An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal’s new park

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While Universal is known for crafting compelling movies that transport people to faraway worlds, the company has also developed its prowess in making those come to life through its captivating theme parks.

Nowhere is this more true than at Epic Universe, Orlando’s brand new park that features five immersive worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe and the all-original Celestial Park.

As Universal gets ready to open the gates of its new high-tech park on May 22, visitors can do their own preparations at home by watching the films that inspired the new worlds. Here is a guide for what to watch before spending a full day at Epic Universe.

Hiccup befriends Toothless, an injured Night Fury — the rarest dragon of all — in DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” released in March 2010. (Courtesy DreamWorks Animation)

How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk

Visitors stepping foot onto the Isle of Berk can find themselves surrounded by Viking statues and ships, soaring through the air while clutching dragon wings or drinking mead (for adult guests, anyway).

The movie franchise behind this new world started with the original “How to Train Your Dragon,” which was released in 2010. The animated film, loosely based on a book series by Cressida Cowell, follows the journey of Hiccup, a 15-year-old son of the village chieftain, Stoick the Vast. After fumbling to become the great warrior his father wants him to be, Hiccup finds his voice as a dragon trainer and peacekeeper, as well as Toothless the dragon’s best friend.

Hiccup, voiced by Jay Baruchel, in a scene from DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.” (DreamWorks Animation/Universal Pictures via AP)

Sequels “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) and “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (2019) find dragons and Vikings co-existing and inhabiting Berk together while facing foes from the outside.

A live-action remake of the 2010 film is set to be released on June 13 and will represent the fourth full-length movie in the franchise.

An actor playing Hiccup facilitates guest interactions with Toothless the dragon within How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

For fans looking to get further into the fantasy world crafted in the films, the “Dragons” show has eight seasons in a series that serves as a bridge between the first film and the sequel. These can be streamed on Netflix, Hulu and Peacock depending on the season.

In Epic Universe’s Berk, guests can interact with Toothless and other dragons, characters from the film and may even see mythical beasts flying overhead.

Imelda Staunton is Dolores Umbridge in Warner Bros. Pictures’ movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Epic Universe’s Harry Potter world provides Potterheads with a brand new space to explore, adding to Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.

The new world features aspects of both “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films, transporting visitors to the streets of 1920s wizarding Paris.

Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein and Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in the movie “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the three “Fantastic Beasts” movies, is featured in the park’s “Le Cirque Arcanus” show and in cameos found within the newest Wizarding World addition. The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction centers on the trial of Dolores Umbridge, a villainess in the main “Harry Potter” movies. The ride is set in the 1990s Ministry of Magic and features appearances from Harry, Hermione and Ron, among other popular “Potter” characters.

The queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry takes guests inside the Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Umbridge is featured in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (2007) and both parts of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” (2010 and 2011). But there’s no reason not to binge all eight movies again, just for a good refresher.

British actor Boris Karloff appears in a scene from the 1931 classic film ”Frankenstein.” (Courtesy Universal Pictures)

Dark Universe

The advent of Dark Universe represents a return to roots for Universal Studios, which began producing monster movies in 1913 with “Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” The most prominent movies — including “Dracula” (1931), “Frankenstein” (1931), “The Mummy” (1932), “The Invisible Man” (1933), “Bride of Frankenstein” (1935), “Werewolf of London” (1935) and “Wolf Man” (1941) — came out during the Great Depression as a way for people to escape the harsh realities of real life at the theater.

Universal’s horror classics include”Dracula” (1931). (Courtesy Universal Pictures)

As pioneers of the horror genre, Universal crafted this new world to pay homage to the spooky and macabre stories that helped get the company through the 1930s and stay in business.

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is a ride with animatronics depicting many of the monsters in the films listed above and several others, such as the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Phantom of the Opera and Quasimodo from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1923).

Frankenstein and Dr. Victoria Frankenstein are focal points of the pre-show leading up to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Ygor, a lab assistant and mad scientist who makes appearances in some of the “Frankenstein” movies, is a focal point of the ride and in Darkmoor Village, the setting for Dark Universe. The Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein’s Monster and the Invisible Man can also be found within the town. Another one of Universal’s monsters features prominently in the Curse of the Werewolf spinning coaster.

Victoria Frankenstein, a descendent of Victor Frankenstein, is a new original character crafted for Epic Universe who features prominently in the Monsters Unchained ride.

This image released by Nintendo and Universal Studios shows Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day in Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Courtesy Universal Pictures)

Super Nintendo World

When Epic Universe guests ascend the escalators into Super Nintendo World, they step through Peach’s Castle and into a vibrant area featuring a life-sized Mushroom Kingdom and Donkey Kong Country, which is home to the Mine-Cart Madness coaster.

The world draws inspiration from a variety of Nintendo games, starting with the original “Super Mario Bros” that was released in 1985. Newer games available on the Nintendo Switch, including “New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe” (2019) and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” (2023) help set the stage for the immersive space that video games fans can explore at Universal’s new park.

“Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” is a fun game to play to warm up before heading to Super Nintendo World. (Courtesy Nintendo)

The Yoshi’s Adventure ride highlights the lovable dinosaur that’s found in many games starting with the 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System game “Super Mario World.”

All of Super Nintendo World offers interactive elements that are brought to life through Power-Up Bands, which are brightly colored wristbands that help each wearer keep score through the Universal Orlando app.

A guest takes advantage of a meet-and-greet with Mario and Luigi in Super Nintendo World at Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Extra gameplay is offered on the Mario Kart: Bower’s Challenge ride, which uses augmented-reality glasses to put riders into a race with other characters and turtle shells abound. Visitors who want to get some extra practice in before visiting can play “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” on Nintendo Switch.

For those looking for something to watch rather than play, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023) follows Mario and Luigi as they go on a quest to defeat Bowser.

Guests take a ride on the Stardust Racers dueling coaster as it’s lit up at night at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Celestial Park

Due to its nature as an original creation, Celestial Park doesn’t have a lengthy watchlist or any movies in particular that it is based on. The world serves as the central hub of Epic Universe and the gateway to all of the other portals, which lead into separate themed worlds.

Helios, the Greek god of the sun, and Luna, the mythical goddess of the moon, stand guard at either end of Celestial Park. The sun, moon and stars are central to the world’s theming, which ties together the park’s “cosmic heart.”

1985’s “Back to the Future” is a worthwhile watch before heading to the new Universal Park. (Courtesy Universal Pictures)

There is, however, a nod to one of Universal’s classic movies on the Stardust Racers dueling coaster. Each ride car is powered by a flux capacitor, the same futuristic technology that enabled Doc Brown’s DeLorean to time travel in “Back to the Future.” The 1985 film and its sequels are worth revisiting before a trip to Epic Universe, even if just for grins.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

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