Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is a public attraction situated inside Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank in Burbank, California that offers visitors the chance to glimpse behind the scenes of one of the oldest and most popular film studios in the world.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood offers a visit where guests can Tour a real working Hollywood studio. Explore the sets and soundstages that brought classic movies and TV shows like Casablanca, The Big Bang Theory, La La Land, Gilmore Girls, Friends and many more to life.
The Tour in some form has been open for several decades, but was recently renamed to give the Warner Bros. Studio Tours a more uniform identity after the success of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London in Leavesden. Previously it was known as the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour.
Experience the magic of Hollywood and see where favorite movies were made during this guided Tour of Warner Bros. Studio. Join guide and a small group to explore back-lot sets and sound stages, see the famous Central Perk cafe from “Friends,” and learn about green-screen technology. For a grand finale, become a part of favorite DC Universe and Harry Potter movies on recreated sets.
Warner Bros. Studio’s knowledgeable Tour Guides will give an intimate behind-the-scenes look at original props and costumes used in films from Wonder Woman at the DC Universe: The Exhibit, to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts located inside the Warner Bros. Archive. Guests also visit the Picture Car Vault showcasing some of Batman’s most famous vehicles throughout the years.
The Tour concludes at the interactive soundstage at Stage 48: Script to Screen – an immersive experience providing a hands-on introduction to the world of filmmaking. Guests can re-enact a scene on the original Central Perk Café set from Friends, ride a bat-pod through Gotham City using green screen technology and so much more.
Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank
Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, formerly known as Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Studios (1967–1970) and The Burbank Studios (1972–1990), is a major filmmaking facility owned and run by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. in Burbank, California. First National Pictures built the 62-acre (25 ha) studio lot in 1926 as it expanded from a film distributor to film production.
The financial success of The Jazz Singer and The Singing Fool enabled Warner Bros. to purchase a majority interest in First National in September 1928 and it began moving its productions into the Burbank lot. The First National studio, as it was then known, became the official home of Warner Bros.–First National Pictures with four sound stages. Though Warner’s Sunset Boulevard studios remained in active use during the 1930s both for motion picture filming and “phonograph recordings” a fire in December 1934 destroyed 15 acres (6.1 ha) of the studios in Burbank, forcing the company to put its Sunset Boulevard studio back into full use.
In 1937, Stage 7 was raised 30 feet and renamed Stage 16 to become a 98-foot high stage with a 2-million-gallon water tank, one of the largest stages in the world, and has been used to film scenes from The Goonies (1985), The Perfect Storm (2000) and Dunkirk (2017) and is also where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s characters can be seen walking in the film La La Land (2016). Stage 22, built in 1937, was the last stage built on the studio lot for 60 years. By 1937, Warner Bros. had all but closed the Sunset studio, making the Burbank lot its main headquarters – which it remains to this day. Eventually Warner dissolved the First National company and the site has often been referred to as simply Warner Bros. Studios since.
The backlot has various sets including New York Street; Hennessy Street; Midwest Street and The Jungle. New York Street was built in 1930 and can be used to represent other cities and has been used for films including 42nd Street (1933), Blade Runner (1982) and The Dark Knight (2008) and television series such as Friends (1994–2004). Hennessy Street was originally known as Tenement Street and was built in 1937. It was used for My Fair Lady (1964), Annie (1982) and Spider-Man (2002). Midwest Street was built in 1939 for Four Wives and has since been used as River City in The Music Man (1962) and for The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985) and Gremlins (1984). The Jungle set was built in 1955 for the film Santiago (1956) and has later been used for The Goonies (1985) and The Waltons.
In 1955, Warner Bros. Television was created and TV productions on the lot increased with some of the stages subdivided into two or three smaller stages. The Laramie Street set was built in 1957 used for westerns including Blazing Saddles (1974) and TV series Cheyenne and Maverick. In 2004 it was turned into Warner Village, a residential street, used in TV series including Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
In a cost-cutting move in 1972, Warner Bros. entered into a joint venture with Columbia Pictures to create, The Burbank Studios on the Warner lot and its auxiliary facility, The Burbank Studios Ranch on Columbia’s Columbia Ranch, located a mile north of the main lot. The Burbank Studios was often abbreviated as TBS, especially the ranch, i.e., TBS Ranch. During this period, whether a Columbia Pictures Television series (e.g., Police Woman, Joe Forrester, Fantasy Island, Hart to Hart, Police Story) or a Warner Bros. Television property (e.g., The Dukes of Hazzard, Alice, Harry O, Kung Fu, The New Land), a credit for The Burbank Studios being the production base was included within one of each series’ end title cards’ credits.
