One of the alleys in Singapore’s Universal Studios

Marilyn Monroe, her iconic white skirt blowing in the wind, whizzes past. At the next corner, Frankenstein’s Monster is all set to “throttle” a smiling child. Scores of fans wait patiently for a chance to be photographed with Mark Antony and Cleopatra. A little further on, everyone’s favourite ogre Shrek and Fiona are spotted with a group of excited children.

There is magic around every corner at Universal Studios in Singapore, spread over 50 acres and a must on every movie buff’s list of things to do in the Lion City. Even if you bypass all the fancy rides and many of the “movie zones”, get ready for a wild ride, Hollywood style.

Tourists pose with Mark Antony and Cleopatra

Walk into the sprawling studio and a replica of the Hollywood Walk of Fame greets you. Audrey Hepburn to Antonio Banderas, Bette Davis to Brad Pitt, every star worth his salt shines down on the Singaporean sidewalk. “Just spotting their favourite star’s name on the sidewalk keeps tourists engaged and excited for hours,” says Robin Goh, assistant director, communications, Resorts World Sentosa.

Adrenaline-pumping rides like Battlestar Galactica — a huge part-inverted roller-coaster — and the Revenge of the Mummy — “a spooky and dangerous” ride through the dark — may be top draws, but it is a walk-through the length and breadth of the studios that is most enthralling. There is a replica of the Regent Beverly Wilshire, the hotel most famous for hosting Edward and Vivian’s week of love in Pretty Woman. The Titanic is a towering presence at one end while the Jurassic Park dinosaurs roam freely at the other. “A day at Universal Studios is like watching one classic franchise after the other. It’s truly a haven for the movie lover,” gushed Simran Doshi from Mumbai.

Lights Camera Action grabs many takers with its 4-D replica of a hurricane scene in New York

The Universal Studios theme park is divided into a number of zones, each striving to capture the look and feel of the area it represents. With its giant-size recreation of the New York Public Library, the cute shops “selling” American favourites like hot dogs and pretzels and b-boy dancers on the pavements, the New York zone is a standout. “It almost feels like I am back in my city,” chuckled New Yorker William Brady when t2 chanced upon him enjoying the b-boy performance.

The longest queues may be in front of the Shrek corner housed in the Far Far Away castle, but our pick of the lot is Lights, Camera Action — the Steven Spielberg zone where the movie mogul recreates a hurricane scene in New York in 4-D, complete with fire and rain!