12 Movies to Watch Before Going to Universal Studios Park

This is the one movie you should see before going to Universal Studios.

Not the Deathly Hallows. Not your favourite follow-up. This movie.

Universal didn't make The Wizarding World of Harry Potter as a collection of their best songs. It made it a tangible version of the movie's thrill of discovery. Diagon Alley works because you remember when you didn't know what it was. You recall visiting Hogwarts for the first time, which is why it works.

People (including me) make the mistake of thinking that understanding the franchise is enough.

No, it's not.

The lines relate to times that were so quiet that you could scarcely hear them the first time you saw them. The songs you choose aren't just hype tunes; they bring back memories. The terrain seems spectacular without having seen it again recently. It feels personal with one.

Universal also does something clever here: it rewards those who are patient. People hurry to get on the rides and miss the scenery. The movie tells you to take your time. The park is ready for that.

This movie is older than some of the folks who are riding the rides, but that doesn't matter.

The Jurassic experiences at Universal aren't based on turmoil. They are based on awe. That feeling of "this shouldn't be here, but it is." That comes straight from Spielberg's first movie, not the sequels that are louder.

Before my first visit, I made the mistake of seeing a later Jurassic movie instead of this one. The difference in tone was striking. The park isn't just about danger all the time; it's about controlled amazement gently sliding away.

That problem goes away right away when you see Jurassic Park again. The tempo suddenly fits. The song hits harder. The revelation moments seem like they were earned.

Also, that main theme is like Universal's unofficial song.

I nearly missed this. That would have been a bad idea.

Universal sees King Kong as a myth, not a person. The first movie sets the tone: sad, big, and tragic.

The park's Skull Island environs include images from recent versions, but the emotional frame originates from the 1933 movie. Kong feels like a monster without it. Kong seems like a natural force with it.

This is one of those films that makes the park deeper without saying so.

Universal loves projects that can be serious and wink at the same time. Ghostbusters got that balance just right.

The tone of this movie may be found in seasonal events, line humour, and background allusions, even when it's not related to a permanent ride. When you see it again, your expectations change: you can laugh here. The park wants you to.

This movie also makes it tough to take a supernatural danger seriously, and Universal plays into that.

If you know where to look, Jaws is everywhere at Universal, even if you don't have a permanent ride at every park.

Narration for the Studio Tour. The history of the park. Exhibits on creating films. People see this movie as a turning moment, not just for Universal as a studio but also for movies in general.

Most guests don't really appreciate it until they've seen it.

This is the movie that people are most surprised by when they see it again.

Universal's E.T. experience is real in a way that most current attractions aren't. It doesn't hurry. It doesn't make jokes. It thinks that people will buy into it emotionally.

That only works if you've seen the movie recently.

Before I went to Universal for the first time, I didn't watch this. I believed it was "extra credit."
No, it isn't.

These early monster flicks are what make Universal's horror brand what it is, especially during Halloween Horror Nights. These days, Dracula isn't terrifying, but that's not the purpose. It teaches you the vocabulary that Universal still utilises, such shadows, entrances, gradual disclosures, and dramatic threat.

After you watch it, you see why Universal horror feels more like opera than chaos. It's not attempting to scare you. It wants to loom.

Frankenstein is important because it teaches the studio's long-held belief that the monster isn't the problem. It's people. That concept comes up a lot in Universal attractions and events that happen only at certain times of the year.

This movie also tells us why Universal still employs black-and-white images and lighting. It's not nostalgia; it's keeping the brand going.

This movie shows how much Universal loves big things.

The Transformers ride doesn't care about making sense of the story. It concerns about movement, falling apart, and too much sensory input. The first movie gets your brain ready for that frequency.

The error is trying to make sense of everything. You feel like it's the right thing to do, and the movie gets you ready for that.

Universal is okay with blending action and humour without saying why because of this movie.

Men in Black had a big impact on the park's interactive activities. Once you've seen the movie, the jokes, the targets, and the silly alien designs all make sense.

This movie also teaches you not to focus too much about scoreboards.

Universal needs warmth after monsters, dinosaurs, and devastation. This movie gives it to you.

DreamWorks environments at Universal are all about comfort, humour, and colour. Kung Fu Panda explains the change in pace. It's not about the rush; it's about how easy it is to get to.

Not watching these animated flicks makes some aspects of the park feel like they don't belong. Watching them brings things back into equilibrium.

They believe that the Minions section is solely for youngsters. That's a quick look at it. Universal really designed a pressure valve for the whole park here. Bright colours, frequent movement, and over-the-top sound design are all meant to be different.

Movies come first at Universal Studios, and rides come second. Watching these videos before you go isn't about being ready in the usual way; it's about getting the right frame of mind. The music, tempo, humour, and size of the park are all based on these stories. With these films fresh in your mind, attractions don't feel like separate experiences anymore; they feel more like parts of the films themselves. This wishlist makes a day at Universal Studios more meaningful and connected for guests who desire more than just surface-level thrills.