The small backlot at Paramount Studios still manages to accommodate a range of different locations.
The Alley
The newest addition to the backlot, this area was completed in 2010.
Blue Sky Tank
This outdoor pool / tank area is used for most of the time as a studio car park. However, when required for production, the cars are moved, and 950,000 gallons of water is pumped in (at a cost of around $30,000 per fill!).
The most striking feature is the 175 feet x 75 feet sky backing which can be painted as required by the production, or left colored blue or green for CGI replacement.
The tank is positioned where the former Western Town set was located until 1979.
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Tank]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
The Ten Commandments [Feature Film] | 1956 | Cecil B. DeMille | ![]() |
Stage 08, Stage 14, Stage 15, B Tank [parting of the waters, reversed flooding from two water tanks] | |||
History of the World Part I [Feature Film] | 1981 | Mel Brooks | ![]() |
Stage 32 - a tank / pool under the stage floor was constructed by Howard Hughes for parties, was last used for this film. | |||
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home [Feature Film] | 1986 | Leonard Nimoy | ![]() |
Blue Sky Tank | |||
The Truman Show [Feature Film] | 1998 | Peter Weir | ![]() |
Stage 01, Stage 02, Stage 15 and the B Tank [finale] at Paramount | |||
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Feature Film] | 2008 | David Fincher | ![]() |
Live action material for the boat sequence was shot in the B Tank on the Paramount front lot. |
Financial District
Featured in Vanilla Sky and Mr and Mrs Smith.
Although the buildings are fairly short, additional floors can be added digitally.
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Financial]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
Vanilla Sky [Feature Film] | 2001 | Cameron Crowe | ![]() |
Financial District | |||
Mr & Mrs Smith [Feature Film] | 2005 | Doug Liman | ![]() |
Financial District | |||
Mission Impossible III / Mission Impossible 3 [Feature Film] | 2006 | J.J. Abrams | ![]() |
Stage 08, Stage 09, Stage 16, Stage 18, Backlot Financial District |
Lucy Park
This small green oasis in the centre of the studio was landscaped by Lucille Ball.
More information coming soon.
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Lucy]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
Cloverfield [Feature Film] | 2008 | Matt Reeves | ![]() |
Many sequences shot on the New York Street sets at Paramount, with a green screen at the end of the set to allow for digital set extensions and insertion of other special effects. The final Central Park sequence filmed on the small Lucy Park on the lot. | |||
Glee [TV Series] | 2009 - | Various | ![]() |
Filmed on Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 14 and Stage 15 at Paramount. The show was based on the lot and dance rehearsals took place in the Tin Shed (next to Stage 16). Stage 14 is the Auditorium and Stage 11 is the Cafeteria. Lucy Park was used for a close-up of Finn on a sports field. |
New York Street
The New York Street area consists of six sections.
A fire in 1983 destroyed most of the area, and damaged stages 15 & 16. It was reported to authorities by William Shatner (see video below).
The current New York Street sets were completed in 1992.
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [New_York]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
Breakfast at Tiffany's [Feature Film] | 1961 | Blake Edwards | ![]() |
Stage 08, Stage 09, Stage 10, Stage 11, New York Street sets | |||
Grease [Feature Film] | 1978 | Randal Kleiser | ![]() |
Frosty Palace maltshop exterior set was built on the Paramount backlot adjacent to the New York Street set (which was destroyed in a 1983 fire). The bulk of the movie was shot on location. | |||
MacGyver [TV Series] | 1985 - 1992 | Various | ![]() |
Seasons 1, 2 and 7 were shot at Paramount Studios. Stage 01 and Stage 17. The Valentino Building was featured in The Prometheus Syndrome as Brixton Manor. New York Street featured in Good Knight MacGyver. | |||
Cloverfield [Feature Film] | 2008 | Matt Reeves | ![]() |
Many sequences shot on the New York Street sets at Paramount, with a green screen at the end of the set to allow for digital set extensions and insertion of other special effects. The final Central Park sequence filmed on the small Lucy Park on the lot. | |||
Fame - Naturi Naughton [Music Video] | 2009 | ||
Sequence with Naturi Naughton was shot on the New York Street backlot at Paramount Studios. | |||
Jay Sean - Do You Remember ft. Sean Paul, Lil Jon [Music Video] | 2009 | Gil Green | |
FIlmed on the New York Street backlot at Paramount Studios on 11 November 2009. | |||
Surrogates [Feature Film] | 2009 | Jonathan Mostow | ![]() |
Car crash and stunt sequence shot at New York Street on the Paramount backlot. The area was enhanced using digital set extensions. | |||
Black Eyed Peas - Rock That Body [Music Video] | 2010 | Rich Lee | |
Filmed on January 13 2010 on the Paramount Studios backlot New York Street area. | |||
Müller - Wünderful Stuff advert [Commercial] | 2011 | Antoine Bardou-Jacquet | |
New York Street area with digital set extensions. | |||
Score by Guy Farley, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with a 70 piece orchestra. | |||
The Artist [Feature Film] | 2011 | Michel Hazanavicius | ![]() |
New York Street backlot | |||
Jennifer Lopez - Aint Your Mama [Music Video] | 2016 | ||
New York Street Set on the backlot |
Washington Square
- Row of 5 Upscale Georgian Style Facades
- Four-story Red Brick Buildings
- Entrances Flanked by Dramatic Columns
- Previously Used to Represent Boston, Washington D.C. and London
Commercials: Talbot’s, Mercedes Benz, Travelocity
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Washington]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |
Seinfeld [TV Series] | 1990-1998 | Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David | ![]() |
Washington Square on the backlot used in some episodes | |||
The District [TV Series] | 2000 | Terry George, Jack Maple | ![]() |
Washington Square backlot set | |||
Monk [TV Series] | 2002-2009 | Various | ![]() |
Shot on Stage 05 at Paramount. Washington Square set on the backlot also used. | |||
Mr Monk Gets Lotto Fever: The murder scene is just outside the studio gift shop and coffee shop. |
Western Street
This area of backlot adjacent to the B Tank was dismantled in 1979 and turned into a parking lot.
More information coming soon.
Seen on Screen: Paramount Studios [Western]
Title | Released | Director | IMDB |