Backdraft (attraction)

Backdraft was a fire special effects show at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan, based on the 1991 film of the same name. Visitors could learn how the pyrotechnic effects were created and experience some of them first hand. It was the first theme park attraction based on an R-rated film, and the first one to be at the Universal theme park as well. The Hollywood attraction opened on July 1, 1992, and was supposed to officially close after Labor Day 2009 to be replaced by Transformers: The Ride – 3D in 2011, but remained open to appease visitors due to temporary closures of other attractions for annual refurbishment. The Hollywood attraction officially closed on April 11, 2010. The Osaka version of the attraction opened on March 31, 2001, and was temporarily closed on September 14, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, on May 16, 2023, Universal Studios Japan announced the park had no intentions to reopen the attraction. The Japan attraction was replaced by Illumination's Villain Con Minion Blast; it became part of Minion Park, which opened on July 11, 2025.