the various back lot sets as well as many famous sound stages. The coolest thing on this tour was seeing the spot (behind a medical building) were Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis had a romantic scene, supposedly on her porch. What movie magic! This tour was considerably cheaper but shorter too. I would do both again!

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour vs Paramount Studio Tour: A Review

Last updated on january 23, 2024.

I love a good film just as much as the next person. The Big Screen and its secrets are so fascinating to me. When I went to Hollywood, I was determined to learn more about the secrets of Hollywood and see where so many masterpieces were made, and booked two studio tours.

I couldn’t decide on only one so I splurged on two tours. First, I went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour , visiting the standard studio tour. Then I also went on the Paramount Studio Tour , also opting for their standard studio tour. Which one did I think was better?

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The first stop on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a short film (of course). It’s essentially just clips of movies they’ve filmed so you can see the selection of their movies and get pumped for the tour. Your tour guide then comes to get you and you head out in groups of about 20 people. They don’t tell you a lot about the history but they show you a lot of cool outdoor lots. You can see their forest lot, their suburban town lot, and their New York City lot. These lots are created to be versatile but quite standard. They have screens that show you some scenes that were filmed where you’re standing, and our guide knew a lot more and was able to tell us about some other films that were shot in those areas.

Of course, they also tell and show you the secrets of Hollywood. Some stuff is pretty standard, like using plaster to look like stone because it’s cheaper and quicker to make. But I’m still mindblown over something I learned here: they take branches and leaves off of the trees when needed, and also put them back on when needed. I didn’t know you could just take branches and leaves off of real trees and then reattach them like nothing happened! It’s so extra and so cool.

I later watched The Monster Squad , which is filmed on their suburban town lot with 0% editing, and it was really cool to recognise the location.

The guides, if not the tours, are really heavy on certain shows and movies. If you like Friends , this tour is completely full of their filming locations. They also have a lot about Gilmore Girls . A lot of our tour revolved around those two shows but you have to imagine how lengthy going through a whole history of Hollywood would be.

Then you also get to go into some indoor lots. We got to see the set for Fuller House and then the set of Conan . No photos were allowed but we got to see how shows like those two are filmed. They also have some exhibits that they bring you into. You can see one on DC movies and then one on Harry Potter . I expect these change from time to time. The DC movie exhibit was fascinating and it was easy to visualise the props in the movies, even though I haven’t seen any of the movies. The Harry Potter exhibit was actually quite small, and I was disappointed that they didn’t sort us with the sorting hat. My tour guide said that they no longer did that on the tour, but my friend and her husband visited the same place just two weeks later and got sorted on the tour. Fishy. Alas, I did get to see some awesome costumes and props from the Harry Potter series. They have some original costumes and candy props. However, I still need to go to the tour in London – this is nothing compared to that.

You can return to the land of superheroes by visiting the garage where they keep several Batmobiles. There were somewhere from 7-10 vehicles in the garage, all original to the movies, and all apparently working vehicles.

The tour wraps up by dropping you off at “Stage 48,” which is a museum-style part of the tour. This is self-guided. I thought it was educational and there was a lot more variety of TV shows’ and movies’ props and facts there. This is also where you can get your photo taken on the sets of Friends and The Big Bang Theory . You can’t actually explore the sets as it’s just a photo op. You sit on the couches and get your photo taken, which I believe is complimentary. You can also get your photo taken with their green screen setups, as either a wizard riding a broomstick or someone on Batman’s Batpod. I believe these are complimentary as well.

One thing I really didn’t like about this tour… I cannot believe that Warner Bros. would create Scooby Doo and then just deny its existence. I mean, it’s Scooby Doo. It’s one of the best TV and movie franchises in existence. I’m incredibly disappointed in them.

Otherwise, it was a great tour and I’d highly recommend it. It was really informative and a memorable experience. I actually learned a lot, both by reading but also by exploring, that I remember today, and I got to see some great props from fantastic movies. Tour guides change but mine was very enthusiastic and eager to share information. It put Hollywood into perspective but it was a lot of fun, even for a solo traveller.

Paramount Studio Tour

Next, I went to the Paramount Studio Tour. We get to do something really cool at the start of the tour – hold an Academy Award! Mine was for 1953 Best Special Effects. Then we head out on the tour. The great thing about this tour is that it’s smaller and more intimate. We had about 6-10 people in our group and got to introduce ourselves and our favourite movies, which allowed the tour guide to give us a much more personal experience. For example, I told her that I like Alfred Hitchcock, and she was able to point out places and state facts that were relevant to that. Imagine all the info guides must know to be able to curate each tour like that!

