The Sony Pictures Studio Tour is one of a few studio tours that movie and television audiences can take while visiting Los Angeles.

During my trip to Los Angeles for the Critics Choice Awards in 2020, I had the chance to hit up a few studio tours. Unfortunately, I could not fit in either Sony or Paramount. Last year, neither was an option because of the pandemic. Paramount is also not open yet so this left the Sony Pictures Studio Tour as the only option.

The Universal Studios tour is a theme park attraction. As such, there’s certainly no opportunity to walk around. When it comes to Disney, the lot is closed so you have to know somebody who can arrange for a drive-on so that you can walk around the lot. It goes without saying that the Warner Bros. tour remains the best tour in town. I say this after spending two hours walking through Sony. For a movie buff such as myself, it’s disappointing that my tour didn’t reach the Irving Thalberg Building. This is the building that once housed Louis B. Mayer and we couldn’t even go that far north on the lot. I think it’s more so because of timing than anything else, unfortunately.

In terms of going inside, there aren’t that many opportunities. A lot of it depends on what is currently in production, too. My tour was able to go inside a Foley room, the Wheel of Fortune stage, and The Goldbergs set. Adam F. Goldberg is also cool for allowing tourists to walk through the house sets. There are some highlights outside while walking around the lot as there are a few photo opps with some of the picture cars. If you are a Ghostbusters, 22 Jump Street, or Breaking Bad fan, you’ll certainly have fun!

At the Sony Pictures Museum, you can step onto a recreation of the Seinfeld set and see a number of props and costumes from various Sony Pictures/Sony Pictures Television Projects including Talladega Nights, Breaking Bad, Jumanji, and Cinderella to name a few. Spider-Man fans will certainly be pleased at some of the museum offerings!

There’s enough to recommend the Sony Pictures Studio Tour but if you have limited time in Los Angeles, it’s not as high on the priority list.

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