The Best Rides At Universal Studios Hollywood, Ranked

Koopas? Wizards? Minions? Check, check, and check. In the heart of Tinsel Town, Universal Studios Hollywood touts itself as "the entertainment capital of Los Angeles" for good reason. Here, spectacular thrill rides themed to some of the world's biggest movies rub shoulders with a sacred labyrinth of sets and soundstages where cinema history was made — and is still being made today.

If your usual stomping grounds are Universal Orlando, the west coast counterpart will come as a bit of a culture shock. Orlando, especially these days, moreso celebrates the spirit of movies instead of actually making movies onsite. In contrast, Universal Studios Hollywood is the real deal. Unlike Florida, the California destination is a working studio first, theme park second. Its singular park (compared to Florida's two, soon to be three) contains plenty of rides, but its sprawling mountainside property is also home to backlots and soundstages where high-profile films and television shows are actively in production.

That being said, in recent years, Universal Studios Hollywood has prioritized building more theme park attractions. You'll notice most of the rides on our list opened within the last decade or so. (In the years to come, a "Fast & Furious" roller coaster, now under construction, will join them.) Whether you're a thrill-seeker or movie buff, there's something for everyone in this incredible park. Here's every ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, ranked.

Come for the kiddie coaster, stay for the immaculate views of Hogwarts. Flight of the Hippogriff is a small, outdoor roller coaster located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It sits at the tip of Hogsmeade Village, just outside the border of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (more about the ride inside the castle later).

Within the lore of this area, Flight of the Hippogriff begins at Hagrid's hut. Riders are meant to imagine themselves soaring above the Hogwarts grounds on the back of a Hippogriff. The creature, resembling a bird and a horse, was first introduced in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." The kiddie coaster is pretty straightforward, offering a mild thrill that lasts barely a minute long. It's a great option as a child's first roller coaster.

Here on the west coast, Flight of the Hippogriff is the only roller coaster in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (The east coast counterpart has its own Flight of the Hippogriff, plus two high-tech, cutting-edge coasters taking place in the Forbidden Forest and inside Gringotts Bank.) Hollywood's Wizarding World opened in 2016, six years after the inaugural Hogsmeade debuted in Orlando. Make sure to allot time to explore the nearby Hogsmeade shops, whose blueprints are straight out of the movies. Of course, Hogsmeade is also where you can find Butterbeer, the Wizarding World's signature (non-alcoholic) drink. Riders must be at least 39 inches tall to ride Flight of the Hippogriff.

This madcap simulator misadventure is great fun for any family who loves Minions, even if the ride itself is pretty basic. Sitting in a large auditorium, your seat sways with motion as you watch a four-minute video on a huge screen. At the beginning, Gru's daughters transform you into a Minion. (You're just becoming all sorts of fantastical creatures today, aren't you?) From there, it's off to the races as you perilously bounce through Gru's laboratory, narrowly avoiding sudden death on more than one occasion.

The voice cast from the movies reprise their roles, including Steve Carell and Miranda Cosgrove. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem opened here in California in 2014 after first debuting in Florida in 2012. (Both attractions are identical, despite the overall parks being much different.) As is usual for anything Minions-related, Minion Mayhem is best enjoyed if you let loose and have fun. Go on, talk like a Minion! And don't forget to participate in the dance party at the exit — you're on vacation!

If you're traveling with a huge Minion fan, you might want to grab a bite to eat at the nearby Minion Café. While the establishment has its fair share of "normal" food, its specialty items include Nutella banana pudding and banana barbecue sauce. Guests must be at least 40 inches tall to ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.

This unique take on a simulator attraction (recycled from the former "Back to the Future" ride) places you in a coaster-style ride vehicle. Rather than traveling along a track, though, your car seemingly has a mind of its own as it syncs with the action of a giant screen in front of you. The Simpsons Ride, which opened in 2008, transports guests into the familiar town of Springfield with visual gags and hilarious dialogue that matches the sharp wit of the long-running animated series.

The Simpsons Ride is easily among the funniest theme park attractions ever built, valuing comedy as equally as it values thrill. The script often takes jabs at the theme park industry. (One villain taunts, "Don't you know all rides must end in the gift shop?!") Most of the extended cast of eclectic characters from the television show makes an appearance at some point, performed by their original voice actors.

This is one of the few attractions that might actually be better with a longer wait. Throughout the queue, props and videos (featuring specially made content and classic clips from the television show) set up the story. If you're a fan of the show, allot extra time to explore the surrounding Springfield area, which Universal installed in 2015. You can even grab a bite to eat at Krusty Burger, Moe's Tavern, or Kwik-E-Mart. Guests must be at least 40 inches tall to experience The Simpsons Ride.

For many guests, stepping into Super Nintendo World is nothing short of a lifelong dream come true. Upon venturing through an oversized green warp pipe, you emerge into the Mushroom Kingdom. The details are straight out of your favorite Mario games, from Goombas patrolling the elevated walkways to piranha plants chomping their teeth. As for the land's ride? Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge places you in your very own kart for a race with all the bells and whistles from the beloved games.

While the action is fast-paced, the ride itself is relatively slow-moving. While it's a bummer that a Mario Kart ride isn't all that thrilling, the wish fulfillment of getting to be part of the iconic video game is still well worth the visit. Making things even cooler, you get to wear special goggles (disguised as Mario's cap!) that allow you to see augmented-reality special effects on the track.

California's Super Nintendo World opened in 2023, following a version at Universal Studios Japan in 2021. Come 2025, Orlando will receive a Super Nintendo World of its own, as part of Universal Epic Universe, a new theme park. Aside from the Mario Kart ride, here in California, guests can meet Mario and friends in person, participate in interactive games activated by using a for-purchase bracelet, and dine at Toadstool Café. ("One Chef Toad short rib special, please!") Guests must be at least 40 inches tall to ride Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge.

This boat ride begins as a slow-moving zoological tour of dinosaurs. As you might be able to predict, things don't go according to plan. Next thing you know, a flesh-hungry dinosaur is chasing you and you've got no choice but to plunge down a waterfall. Jurassic World: The Ride is a satisfying balance of tranquility and thrill, mirroring the majestic but threatening demeanor of dinosaurs themselves. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles from the movies in footage shot especially for this ride.

The attraction opened in 1996 as Jurassic Park: The Ride — same layout, same basic experience, much older tech. A 2019 overhaul brought the attraction into the twenty-first century and updated its story to reflect the new trilogy of movies, now called Jurassic World: The Ride.

Among the most impressive new elements? The voyage now features what might be the most terrifyingly lifelike dinosaur robot you've ever seen. Another new addition is a wrap-around screen tunnel that appears to be glass looking into an aquarium. As an aquatic dino splashes water onto the "surface," the water animation seamlessly becomes real water and splashes onto you from overhead. The ride is brilliant — and you will get wet. Nearby, playing up the theme of Jurassic World being a real place, guests are invited to encounter "real" dinosaurs, aka super cool full-body puppets. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall to experience Jurassic World: The Ride.