This tour is much more centered on behind-the-scenes information rather than props. They tell you a lot about the history of Paramount Studios and how certain films came to be made. They also have an iPad where they can show you photos and clips of movies that were filmed where you’re standing. They did this a lot more than Warner Bros., so it was easier to envision how certain spaces could transform for different purposes. There are some outdoor lots you visit but nothing as extensive as Warner Bros.

One of the coolest places we got to see was a large blue lot. It was just a blue parking lot that was outside. Our guide then showed us a variety of scenes that were filmed there, which really brought to light the magic of Hollywood and how spaces can be transformed using no more than special effects.

You get to go on a few indoor lots as well. We saw the sets of Dr. Phil and Grace & Frankie . I hadn’t even heard of the latter but we actually got to go in and explore the set, rather than look at it from a few feet away. That part was really cool!

You also get to spend some time in their prop warehouse but honestly, that was one of the most disappointing parts of the tour. All the props – no more than about 30 – are from obscure movies nobody there had ever heard of. We were given some time to explore but we kind of just looked around for a minute and then waited to leave.

I was also bugged that it was so hot (’cause, you know, southern California) but our tour guide was required to wear a long sleeved shirt and a blazer. Someone pointed this out and the guide said yes, the uniform is very hot. Is it weird to write that here? Treating employees like that docks points in my book.

So if it’s not obvious from this review, I thought Warner Bros. was the clear winner for the Studio Tour. I enjoyed that Paramount provides a more intimate experience, but they also provided much more information that we could’ve found online. I love history but with a studio tour, I was looking for an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else. Warner Bros. provided that a lot more, and getting to see so many great things in such a short period of time was more exciting. Warner Bros. also milks its hugely popular productions (except Scooby Doo). Paramount doesn’t do that as much. It tells a clearer story when you can see multiple filming locations and props from a specific movie or show rather than bits and pieces from a wide array of movies and shows.

Both are expensive tours, but I’d definitely recommend visiting Warner Bros. Studios if you’re into film. I don’t think it’s worth visiting Paramount Studios as well, especially at such a hefty price. However if you have the money, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Have you ever been to either studio tour? What did you think?

Also, off the topic of travelling, I’m interested in hearing what your favourite movies and TV shows are! Pop them into the comments below ’cause I’d love to know.

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Paramount Studios – Stage 31

Date of Construction:  1930

Stages 29-32 (all adjacent to each other) were originally capable of being opened up into one huge stage, to allow long camera moves and continuous dancing sequences associated with the golden days of Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers musicals. Stages 30 and 31 still have a soundproof partition between them which allows them to be joined to this day. Stage 31 was originally named Stage 9 prior to the Desilu merger with Paramount. ( reference )

Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Stage_31]

Back to Soundstages at Paramount

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Paramount chiefs to staff: we’re cutting $500m in costs after “unacceptable” profit drops.

The trio of co-CEOs told employees at a town hall Tuesday that bankers have been hired to sell unspecified assets "to help pay down debt and strengthen our balance sheet."

By Georg Szalai

Georg Szalai

Global Business Editor

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Many hollywood stocks are now "show me" bets for wall street investors, paramount+ raises prices for ad-tier and premium plan.

The triumvirate’s plan to do so consists of three strategic pillars, the co-CEOs reiterated. First is transforming Paramount’s streaming strategy to accelerate profits, so they can begin to make up for linear declines. McCarthy argued that there has been progress since the company’s annual shareholder meeting on June 4. In its latest quarter, the company reached 71 million Paramount+ subscribers, up from 67.5 million in the prior quarter, with streaming losses totaling $286 million.

In international markets, “we are advancing talks with potential partners that will significantly transform the scale and economics of the service, making it profitable and driving long-term value,” McCarthy said. “This approach could also serve as a model for the U.S.”

The executive didn’t share more details of what kind of partnerships or other deals this could involve, but Paramount and Comcast/NBCUniversal have the SkyShowtime streaming joint venture in Europe. Sources at two other media companies have told THR that they would be interested in exploring some sort of a partnership with Paramount in the U.S., though in both cases they indicated that their own companies, not Paramount, would need to be the controlling partner.

