Lesson plan
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.
Article summary
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.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.