We Explore and Rank the Best Studio Tours in Hollywood

Finding the best studio tours in Hollywood is tricky.

Why?

Because there are so many of them!

When visiting Los Angeles there really isn’t anything better for a film lover to do than to visit one of the infamous studio tours. But which studio do you visit?

With such a wide range of options, we have done the hard work for you and have ranked the best to worst Hollywood studio tours.

The Best Studio Tours in Hollywood

With the list below being my own personal opinion, you may have different choices and tastes.

Consider this a guide for your next Los Angeles adventure.

1. Warner Brothers Studio Tour

Situated in Burbank the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is simply the best.

Mixing film education with an absolutely incredible tour it is above and beyond what you’d expect a studio tour to be.

Get ready, this one is a MUST VISIT!

Warner Brothers actually offer the most in terms of range when it comes to the tours. There are three options to choose from!

Warner Brothers Standard tour

Hop on board the open-sided vehicle and head into one of the most iconic movie studios in Hollywood.

Every single tour is different from the last but what you can expect is to visit various backlots and sound stages of various productions and it’s a guarantee you’ll visit such classic sets as The Big Bang Theory and the iconic Central Perk from Friends.

You’ll also explore the DC Universe exhibit in addition to a wizarding world exhibit in the Warner Bros museum where you can look around at your own leisure at all the movie props and costumes.

On the tour, you’ll also be taken into Stage 48 where you’ll step into an immersive world of seeing a movie go from script to screen.

From pre to post-production you can see how a movie is pieced together and the interactive elements are sure to keep you engaged from start to finish.

This added touch to an already perfect tour shows just how much the public and their entertainment means to Warner Bros.

Warner Brothers Classic tour

This is the only tour on the list that I haven’t personally experienced but I imagine it’s very similar to the structure of the normal tour.

As you drive around the back lot a tour guide will guide you through the studio tour themed to classic movies and TV shows rather than modern ones.

The perfect gift for the older generation or even the younger soul who appreciates the good classics. The modern Stage 48 is also included as part of the tour but the classics tour also includes a tour of The Prop House.

I’d personally want to go on the classics tour JUST to see The Prop House.

That really should be included on the normal tour too!

Warner Brothers Deluxe tour

The Warner Bros Deluxe Tour is without a doubt the best Hollywood experience I had at a studio. The deluxe tour is the ultimate experience.

If you’re travelling to Los Angeles to do movie tours and have the cash to splash this is one experience that you’ll never forget.

This 5-hour in-depth tour takes you through the whole studio. In and out of live sets and the two times I did the deluxe tour I actually spotted a celebrity.

The studio is a live working studio so on any tour you can expect to spot a known talent at any given moment.

With the deluxe tour, you get to eat in the fine dining room. An exclusive dining experience where studio execs, talent and more all gather to have meetings over a nice spot of lunch prepared by an executive chef.

The food was outstanding and we saw so many big named talent in there it was unbelievable.

Naturally, you really shouldn’t approach them but we did have the studio executive approach our tour to say hello so you just never know who you may meet during your very own tour.

The day starts off with a complimentary drink and breakfast and then into a private screening room for a little introduction to the studio.

The 5 hours fly by from exploring the museum to seeing the Batmobile collection. As well as the costume department (only available on the deluxe tour) you also explore the props department.

Warner Bros Tour Comparison Chart

Out of the best studio tours in Hollywood. No, THE best studio tour in Hollywood! Warner Brothers will always be number one for me! 

I had so much of a great time on the tour that when I flew back over to LA a few months later and I did it all again and it was completely different.

That’s the magic of these tours. No two days are the same!

Book A Warner Bros Studio Tour Here

2. Universal Studios Tour

The second place on our best studio tours in Hollywood list is Universal Studios.

Universal Studios combines a studio with a theme park in this incredibly exciting experience. Here we have two options to choose from. A standard tour and a VIP experience.

Standard tour (Inclusive of park entry price)

This 60-minute experience will take you through four acres of the historic studio lot.

Jump into your Universal tram and explore some large construction sets whilst being narrated by the one and only Jimmy Fallon.

This is a tour like no other as your tram actually becomes part of various interactions including a subway earthquake scene, a 4D experience and some epic special effects set pieces that showcase various effects used in movies.

Drive past such iconic structures as Bates Motel and step into the grand finale of Fast & Furious Supercharged.

The standard tour is a thrill ride mixed with information about the studio itself. Whilst a fun ride it’s not very informative.

If you want an informative tour then Warner Bros are the clear winners here.

If you want some extra fun on your tour you can’t go wrong with Universal.

Once the tour has finished you’re free to explore what the rest of the theme park has to offer.

Universal Studios VIP Experience – Price – $299 per person

It’s a tough choice between this VIP experience and the Warner Brothers one.

As stated above if you want a more informative and deeper look into how a studio works then Warner Brothers are unrivalled but if you want an epic VIP tour and THEN access to a theme park thereafter then Universal is the way to go.

The VIP Universal experience is a full-day experience.

Arrive at Universal Studios, flash the VIP pass and enjoy your own valet parking.

Upon entering into a private VIP building you are served breakfast as you await your call time before setting off in a VIP tram with comfy leather seats and complimentary drinks as you drive around set.