Additionally, the new independent supplier Lorimar Productions was based at The Burbank Studios so within the end credits of its properties like The Waltons, The Blue Knight, and Eight Is Enough, a “Filmed at The Burbank Studios” notation was included. The joint venture lasted until 1990 when the partnership was dissolved and Columbia Pictures and sister division Tri-Star Pictures moved into and took over the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Lorimar (now Sony Pictures Studios) lot in Culver City, with the two studio lots in Burbank reverted to Warner Bros. Studios and Warner Bros. Studios Ranch Facilities, respectively.
From 1992-1995, Columbia TriStar Home Video (now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) was located on 3400 Riverside Drive at the Warner Bros. lot.
Friends was filmed on the studio lot for ten years. The first season was shot on Stage 5 but at the beginning of the second season, production moved to the larger Stage 24. Stage 24 was renamed “The Friends Stage” after the series finale in 2004. Other shows shot on Stage 24 included Full House and Mike & Molly. The Big Bang Theory was filmed on Stage 25 and Stage 1 which is one of 3 stages where they tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show. By 2015, the studio had 35 sound stages.
Past guided tours
In the early days of Warner Bros. Jack Warner would welcome friends and special guests to the studio for tours. If Warner could not provide the tour himself, Mail Room employees were entrusted to show guests around the lot. These tours were not offered to the public and could only be arranged through employees; however, they still proved popular. Consequently, Warner sought to limit requests as he thought studio tours could cause a “slow-up” of the company’s operations.
One Mail Room employee, Dick Mason, was noted for giving very informative tours and was frequently the requested guide for studio executive’s guests. Mason’s knowledge led him to be assigned to Jack Warner’s office to assist the Vice President of Worldwide Production.
In 1972, Warner Bros. faced financial hardships and signed a deal with Columbia Pictures, which was also struggling. They combined to create The Burbank Studios, a joint venture where they would share studio space. In 1973 the new company opened a public facing Tour Department. Dick Mason was assigned to manage the new operation. All tours required an advanced reservation and cost $3.
Mason’s department included seven tour guides, and tours were limited to twelve people at a time. Tours were unscripted but included the back lots, sound stages, prop house, depending on availability. Without a budget for advertising, news spread by word-of-mouth. The tour proved popular due to its unscripted nature and saw 15,000 guests a year.
As compared to the Universal tour, Dick Mason was interested in educating the public about film-making: “The entire tour is practical. There are no demonstrations or simulations. We’re catering to families and kids. We just want to give insight to a business most people have misunderstandings about.” The tours departed about four times a day and were around three hours.
In 1990, The Burbank Studios dissolved and Warner Bros. reclaimed the rest of the studio from Columbia Pictures when Columbia moved to the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot in Culver City. The Tour Department was relocated into a building next to the studio’s Gate 4 on Hollywood Way which allowed the public to inquire about the tour without needing a pass. It shared the space with a Studio Store.
Dick Mason retired from Warner Bros. in 2000 and Danny Kahn assumed leadership of the Tour Department. Kahn moved the location of tour to an office building previously occupied by Columbia Pictures across the street from Gate 5. He successfully pushed to increase the frequency of the tours but kept the size of the tour groups small and unscripted nature. The tour became more streamlined and began more aggressive advertising.
In 2015, the tour rebranded itself with the launch of Stage 48: Script to Screen. The expanded tour uses a new name, a new logo, and newer tour carts.
Current Experience
There are 2 Tours currently available. The standard Studio Tour which lasts 2 to 3 hWarner Bros. Studio’ss and the Deluxe Tour which lasts 5 to 6 hWarner Bros. Studio’ss. The Tours are a mixture of guided and self-guided, and each Tour is different due to filming in certain areas. Pictures are allowed in certain areas. Classics Tour is temporarily closed.
Tours depart every 30 minutes and last about 2 hWarner Bros. Studio’ss with a guide who leads a small group on a custom tram. The Tour stops at various locations on the backlot and front lot. The Tour starts on the backlot where see old sets on Hennessy Street where they filmed scenes from Annie, Minority Report and Gremlins.
