The Bourne Stuntacular

Tucked away in a nondescript corner of Universal Studios Florida is the park’s best-kept secret. While most first-time attendees would make a beeline for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or the new DreamWorks Land, park regulars know one of the park’s hidden gems is not a ride but a live stunt performance. This is The Bourne Stuntacular, a cutting-edge theatrical show revolving around Jason Bourne, the eponymous character of Robert Ludlum’s spy novels, played onscreen by Matt Damon in the film adaptations.

Guests would enter the former Cyberdyne Systems building of the defunct T2-3D: Battle Across Time attraction (another excellent live show which featured characters from the Terminator films). In the lobby’s queue, they can see props from the Bourne films, like the Mini Cooper from The Bourne Identity. After a pre-show segment where Jason Bourne’s on-and-off-accomplice Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) invites the audience to participate in a new ‘enhanced virtual surveillance’ programme to find the former CIA agent, visitors are taken into an ‘observation and evaluation room’ to watch the show.

Much like Universal Studios’ beloved WaterWorld show, the actors portraying Bourne and the ‘assets’ sent to kill him are stunt doubles for action films and TV shows. A towering 3,640-square-foot LED screen depicts the exotic settings from Tangiers to Dubai in ultra-high resolution, making the live actors almost indistinguishable from the pre-recorded ones.

The stage technology is next level: computer-controlled props (no stage hands!); sensory effects like mist, fire, and wind; trapdoors, stage lifts, and aerial wirework; and impressive set pieces that move and break apart as actors fight around, jump off, and hang on to them. All of it culminates in a helicopter ride and car chase. The show closes out to the tune of Moby’s “Extreme Ways” — a song that Bourne fans will surely recognise.

Minion Mayhem at Minion Land

Minion Land, a special themed area, will have the rare distinction of being at all five Universal Studios theme parks — Hollywood, Florida, Japan, Beijing, and Singapore — from February 2025. Its star attraction, the Minion Mayhem (available at select Universal Studios, including the Singapore branch), is the perfect family-friendly ride if you’re looking for some excitement and adventure.

Based on the wildly successful animated franchise Despicable Me and featuring the Minions (the films’ adorable but devious banana-loving mascots), the motion-simulator ride sees guests queue through supervillain Gru’s house, which is filled with menacing-looking weapons and morbid family portraits and news articles.

At the pre-show area, Gru (Steve Carell) and his adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes introduce guests to the latest experiment run by their resident mad scientist, Doctor Nefario: a Minion Gun that turns human beings into Minions. And — surprise, surprise — the visitors will be the test subjects! Meanwhile, the girls plan to give Gru a present to celebrate the anniversary of the day he adopted them, but he appears to be too busy to remember.

A ‘fart gun’ gimmick and a few jokes later, guests are ushered by ‘lab assistants’ into their ride vehicles. Much like The Simpsons Ride, the ride vehicles move in sync with the action on a giant screen. After being ‘Minionised’, guests undergo Minion training, which involves them getting tested on their “strength, speed, and ability to not die”. A detour into a restricted area sends the newly minted Minions on a misadventure to save the girls’ present (and Gru himself).

The fun doesn’t end when the ride is over — beyond the obligatory gift shop, there is a recreation of the first movie’s own theme park, Super Silly Fun Land, at Universal Studios Hollywood. There, guests can enjoy carnival rides and play the Space Killer game to win their very own Fluffy (Agnes’ stuffed unicorn). The upcoming version at Universal Studios Singapore will also have an exclusive ride, Buggie Boogie. Dubbed “the first-ever Minion dance-party-themed carousel”, guests can hop aboard “super silly creatures and boogie to popular songs remixed by deejay Carl”.