They entered a joint venture with Pivot Leisure (part-owners of the nearby Sea World) and Warner to develop the land into a theme park.

[1] With De Laurentiis Entertainment Limited (DEL), he commissioned and constructed a film studio in Oxenford, near Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, Queensland.

[a][1] The studio was to produce the action film Total Recall, but after their finances were jeopardised by several box office bombs (such as Million Dollar Mystery), De Laurentiis left the failing DEL in December 1987.

[1] In October 1988, Village acquired a large lot of swampy land adjacent to the studio complex from investment company Ariadne Australia (which had been crippled by the 1987 Black Monday stock market crash).

[22] The opening ceremony held on 2 June 1991[g] was attended by more than 5,000 people, among them celebrities such as Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

[32] Marketing slogans billed it as "Hollywood on the Gold Coast" and its design was intended to capture the aesthetic of American theme parks such as Disneyland and Universal Studios.

[58] Two new attractions opened on Boxing Day: Batman Adventure – The Ride 2, a refurbishment of the original, and the Harry Potter Movie Magic Experience.

[l][61] The following year, it was updated with the release of The Chamber of Secrets[62] to feature film set pieces such as the flying car and creatures of the Forbidden Forest.

[68] In 2005, Village announced expansion plans totalling $65 million for their Gold Coast parks, in which Movie World would receive a share with two new attractions.

A cast of 10 stunt drivers were selected from more than 200 applicants and, in preparation for the show, the venue was renovated to increase its stage area and seating capacity from 1,400 to 2,000 guests.

[80] The 4,000 square metre (43,000 sq ft) roof supplied by MakMax Australia was designed to improve guest protection from the elements and provide for a 2,000-person capacity venue for functions and events.

[85] Showtime FMX's MotoMonster Xtreme show temporarily replaced Hollywood Stunt Driver from 26 June to 18 July as alternative winter holiday entertainment.

[91][92] Housed in the former Batman Adventure building, Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D opened in September and incorporated special effects, animatronics and 3D projections.

The $9 million interactive dark ride attraction was manufactured by Sally Corporation, with additional technologies provided by Alterface, Threshold Entertainment, Bertazzon and others.

[95] The $4 million Junior Driving School, where riders navigate a miniature Movie World replica, opened at the Kids' WB Fun Zone on 12 September.

[109] The WB Studio Showcase, opened on 1 November 2019, exhibited props, sets and costumes from numerous Warner films such as Suicide Squad, Mad Max: Fury Road and A Star Is Born.

[42] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park closed on 22 March 2020[112] and reopened on 15 July at 50% guest capacity with social distancing and sanitisation policies in effect.

[115][116] Marvin the Martian: Cosmic Boom, a Drop'N Twist children's ride by SBF Visa Group,[117] opened at the Kids' WB Fun Zone in April 2023.

[95] Characters such as Batman, the Joker, Scooby-Doo, Austin Powers and the Looney Tunes cast roam the grounds and pose for photos; each afternoon, they parade with themed floats and vehicles along Main Street.

[127] Wild West Falls, which headlines its eponymous area, traverses a Native American village and ghost town before a splashdown finale.

[149] To celebrate the park's first anniversary in 1992, a daily parade featuring Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters was held each afternoon from 1 June.

[31] John Menzies, CEO of Warner Village Theme Parks, said that attendance at Sea World and local competitor Dreamworld was consistent with prior years.

[af][204] Green Lantern's opening helped visitor numbers during January 2012[205] and other additions throughout the year boosted attendance by 27% in financial half-year 2013 over the prior period.

[215] By November, to cut debts after a $66.7 million loss the prior financial year, Village sought to sell the Oxenford precinct's land through a 90-year leaseback agreement.

[ag][216] Village posted a narrow profit margin of $200,000 in August 2018 and stated that while April school holiday theme park attendance was inhibited by the 2018 Commonwealth Games, July results were strong with high season pass sales.

[169][220] Reviewing soon after the park's 1991 opening, The Sydney Morning Herald's Andrew Conway highlighted its emphasis on experiences that captured the "magic world of movies" over thrill rides.

[34] He considered Police Academy Stunt Show the standout among several well-themed attractions, but felt the park lacked the scale and grandeur of American influences Disneyland and Universal Studios.

[ah][225] In 2020, Finder.com.au's Chris Stead thought the park was laid out well in a compact area but offered minimal shade from the heat and suffered long queue times during peak periods.

He thought that children aged six to ten would have a limited experience unless they were tall enough to brave the bigger rides, and that visits were best suited to adult thrill-seekers or families with teenagers.

[145] While the park was closed on 5 December 2003, a fire caused more than $1 million in damage to Wild West Falls's upper section;[226][227] the ride was repaired and reopened several weeks later.