Area San Francisco Area Lower Lot Replaced by Special Effects Stage | Status Closed Status Closed | |
 | ||
Opening date March 31, 2001 (2001-03-31) Closing date March 16, 2018 (2018-03-16) | ||
Backdraft is a fire special effects show at Universal Studios Japan, and formerly Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. The show is based on the film of the same name. Visitors can learn how the pyrotechnic effects were created and experience some of them first hand. The Hollywood attraction was supposed to officially close after Labor Day 2009 to be replaced by Transformers: The Ride in 2011 but remained open to appease the temporary closures of other attractions for annual refurbishment. The Hollywood attraction officially closed on April 11, 2010. The attraction remains part of the Osaka park. A similar styled show demonstrating storm effects, Lights! Camera! Action! Hosted by Steven Spielberg, opened in Universal Studios Singapore in 2010.
Contents
Summary
The show at Universal Studios Hollywood has guests begin by entering a sound stage. Some elements of this description may not be accurate for the Japan installation.
Queue
For the Hollywood version, guests entered a soundstage where Backdraft was being filmed. For the Japan version, guests enter a San Francisco building facade and into a building where Backdraft is being filmed.
Pre-show
As guests walk into the "Backdraft filming center", Ron Howard appears on a video screen and talks to the guests about making Backdraft. For the Hollywood version, guests enter another soundstage. For the Japan version, guests enter a set of a city alley, where the fire is burning the building. The stars from the film, Scott Glenn and Kurt Russell appear on the video screen and talk about the fire. The moment they finish, the fire surprises the guests. They are finally led onto a set resembling the warehouse scene in the movie.
Main show
The guests line up on a tiered observation platform, overlooking a simulated warehouse scene. Suddenly, the fire burns the warehouse, causing a Backdraft. The explosions makes more fire. As the "fire" dies, the dying fire makes a final explosion, giving guests a final scare. Participants are then directed to exit through the building.
Notes
The warehouse set was prominently featured in the television show Sliders, in the third season episode titled "The Fire Within".