There is a stop in the Jungle where get to see Merlottes from True Blood and the lagoon where one of the final scenes from ER was filmed. On Midwest Street the tram stops and there is plenty to see including the sets from Gilmore Girls (Stars Hollow), Pretty Little Liars (Rosewood), Miss Deagle’s House from Gremlins which is also the Seaver house from Growing Pains. The High School is dressed from the set of Grease Live.
There are many more sets like Lukes Diner, The Brew, The Alibi Room (Shameless), The Church (Waltons & The Lost Boys), The Geller House (Friends) and The Fuller House house. New York and Chicago Streets are the setting for ER and Shameless where Patsy’s Pies is a practical set used from filming. New York Street is the setting for iconic scenes from Auntie Mame, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, House of Wax and Argo.
The Front Lot contains all of the sound stages. The Tour stops in a few stages including Stage 25 where they tape The Big Bang Theory, Stage 1 where they tape the Ellen Show and there are many other stages where they film including Conan, The Fosters, Lucifer, and The Real.
The biggest stage on the Lot is Stage 16 where they filmed scenes from Dunkirk, The Perfect Storm and The Goonies. Stage 16 is also where Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling can be seen walking in the film La La Land. Also on the Front Lot is the Prop House with tons of artifacts and furniture from films and TV shows from the 1920s to today. Next to the prop house is the Batcave, where 10 Batmobiles are on display from several of the Batman Films. Jokers car from Suicide Squad is on display front and center.
At the end of the guided portion of the Tour, there is custom built soundstage called Stage 48. Inside this facility there is the real Central Perk set from Friends. Pictures can be taken on the orange sofa that the cast sat on during taping of the series. There are green screen photo opportunities where can ride a Batpod through Gotham City or a Nimbus 2000 broom through Hogwarts and even play a game of Quidditch. There is event a working Central Perk Cafe that serves Central Perk branded coffee
The Warner Archive contains a displays of props and costumes in DC Universe:The Exhibit from Batman vs Superman:Dawn of Justice and Wonder Woman including Diana’s training armWarner Bros. Studio’s, Warrior Costume and even here Lasso and Sword. The Sword is set in the golden requiem. The upper levels have some of the original props and sets from the Harry Potter films including the costumes from Harry, Hermione and Ron. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is represented as well with Newt Scamander’s suit and Jacob’s apartment complete with the case of creatures and baked goods.
Studio Tour
Warner Bros. Studio’s Studio Tour brings closer than ever to the entertainment love. You’ll explore one of the busiest working studios in Los Angeles with one of Warner Bros. Studio’s expert Tour Guides who will take behind the scenes of the studio that has been entertaining the world for nearly 100 years.
Thinkwell designed and produced the all-new Welcome Center arrival and finale experiences at Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. This new addition to the Tour reshapes the guest experience for both first-time and repeat visitors with all-new interactive, explorable zones.
Guests begin in the Storytelling Showcase, which welcomes and orients them to the Studio, its history, and its tremendous breadth of work in film and television. With an aerial view of the studio lot as a printed floor graphic and a replica of WB’s iconic water tower for a unique photo op, this space uses media, images, artifacts, and audio to highlight stories from the Warner family to Friends, and from animation to innovation. Guests then enjoy the Tour’s signature preshow film in new state-of-the-art theaters before heading out to discover the secrets of the lot.
From the introduction of Warner Bros.’ history to then experiencing the scale of the lot and learning how the studio’s iconic shows and films are made, guests return for the new finale experience: Action and Magic Made Here.
From an arrival space that connects guests with Warner Bros. as the maker of their favorite IPs to a finale that lets them step fully into the action and magic of the movies, the new Studio Tour Welcome Center is a landmark addition to the world-class Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood experience. This was the first expansion to the Tour since Stage 48: From Script to Screen opened in 2015.
Classics Tour
This classics-themed Tour focuses on Warner Bros. Golden Age of Film and TV, featuring award-winning titles that shot on the iconic backlot from the early days of the Studio through the 1970’s. Starting with a tribute to the Classics, specially trained Tour Guide, with a love of the Warner Bros. classic film and TV collection, will guide through the Studio Tour themed to iconic classic movies and TV shows. The Classics Made Here Tour is offered daily.
Deluxe Tour
Designed for Warner Bros. Studio’s biggest film and TV fans, Warner Bros. Studio’s six-hWarner Bros. Studio’s Deluxe Tour offers an insider’s look into the movie-making process. Deluxe Tour includes all the elements of the Studio Tour plus visits to the Costume Department, the Property Department and Warner Bros.’ Commissary Fine Dining Room for an exquisite lunch.
