Musée Cinéma et Miniature — Attraction in Lyon

Walking through this museum felt like stepping straight back into my childhood (I was born in the mid-80s), and it was nothing short of magical.

From Star Wars to Batman 1989, from Aliens to Beetlejuice, the collection is packed with iconic treasures that instantly spark memories of the films that defined an era. According to one of the staff, the Darth Vader mask here is the only original one on public display today, that alone is worth the visit!

What sets this place apart is how personal it feels. I love the great art museums of France, but this was different, so much more relatable. Every piece triggered a wave of nostalgia, reminding me of movies I adored and had nearly forgotten, and reigniting the sense of wonder that first made me fall in love with cinema. These films came from the golden age of moviemaking, where practical effects and early CGI blended to create timeless magic that today’s movies rarely capture.

Seven floors are filled with cinematic history, and while you can see it all in about 1–2 hours, it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to linger at your favorites. For me, highlights included the Darth Vader helmet, the full Batman 1989 suit and vehicles, the wonderfully complete Beetlejuice exhibit, and the jaw-dropping animatronic Alien that makes you feel like you’re right on set. Seeing Thor’s hammer (Mjolnir), Iron Man’s glove, and nods to classics like Indiana Jones, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, The Mask, and even Fast & Furious only added to the thrill.

If you grew up with movies from the late 80s through the early 2000s, this museum is pure nostalgia wrapped in cinema magic. It’s a time machine back to Saturday nights at the theater or trips to Blockbuster, and it will leave you smiling long after you leave. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

As a bonus, all the staff that work there are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate!

Update: the top floor which houses the miniatures was closed when we arrived for renovations. If this is important to you, come back when they...

A decent amount of things to look at, it definitely has more interesting things to look at as you go around the museum. The Musèe Cinema etc Miniature in Lyon is a delightful attraction for those interested in small-scale craftsmanship. It features an impressive collection of miniatures created by both French and international artisans. The museum's highlights include intricate models of famous artworks and buildings, as well as lifelike dollhouses and tiny scenes from everyday life. Visitors can also admire a fascinating display of miniature cars and trains. The museum is a fun and educational experience for all ages, and a must-see for anyone with an appreciation for detail-oriented artistry. Miniature film sets have been in use as long as films have been made, with early examples dating back to the 1920s. However, it wasn't until the 1950s and 60s that advances in technology, such as stop-motion animation, made miniature sets a more popular and artful aspect of filmmaking. Over the years, miniature sets have been used in a wide variety of films, from visual effects-heavy sci-fi movies to period dramas and even commercials. Today, miniature sets are still used in many films, but often in conjunction with computer-generated imagery for more seamless special effects. A place for young and old, for people who are fans of film and art, or just for the...

What and interesting and fun museum (more like an exhibition), especially if you are cinephile like I am, as this is not a collection of artefacts that you would normally find anywhere else and is clearly a labor of love.

The museum is organized into two parts four floors related to artefacts (sets, props, costumes, etc...) from various movies generally organized thematically (sci-fi, super hero, horror, etc...) with a special call-out for the movie The Perfume (a popular movie in France). It's a lot of fun and interesting at the same time...again, especially if you are big movie watcher.

The second part is a large collection of miniature dioramas. Don't dismiss this too quickly as they are fascinating and truly impressive in the amount of detail that can be accomplished by the creating artists. It is definitely something that will leave an impression (but more for young adults and older...children may struggle to appreciate the impact).

Check out the photos to get a better idea...in this case a picture is truly worth a 1000 words. Enjoy!

NOTE: There are a fair number of scary items throughout and young children may be disturbed by the props. The museum does a good job to clearly indicate this before entering an area...but...