Blog/Possibly the greatest multimedia/immersive thing I’ve ever seen!
26th August 2026
We’ve all seen it a thousand times. Every other attraction boasts a multimedia ‘immersive’ experience that promises to transport you out of the role of the viewer and put you right IN the feature.
But that usually means that something will be projected onto a wall, a few speakers dotted around the place so you get sound from all sides, with a few buttons to press to trigger something fundamentally underwhelming, and – if the budget allows – a few people dressed up in costumes. All pretty predictable, and not actually that immersive.
This summer, though, I had the chance to go to Universal Studios in Florida where I experienced The Bourne Stuntacular, and all I can is say is ‘Crikey!’. This has to be the most impressive and underrated ‘ride’ (it’s not really a ride, more of a show) you can enjoy anywhere in the world.
Okay, so they have all the budget in the world, they’re adept at making Hollywood blockbusters so they have the knowhow & technology, and roughly ten million people pass through the gates at Universal in Florida every year so they have the audience and so a) You’d expect it to be good and b) It’s not fair to compare it to the National Trust’s ‘immersive’ re-enactment of some medieval battle or other, but bloody hell I was blown away!
I’m not going to give too much away, but after being held in a ‘briefing area’ you’re led into a large theatre where you sit for the duration as the action goes on around you. Live stunt performers (who seamlessly transition between being ‘on-screen’, on-stage, above you and around you), huge screens, special effects, fire, wind.
Sets that are part on-screen and part on-stage. Car chase sequences that move from live-action to digital – It feels like a film has come to life around you, and it is SPECTACULAR!
Though you never leave your seat you feel like you’re moving through the action like nothing else, and you’re not really ever sure what’s live and what’s digital. This is truly immersive.
The only problem is that every other cinema trip I make from now on is going to feel very ordinary.
Go and see it (and feel it!) if you can!!
SPOILER ALERT!