Stops
The following are included in every Studio Tour: The Deluxe Tour includes more time at all of the below with a few additions: a continental breakfast, lunch at Warner Bros. Fine Dining, a stop at the Property Department, and a stop at the Costume Department.
Soundstage – All Tours include a visit inside at least one stage of a current production that is not actively filming. Frequent stages visited include those of The Big Bang Theory, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Pretty Little Liars.
The Backlot – A series of outdoor sets representing various location such as New York, a mid-western town, and a jungle.
The Archive – A collection of props and costumes from Warner Bros. movies and TV shows, currently featuring assets from the Harry Potter films and the DC Extended Universe.
Picture Car Vault – A garage with cars used in film and television. Currently featuring Batmobiles from Warner Bros. movies.
Stage 48: Script to Screen – An interactive soundstage which takes guests through the production process. The soundstage opened July 16, 2015 and is the final stop on the Tour. Stage 48 is self-guided and includes the original set of Central Perk from the television show Friends where guests can take pictures on the couch. There is also a green screen video opportunity where guests can fly on a broomstick from Harry Potter or ride on a Batpod as seen in The Dark Knight. In addition to the attraction, the building includes a cafe and coffee shop themed to “Central Perk” from Friends as well as a gift shop.
Special exhibits
Batman 75th Anniversary – A special display which opened on June 26, 2014, in both the Archive and the Picture Car Vault. In the Archive, there were displays of props and costumes from every Warner Bros. Batman movie. Batmobiles and other Batman vehicles were put on display in the Picture Car Vault. Beginning in September 2015, the Batmobile from the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice joined the display when not used for filming.
Horror Made Here – Opened for Halloween in Stage 48, the temporary exhibit included assets from The Exorcist, Interview with the Vampire, Annabelle, and other horror movies.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” Costumes – Added to Stage 48 on February 24, 2016.
DC Universe: The Exhibit – Located in The Archive, this exhibit replaced portions of the Batman 75th Anniversary display. It includes first issues of comic books such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman as well as props and costumes from the films Batman vs. Superman and Suicide Squad.
DC Universe: The Exhibit was update to include the latest costumes and props from Wonder Woman 2017
The Cafe that Mia worked in from the Oscar Winning film La La Land has been dressed as seen in the production as part of a stop on the Tour.
Stage 48 has been updated to include a look at props and costumes from all 7 years of the TV series Pretty Little Liars.
Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights
Horror Made Here, Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood invited guests to enter Warner Bros. Studio’s iconic backlot for an unforgettable party where evil clowns, demon nuns, super villians, possessed dolls and the devil himself came to life. In 2018, this new annual special event featured dark mazes and attractions based on films and video games:
It Knows What Scares You; A dark maze based on New Line Cinema’s 2017 film, It.
Joker’s Arkham Asylum; A dark maze based on WB Game’s Batman: Arkham Asylum.
The Conjuring Universe; A dark maze based on New Line Cinema’s The Conjuring franchise.
Nightmare on Camp Crystal Lake; A dark maze based on New Line Cinema’s Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street franchises.
The Exorcist: Forbidden Screening; A 4D theatre attraction based on the 1973 film, The Exorcist.
Studio Store
The Studio Store is open to the public and full of soon-to-be favorite memorabilia and a great place to find exclusive gifts for TV and movie lovers. With themed departments like animation, DC, and Hollywood classics, there’s something for everyone.
Collectibles featuring favorite movies and television shows are always in season. Warner Bros. Studio’s store has a wide selection souvenirs can’t find anywhere else, including special collections of apparel from shows like Gilmore Girls, Friends and more. Bring the memories of the Studio Tour home with and relive the Hollywood magic with family day after day with toys, plushies, and kids clothing.
Friends themed Boutique & Café
The one where can shop for exclusive Friends-themed souvenirs and dine in recreated sets. Located within Stage 48: Script to Screen, the boutique offers a wide variety of Friends-themed merchandise including exclusive kitchen and dining ware, Friends reunion Spirit Jerseys and coffee mugs.
After purchase meal from the Central Perk Café, dine in recreated sets including Central Perk, Chandler and Joey’s apartment, Monica’s apartment and Warner Bros. Studio’s Greenwich Village set.