Universal Studios

Founded in 1912 by the ambitious Carl Laemmle, Universal Studios is the Hollywood powerhouse that brought us everything from silent films to shark attacks, often with a flair for the dramatic. Known for its iconic monster movies and a knack for milking franchises like “Jurassic Park” until every last dinosaur bone is fossilized, Universal has a legacy as sprawling as its theme parks. These parks, dotted around the globe, are like a living museum of blockbuster hits, where you can be chased by a T-Rex or have a wand duel without leaving your overpriced souvenir soda behind. Now under the umbrella of Comcast’s NBCUniversal, it’s clear that Universal Studios is still very much in the business of creating big-screen dreams—sometimes larger than life, sometimes just larger than necessary.