A look at the behind-the-scenes business of Hollywood studio lot tours

For over 100 years, Hollywood has transported audiences to worlds outside their own, from the slick streets of New York City to the yellow bricks of Oz. 

Hundreds of acres of land in Los Angeles are dedicated to crafting stories for the biggest and smallest screens, and movie studios are offering more ways than ever for cinema lovers to get a behind-the-scenes peek at how — and where — the magic is made.

“Touring the studios, being able to go where this stuff happened, to be in the physical space of all these things that for over 100 years now people have been watching, seems the most natural kind of tourist destination in the world,” said Robert Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University.

Hosted by Universal, Warner Bros., Sony and Paramount, studio lot tours showcase the movie-making process from set design and sound recording to costumes and props. These paid experiences not only drive revenue to the studios, but can also act as a training program for lower-level employees who are just getting started at the companies and as supplemental marketing for upcoming projects.

“Los Angeles is the only destination in the world where guests can visit multiple working studio lots, located in distinct neighborhoods in our city,” said Adam Burke, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism Board and Convention Board.

The film industry brings in more than $100 billion in tourism, according to the Los Angeles Department of Public Works. Attractions like studio tours, the Hollywood sign, the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame entice tourists from near and far.

“While visitors are often drawn to studio tours by their favorite TV shows or movies … we hope they leave with a deeper understanding of the entertainment industry, LA’s unique culture and the city’s vibrant creative legacy,” Burke said.

Universal, Warner Bros., Sony and Paramount declined to specify how much their studio tours generate each year or how many people pass through their gates, but each noted that foot traffic and demand remain strong for their offerings.

“[Studio lot tours] can appeal to all different levels of people, the people who really are fascinated with the behind the scenes and how it works and how it gets made, and even for regular people that don’t have that level of curiosity, just the thrill of being present in the place where all of this stuff actually gets done,” Thompson said.