Before it was officially founded in 1988, the museum has been extremely important in the U.S history. The first version of the museum was one of the very first studios built by Paramount. Many early silent movies were made from these studios. In 1942 they produced training movies for the U.S army right after the U.S joined the WWII. Moreover,because the significant contribution in movie production, the museum got restore with $15 millions of funding in 1988 as the first museum that is devoted in arts, history and movie production.

After the originated opened in 1988, the museum spent $67 million of dollar in expansion and reopened at 2011. The new building was being designed by Thomas Leeser and the size of museum was doubled. The building now is extraordinary which it is covered with pieces of triangle glasses and the interior allows the museum to use multiple elements to communicate with audiences.