That could include negotiations to sell BET Networks or other linear TV assets like the non-CBS local TV stations (the company also owns brands like MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central), as well as potential assets like VidCon or even the free streaming service Pluto TV. Paramount has been executing a plan to “slim down to scale up” in streaming for several years now. The company sold publisher Simon & Schuster to private equity firm KKR for $1.62 billion last year, and previously sold CBS’ New York BlackRock headquarters building for $760 million and CBS’ Studio City lot for $1.85 billion in 2021.

Third is modernizing the organization “so we can move faster — and be more nimble” via $500 million in annualized cost savings by eliminating duplicative functions and being more efficient with resources. That means more layoffs will be coming to the company.

The executives were asked during the Q&A session if they had a specific timeline for job cuts, but were not prepared to give one just yet, according to an attendee.

In preparation for a potential deal, Paramount parted ways on April 29 with CEO Bob Bakish, who had run the company since it recombined Viacom and CBS in December 2019. Shari Redstone, the controlling stakeholder of Paramount and ultimate decider of its future, was not a speaker on the Tuesday town hall with staff.

While the Skydance deal is dead, as Robbins alluded to, there is still a chance of a deal. Apollo and Sony are still circling, though they are said to have slimmed down their initial all-cash offer for the company to something more focused on the studio.

And multiple bidders have emerged as potential buyers of Redstone’s National Amusements, which owns the controlling shares in Paramount. Those bidders include producer Steven Paul and Seagrams heir Edgar Bronfman Jr.

Year to date, Paramount Global stock is trading down 29 percent.

Alex Weprin contributed to this report.

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“sickening (derogatory) to see the entire @mtvnews archive wiped from the internet,” Crystal Bell, culture editor at Mashable and one-time entertainment director of MTV News, posted on X. “decades of music history gone…including some very early k-pop stories.”

“This is disgraceful. They’ve completely wiped the MTV News archive,” longtime Rolling Stone senior writer Brian Hiatt commented . “Decades of pop culture history research material gone, and why?”

Last week, Paramount Global’s CMT website similarly pulled its repository of country-music journalism dating back several decades.

Reps for MTV did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

Some observers noted that MTV News articles may be available through internet archiving services like the Wayback Machine , but according to Hiatt older MTV News articles do not show up via Wayback Machine.

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Guest Essay

The Slow Death of a Fabled Media Empire

By William D. Cohan

Mr. Cohan is a founding partner of Puck and a former Wall Street banker.

“60 Minutes.” MTV. “The Daily Show.” The future of some of America’s most recognized cultural icons is unknown as the fate of their owner, the Hollywood and media conglomerate Paramount Global, hangs in the balance.

Paramount may be on the verge of being sold, its prospects uncertain. Maybe the possibility of its demise isn’t worth lamenting. Maybe we should just crown Netflix the new king of Hollywood. Perhaps the sources of our next cultural touchstones are to be found on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube, and not in the maze-like corridors of the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street or in Paramount Pictures’ 65-acre Melrose Avenue lot.

Because Paramount Global’s ownership structure gives all power to its largest voting shareholder, the company’s future comes down to the whims of just one person: the 70-year-old heiress Shari Redstone. She chose to put Paramount on the block, and she alone is deciding between a buyer whose strategy could very well further weaken, or kill, these cultural icons — and one that at least allows for some hope of a creative revival. She could, of course, reject both options, and try to maintain what’s left of the status quo. Is this how we want our cultural future to be decided?

One of the two suitors for Paramount is a partnership between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global, the alternative asset management behemoth, which wants to break the company up into its component parts and sell many off. That would probably result in new owners for CBS, Showtime, Paramount+, MTV and Comedy Central, risking the already tenuous futures of a set of businesses that would most likely get milked for their cash flow with little capital reinvestment. (Though it’s also possible they could flourish with new ownership.)

The hope in this fragile equation is that the other potential buyer, a partnership between David Ellison and his financial backers, will find a way to revive Paramount’s cultural and financial influence with a new management team and a new strategy. The group, which includes RedBird Capital and KKR, has offered to pay Ms. Redstone a big premium to get voting control of Paramount (leaving other shareholders with only a small fraction of the compensation she’s getting). It would then have Paramount buy Skydance Media, the group’s movie production company, and combine it with the Paramount studio to reap the “synergies.”

