Living close to LA gives me a lot of opportunities to experience some really cool things. The newest experience is another studio tour, this time at the home of DC, Looney Toons, and Friends: Warner Bros. Studios.
Warner Bros. is the home of many iconic franchises, from sitcom Friends to the DC film universe and more. They host guided tours that will drive through regularly used sets, also allowing you to step off in some places for closer looks and pictures. They also have self-guided portions that include stepping into the iconic Central Perk set, sitting in Sheldon’s spot, seeing screen-used costumes, watching audition tapes of Hollywood’s elite, and interactive experiences in the wizarding world. And you end it all in their huge gift shop.
Our guide was very well-informed about the studio’s history, even including fun facts about other studios that have used the facility and some unique, history-making things that were created at Warner Bros. Some very iconic scenes have happened on the lot, including the famous Spiderman upside-down kiss.
Something unique to Warner Bros. is that their television presence is very prominent, so they have many sets and memorabilia associated with them. Friends is easily the most prominent since you can visit a working Central Perk that’s beside the recreated set of the cafe, see the original fountain from the show’s intro, many iconic costumes, and mini recreations of the living spaces of the characters. You can even walk along the streets of New York from the show. The Big Bang Theory is also pretty prominent since they have recreated Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment and the hallway between them and Penny’s front door. Other shows that we saw sets of include Pretty Little Liars, Abbott Elementary, and the most interesting was All American.
Why was the All American set interesting? Because it was their actual working set on their soundstage that featured the main character’s home and backyard. The show was on a break day, so no filming was occurring and thus let us talk a walkthrough (with no pictures of course). It was really cool seeing what a working set looks like as opposed to the replicas.
The self-guided portion was where most photo opportunities were, as well as the costumes, art, and interactive sections. I always like seeing costumes personally and there were plenty on display, especially for Crazy Rich Asians. We also got to see props from the DC universe and Game of Thrones, including various Bat Mobile’s and Daenerys’ dragon eggs.
The interactive parts were a highlight for sure with the majority of them taking place in the Wizarding World section. You could get sorted by the Sorting Hat, brew potions, and step into iconic moments from the series. Other interactive portions included designing costumes for various films, an ADR recording booth, and learning about various film techniques and CGI by stepping into the shoes of an actor.
Overall, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Hollywood was an excellent experience. They have really cultivated a great experience where you not only see where iconic films and television were made but also step into the worlds of favorite franchises to experience them while learning about the process. If you are a film buff, you will really enjoy this tour.
We did the standard tour which is $70 per adult, $60 per child, and SoCal residents are $58. There is also a Plus version and a Deluxe version.
If you could visit a set from any movie or show, which set would you choose? Let me know in the comments below!