Ride The Movies: 11 Thrilling Film-Based Theme Park Rides

Nothing says ‘summer’ like a trip to a theme park. It’s a chance to experience the rush of a thrilling roller coaster or the enchantment of an immersive ride – and perhaps even inhabit the exciting realms of your favourite movies, if only for a few minutes. Join us as we check out the various parks across the globe where you can step inside the world’s best-loved blockbusters.

Jurassic Park River Adventure (Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida, USA)

A true classic. Jurassic Park River Adventure was inspired by an actual water-based scene in Michael Crichton’s original book, which did not make it to Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster, but is realised here in this water chute experience. Riders glide through the famous gates of Jurassic Park and witness scenes of peaceful animatronic dinosaurs at the riverside, before coming face-to-face with a giant T-Rex gnashing its terrible teeth. An updated version of the ride, modelled after the Jurassic World sequels, replaced this at the sister park in Hollywood, however nothing beats the original, still running in Orlando and Tokyo.

SAW – The Ride (Thorpe Park, London, UK)

Our first roller coaster is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re familiar with the torture-heavy horror franchise Saw, it will come as no surprise that this experience involves a lot of (fake) blood and body parts, and that’s all before the white-knuckle 100-degree drop! The ride features videos from Billy the Puppet, as well as references to iconic moments in the various movies. Horror films are rarely considered for their own amusement park rides, given that they have limited appeal compared to more family-friendly themes, but this thrilling experience has been scaring fans since 2009!

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida, USA)

Galaxy’s Edge, Disney’s ambitious Star Wars-themed land, is advertised as an immersive experience that belongs to the Star Wars canon. In short, you’re not riding Star Wars rides, you’re part of Star Wars itself. That includes this central attraction, which puts visitors in the seat of Han Solo’s infamous Millennium Falcon. Essentially an interactive simulator, the ride has won rave reviews for its attention to detail – and for fulfilling the dreams of Star Wars fans worldwide, as they are able to step into galactic history.

Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! (Tokyo Disneyland, Japan)

The chaos of one of Pixar’s finest moments comes to life in this mix between a traditional ‘dark ride’ and a shooting gallery, where riders may fire at objects to bring them to life. What will be impressive to fans of the movie is the opportunity to enter Monsters, Inc. itself, as the ride is modelled after Mike and Sully’s workplace in the film. Such a chance to peek inside a place that has before now only existed in animated form is precisely why theme parks can seem so magical for so many.

LEGO NINJAGO The Ride (Legoland Windsor, UK)

The Lego Ninjago Movie was a big hit with audiences in 2017, following the success of The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie. While the latter two don’t have attractions of their own (presumably due to licensing issues), Ninjago is embodied in this fast-paced interactive ride that involves shooting at various targets using just your hands. It’s an example of the way parks have rushed to keep up with the swiftly evolving pace of technology, changing how we have fun in ways we couldn’t have possibly imagined just a few years ago.

Fast & Furious: Supercharged (Universal Studios Hollywood, California, USA)

One thing many rides offer is an opportunity to embark on an adventure with the stars of the film. In this experience, A-listers Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Dwayne Johnson interrupt the traditional studio tram ride to whisk you away to a world of underground parties and high-speed chases. While theme park purists have criticised the attraction’s reliance on high-definition screens over traditional animatronics, the ride is nonetheless a chance to see a little bit more of the favourite road action series.

Wicker Man (Alton Towers, Staffordshire, UK)

First, a quick disclaimer: this roller coaster isn’t officially related to the 1973 British horror movie, or the 2006 remake of the same name. However, we think you’ll agree that the theming of the ride, which (safely) combines fire and wood to take passengers through a giant ‘burning’ Wicker Man, echoes the main themes of the films enough to give you the sensation of living that terror, particularly when set against the idyllic country backdrop of the British theme park Alton Towers. The theming also talks of dark rituals and sacrifice, echoing the cult classic films. Personally, we never really wondered what it would be like to meet the particular fates of Edward Woodward and Nicolas Cage, but each to their own!

Ratatouille: The Adventure (Disneyland Paris, France)

It makes perfect sense that Pixar’s French culinary adventure should get its own attraction in its country of origin. This trackless ride spins you through Chef Gusteau’s kitchen, as star Remy scrambles to make dinner for his guests. A heady mix of 3D cinema and physical obstacles that makes for great fun, it’s set in a replica French village complete with a recreation of Remy’s restaurant where, as you would expect, Ratatouille is on the menu.

Avatar: Flight of Passage (Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida, USA)

The former highest-grossing film of all time has its own land in Pandora – World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, featuring this ride that drops you into a pivotal point of James Cameron’s movie, where you are paired with an Avatar and get to fly a banshee. The ride experience takes you through some recreated sets from the film, which include incubating animatronic Na’vi avatars!

The Simpsons Ride (Universal Studios Florida, USA)

Many were very sad when the beloved Back to the Future simulator ride left Universal Studios in 2007, having been one of the parks main attractions for years. However, life goes on, and another phenomenon that started in the 1980s has taken its place: The Simpsons. Situated in the middle of a Springfield-themed area of the park, guests are plunged into the world of KrustyLand, which has been sabotaged by Sideshow Bob (voiced by Kelsey Grammer). A big ride for a huge TV and movie franchise, it has become one of the must-see moments of any theme park fan’s experience.

Jaws: The Ride (Universal Studios Japan)

We started with a classic, and we’ll end with one, too – Jaws: The Ride is a riverboat tour of the fictional Amity Island from the original movie, where guests get a tour before coming into contact with a suspiciously familiar fin emerging from the water. It’s considered a classic theme park ride, plunging you into the experience of the movie using traditional techniques, including animatronics and explosions that still thrill to this day. It also has links to a cult classic comedy, Kevin Smith’s Mallrats, which features the now-closed Orlando version of the ride.

[Opener photo courtesy THORPE PARK Resort]