Whilst the normal tram tour just drives on by the VIP tour park up, get off as you tour sound stages and movie sets from the biggest shows and films ever created.

Visit the prop department and more as you can take a sneak peek behind the scenes.

Feel Like A Star

Universal doesn’t usually have as much going on compared to Warner Brothers when it comes to activity on the production lot, as a result, the two times I visited the studio section was rather empty but maybe I just attended on a quiet day. Unfortunately we didn’t see any stars this time around.

Your personal tour guide takes you throughout the studio and you enjoy a lovely gourmet meal in a private dining room.

Once you’ve had your food the real fun begins.

Your tour guide will personally walk you to the front of every single ride in the park and you will get front row seats at every show in the park with your VIP badge.

You can ride the rides as many times as you want once the tour is open and your VIP badge will shoot you to the front of the queue every single time.

With such rides as the brand new Jurassic World water ride and the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey expansion, you’ll really feel like a star with the Universal Studios VIP pass.

I think I went on The Mummy rollercoaster 12 times in a row and kept walking past people who had been queuing for over 30 minutes.

Ignore the envious looks and just have yourself a wonderful time!

Book A Universal Studios Tour Here

3. Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Third on our list is Paramount Pictures who offer two tours, a standard tour, and a VIP tour.

Standard Tour – Price $60

This 2-hour cart tour takes you on a little journey around the studio as you visit infamous locations like the Bronson Gate, the prop house and more.

For me, the Paramount tour was quite dull. With Paramount being a much smaller studio the driving areas are narrow and limited.

Most of the tour involved parking up somewhere and being spoken to.

As much as it was interesting to hear about the studio we were usually parked up next to a brick wall, an iconic brick wall but a brick wall nonetheless.

I was a little bored throughout the tour until we ran into Ken Jeong (Hangover) who was on the lot filming and Kevin Hart was also filming a show as our tour was taking place.

This made the tour worth every penny as we were right next to these Hollywood giants and seeing them at work.

If I hadn’t have seen these two I would have had a very poor experience. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

There was nothing to keep me hooked and it felt as though we were being taken around an office building rather than an iconic studio.

There was sadly no magic or effort made from the studio to cater for their tour guests.

VIP Tour – Price $189

This 4 and a half hour tour gives you VIP access to archives and backlot production facilities. The VIP upgrade is 100 times better than that of the rather dull standard tour!

You are taken around the inner workings of the studio and not just the brick walls that make up the studio and get hands-on with props and speak to members of staff working on various movies.

You are physically introduced to people within the studio and this could include stars.

For dinner, you will enjoy a gourmet lunch in a private production dining room and this exclusivity makes for all the more enjoyable experience.

Seriously, forget the standard tour. I felt as though I had wasted my money. Take the leap and bump yourselves up to the VIP tour. You won’t regret it!

Instead of seeing Kevin Hart and Ken Jeong there was more chance of meeting them and getting photos with them if I had taken the VIP tour.

I’m still kicking myself even now!

Book A Paramount Studio Tour Here

4. Sony Pictures Studio Tour – $50

Step back in time, walk through those iconic gates and enjoy this 2-hour walking tour.

Sony only offers a standard tour, there are no VIP upgrades available.

Take a look at sound stages, sets including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. The sony tour just lets you walk around a visually stunning studio in the glorious LA sunshine.

With various picture opportunities (including the Breaking Bad RV and ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters) I can’t really pick out a highlight of the tour.

The tour office houses some iconic Sony movie props and that was before the tour even started and free to view for any member of the public.

The best bit of the tour was the museum which was free to explore.

Instead of going through movie history, the majority of the tour is looking at TV game shows that I couldn’t care less about.

If you’re a TV gameshow fanatic then Sony Pictures is for you.

If you love your movies then look elsewhere.

A tour guide pointing to a car park and saying this is where we shot a scene from The Holiday starring Cameron wasn’t my idea of informative, immersive or interesting.

Easy the worst tour on the list and the price reflects that.

To be honest even the $50 they do charge seems overpriced. Very much so.

The best part about the tour was the mini-museum that was located within the reception building and that’s free!

The standard tour at Warner Brothers is only $60 and the experience there is much more involved and interesting.

Book A Sony Pictures Tour Here

Overall

As far as the best studio tours in Hollywood goes the clear winner here is Warner Brothers. They have the full package for an all-round studio tour experience.

Universal could easily be a number one but for me as a studio experience, you want to go to Warner Brothers.

With Universal Studios being more of a theme park it dampens the studio experience somewhat. You’re on the tour aching to get inside the park properly and jump on the rides!

It doesn’t feel as detailed or as movie focused. It’s very much more family targeted.

The tram is a theme park-style experience not an informative tour, it was very commercialized. Which is fine. But for a genuine studio tour, Warners takes the crown every single day of the week.

I absolutely recommend the VIP upgrades on all of the studio tours. You will absolutely regret it and at no point did I feel short-changed on any of them.

You get the full experience and some great photos to remember it by.

Create some memories and who knows, you might just meet a celebrity along the way!

Thanks for checking out our Best Studio Tours in Hollywood post!