That complex deal promises the chance — but hardly the certainty — for a creative and economic revival of Paramount. Last week, the Ellison/RedBird deal won the backing of the special committee of the company’s board, and now it’s up to Ms. Redstone, at her sole discretion, to decide whether to accept it. Then, of course, doing nothing is also an option she could choose.

The relentless deal-making, over decades, that led to the creation of Paramount Global has taken a toll. Once innovative and wildly profitable businesses, such as CBS and MTV, are struggling financially. Morale is low as the sale process drags on. “The inability to come to any decision feeds high anxiety,” one longtime Paramount producer wrote me. Ms. Redstone’s conundrum of whether to sell the company, or not, is only possible due to the decades of wheeling and dealing by her father that made the Redstones one of America’s most powerful media families.

In 1987, Sumner Redstone was a little-known but audacious movie theater operator in Boston when he bought Viacom, the owner of a group of TV and radio stations along with MTV, Nickelodeon and Showtime. Over the ensuing two decades he would go on to gobble up the revered Paramount movie studio (a deal I worked on while I was at Lazard); Blockbuster, the video store giant; and CBS, in one of the biggest media mergers of the 20th century. In 2005, he bought DreamWorks SKG, the Hollywood studio founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. Regulators never tried to stop Mr. Redstone, presumably because there were always bigger competitors, such as Disney, or G.E., or Comcast, that also were allowed to grow without opposition from Washington.

Hollywood stars flocked to Mr. Redstone’s Beverly Park mansion in Los Angeles and to Dan Tana’s, his favorite restaurant. By granting access to CBS, or Showtime, or Paramount, or MTV or Comedy Central, Mr. Redstone had the power in Hollywood and in Manhattan to make others rich and famous. What made it all work was his attention to detail, his faith in his executives, and his willingness to wield the law (and his Harvard Law degree) as a weapon.

He loved the fight . He once got so angry at two of his direct reports that he ended up spitting out a tooth. “It’s like ‘Apocalypse Now,’” Tom Dooley, Viacom’s chief operating officer at the time, said in 2012. “He loves the smell of napalm in the morning.”

But as he aged, Mr. Redstone made mistakes. He stuck with executives for too long and paid them too generously. His two young girlfriends appeared to control too much of his life. He was late to opportunities, such as streaming, and let others slip away, like the chance to buy Marvel Entertainment. He temporarily barred Tom Cruise from the Paramount lot because he thought Cruise’s devotion to Scientology was hurting business.

As her father’s health deteriorated, Shari Redstone exerted greater and greater control — even though her dad for many years made it known that he didn’t want her involved with the business. After Mr. Redstone died, in 2020, at age 97, she took full legal control of Paramount and set about cleaning house, with new management and new boards of directors, loyal to her.

It hasn’t worked out as Ms. Redstone planned. While she was consolidating her power, Netflix and Apple were innovating and Disney, Comcast and Amazon were getting more formidable. The company she’s putting on the block seems forlorn at best. CBS and the cable channels are in a steep decline amid the rise of streaming, while its own streaming service Paramount+ lost more than $1.6 billion in 2023.

Putting the company up for sale seems only to have hastened Paramount’s decline. In late April, Ms. Redstone tossed out her longtime loyal chief executive, Bob Bakish, in the middle of the sale process, a rare event for sure, and replaced him with three co-chiefs, an even rarer phenomenon. Four board directors quit without explanation. Other potential deals, such as offers to buy Showtime and Paramount+, were passed up either because the prices was deemed too low by management or were never presented by management to the board to be considered. Through it all, Paramount’s market value has dwindled to around $9 billion — down a miserable 90 percent — and the value of the Redstone stake in the media empire has dwindled along with it.

At the annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Ms. Redstone praised the performance of her three co-chief executives, who proceeded to lay out their vision for how they would operate Paramount as it is, bolstering at least momentarily the idea she will decide not to sell the company.

What’s been lost in the nearly 40 years of the Redstones’ inveterate deal-making, in addition to enormous shareholder value, are any number of important cultural touchstones that CBS and Paramount once developed and nurtured, like MTV, like CBS News, like all the immense talent that once made Comedy Central iconic.

That happens, of course, as tastes and mores evolve decade after decade. But these losses seem more like self-inflicted wounds that could have been avoided under different stewardship. In sum, the family’s forays into Hollywood as well as into broadcast and cable television have proven to be pretty much an ego-driven failure.

William D. Cohan is a founding partner of Puck and a former Wall Street banker.

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